Posted by sparkinark on June 21, 2002, at 14:37:38
In reply to Re: Seroquel for bipolar » sparkinark, posted by BarbaraCat on June 20, 2002, at 23:42:27
I never seem to get the "fun" hypomania. It's just racing thoughts, anxiety, dysphoria, extreme unease, pain, etc. Then it seems to cycle all over again. Perhaps one or two days out of this cycle I get some relief and feel "OK", although not really what I would classify as "good". I can take Klonopin for the manic days and it seems to help some, but it doesn't do anything for the other feelings.
I also have periods, like you mention, when it just hurts like all getout -- kind of like a really bad headache but not really -- and I'm basically on the couch all day feeling sick to my stomach. Then it just seems to go away later for no reason at all. The Seroquel seems to be helping this so far but as I mentioned I don't think I'm taking enough of it yet. I wonder if I'm the only BPII person who has no fun "ups" associated with the cycling, just all bad feelings.
My guess is that the pain/sorrow feelings you have need to be addressed with some sort of mood leveler. Perhaps Neurontin will do the trick for you. The Serzone does a wonderful job of taking away the sorrow but doesn't seem to have any positive effects at all on the cycling or associated feelings. I also got the extreme tension and agitation from Topomax although it did eventually come to curb my appetite, too much actually.
Much luck to you.
sparkinark
> Wow, sounds like we have similar symptoms! I'm dx'd with Bipolar II mixed-states and like you, have very uncomfortable anxiety and pain along with depression. Every now and then a fun hypomania splurge comes along and I have unlimited energy and enthusiasm for all kinds of ideas, but then comes the inevitable crash. I can take the depression, but I cannot handle the anxiety and panic along with it. It wrings me out.
> I also tried Topamax, mainly because my other meds were making me gain weight. It was horrible. Tension and agitation and it did nothing for the weight. Currently I seem to be stable on 75mg Remeron (similar to Serzone which I've also tried), 600mg lithium, and Ativan as needed. I recently started Neurontin for fibromyaligia pain and as an additional mood stabiliser. It's a little too early to tell, but I think it's going to help further smooth things out. Oh, and I also take 10mg Ambien for sleep. Just recently the pain and sorrow feelings have begun to break through and I'm concerned - don't wanna go there no more. So I've upped my exercise even though I don't feel like it. This BP2 with anxious overtones is one nasty item! You take care. - BarbaraCat
poster:sparkinark
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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020617/msgs/110406.html