Posted by JohnX2 on June 5, 2002, at 0:59:43
In reply to Re: Help-I think might be Bipolar » Leighwit, posted by Ritch on June 5, 2002, at 0:30:46
> > > Jenny,
> > >
> > > .... You said you didn't have any hypomania to report about. Well... you have got to have that one to be BPII. ....
> >
> > >Mitch
> >
> > Mitch,
> >
> > I'm confused. I looked up BPII again and see that a hypomanic period requires "four days of expanded mood to meet the criterion." It sounds like it's a "positive" vs. a "negative" mental state. I have angry outburts, but I don't meet that DSM-IV criterion ~ I've never had a manic episode ~ as in a state of increased energy and productivity wherein less sleep is required.
> >
> > I am, however, tomorrow starting Topomax, (I already tried Lamictal you might recall ~ can't take it because of rapid-fire weight gain) to address dysthmia, and/or irritable temperament. The Pdoc mentioned cyclothymia, but I can't recognize any patterns. I used to be hyperthymic I think ~ having at one time been a very happy workaholic/overachieving executive. That was nearly ten years ago. Now I'm lucky if I can comprehend the business section of the morning paper.
> >
> > Anyway--does it make any sense to you for someone without mania to take mood stabilizers?
> >
> > Laurie
>
>
> Laurie,
>
> Go to www.mentalhealth.com and click on the "disorders" menu and click on bipolar disorder. Then go to BipolarII and then the American Description. You will see that it
> mentions:
>
> "A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or *irritable* mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual nondepressed mood."
>
> So, it can be marked by irritability, but
> it still needs to last at least four days or so.
>
> I never stay pissed off that consistently. I tend to blow my fuse over shorter spans of time as well. However, I do notice that many antidepressants and prednisone have triggered hypomanic episodes and brief hostility episodes that have *recurred* on a daily basis for several days in a row. I just didn't wake up pissed, or necessarily go to sleep that way, but I inevitably got really upset and angry every day about something or other. I might have had ruminative angry thoughts for a good part of any given day as well. I was told once that I might simply have recurrent major depressions, and that I am just antidepressant sensitive with a tendency for short-fusedness. I was told "Intermittent Explosive Disorder". But, I don't think that is techically a DSM-IV condition (anyone feel free to correct). I found that low-dose Depakote works great for the explosive temper spells *and* hypomania.
>
> Mitch
I think you may have better luck with Depakote or maybe
Neurontin. Topamax is a great medicine for people with a
history of trauma, btw. However, some people report
becoming more irritable on it. Your results may vary, etc...Good Luck,
John
poster:JohnX2
thread:108496
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020602/msgs/108725.html