Posted by Ritch on July 5, 2002, at 14:54:56
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? mitch, posted by hildi on July 5, 2002, at 12:47:04
> Hi Mitch. Although I don't know much about this, I didn't 'think' I was bipolar because I don't seem to have manic up swings, only low, and HUGE anxiety. Crying spells that go on and on, feeling like I'm going to jump out of my skin. Major sensitivity to everything and anything.>What is difference between hypomania and mania? Mania is extreme mood swings, right? I do have cycling thoughts. . .Is that a symptom of bipolar? I don't have up and down swings in mood. Only down.
> if the celexa is agitating me now, will that go away?
> With my previous meds I could tell right away if they were going to work or not, I'm that med sensitive.
> Could celexa Just be different?
>
> Hildi
>So, you are experiencing recurrent major depressions associated with a lot of anxiety/agitation.. How often do you go through these cycles of "down" and "normal"? If it is fairly frequently it sounds more suggestive of bipolar. Rejection sensitivity is also a common trait of bipolar. BUT, OTOH, there are people that have "neurotic" or "atypical" depressive spells that are "reactive" to what is going on in their lives. Also, people with generalized anxiety, panic, and other anxiety disorders often obsess a lot-which might explain the "cycling thoughts". Also, people that are in a hypomanic or manic state have tangential flights of ideas-one thought leading to thinly connected subsequent ones-not ruminative type things where the same thoughts are repeated (which is what you seem to be experiencing). It sounds like your pdoc is treating you for an anxiety disorder (with SSRI's), but many people who aren't bipolar and just have an anxiety disorder can't tolerate them very well. You mentioned previously that you can't take benzodiazepines due to past substance abuse. You may need to switch classes of antidepressants. If you do have a lot of anxiety, sensitivity, and your depressions tend to be reactive, and you are ruminating- an MAOI like Nardil (phenelzine), might be a good switch. I have found SSRI's to be very tough to tolerate (mainly due to gastrointestinal problems). SSRI's can have very different side-effect profiles for some people. I found Celexa to be quite "buzzy" myself. Agitation does generally subside some with continued use-but if it doesn't you may need to reduce the dose or switch. Talk to your pdoc about the Nardil.
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:111427
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020628/msgs/111490.html