Posted by Ron Hill on May 30, 2001, at 14:35:26
In reply to Tired of chronic BP II misery, posted by loosmrbls on May 29, 2001, at 12:50:44
Dear Mr. L.M. Bells:
I also am BP II. My current med combination is working extremely well. However, it was four years of pain and dysfunction until my doctor and I (i.e.; internet information) found a med combo that works. I will not bore you with the gory details associated with my prior woes, instead I want to encourage you to not give up in your research endeavors to find a med combo that is right for you personally. You are smart (all BP's are), so stay at it!
Regarding your irritable, short-tempered, mad/frustrated symptoms, as it happens I listened to an audio clip on the web this morning featuring a psychiatrist named Dr. Glen Mullen in which he said that about 2-3% of people taking an SSRI experience severe agitation/anxiety. Further, it is the Doctor's claim that, in such cases, augmentation of the SSRI with a tranquilizer may be effective. The primary focus of the clip is SSRI's, so he did not mention whether or not this severe side effect occurs in any fraction of the patients taking other classes of AD's.
The clip may be of some help, or maybe not. But it's probably worth a listen. The clip uses RealPlayer, so if you do not currently have this media player on your machine, go to the RealPlayer web site and download it for free. Here's the link directly to the audio clip:
http://members.fortunecity.com/siriusw/glenmullen.ramAlso, here is the link to the web page that contains this audio clip as well as other audio/video clips. Beware, however, the site is fanatically anti-SSRI's.
http://members.fortunecity.com/siriusw/prozac.html
Be Well, Happy, and Stable.-- Ron
P.S. In case you are wondering, I take 600 mg Lithobid, 10 mg Paxil, and 100 mg Wellbutrin per day. :)
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> I simply am sick to death of all these different drugs, I truly think there will never be a good day again.
>
> After a hospitalization from mid-April to early May for depression, I was sent home on Depakote and Zoloft. My pdoc quit the Zoloft after I told him it didn't seem to add any effect to the Depakote except give me a headache. Within two weeks, I was depressed again. Not as bad (no hospital needed) and a more withdrawn, dark, flat depression. I guess the Depakote was stopping severe swings and the anxiety.
>
> As I mentioned in an earlier post, I quit all my meds and felt much better. For a few days. Then the depression came back, and the mood instability, and everything else.
>
> A week ago, was re-started on Depakote and started on Remeron. Even with this AD, I am an irritable, short-tempered prick. I get mad/frustrated so easily, look for arguements (mostly with wife), and can't stand it. I've had this response with every AD. So it's not a switch into mania, I'd say. I mean, what are the chances of EVERY AD causing this reaction within 1-2 days of starting medication. Especially with stabilizer on board? Is it an "unmasking" of depressive irritability/anxiety? Or something else?
>
> Any ideas? I can't stand it, neither can my wife. My doctor seems VERY hesitant to use any neuroleptics. I do have some suspiciousness/paranoia, but no delusions ro psychosis to speak of.
>
> I feel a hospital trip may be in order soon if things don't calm down soon.
poster:Ron Hill
thread:64595
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010530/msgs/64761.html