Posted by 4WD on January 13, 2006, at 22:20:14
In reply to Re: Med-induced hypomania? Crazy and hopeless » 4WD, posted by detroitpistons on January 12, 2006, at 21:51:50
> Marsha,
>
> Oops, sorry I missed the part about Lamictal that you posted. That's typical of how my concentration, focus, and memory have been lately...It's like trying to flip a pancake with a fork.
>
> There have been times in my life when I was definitely moody and agitated, but I would have never thought that I would require a mood stabilizer. But looking back, the first time I was on Effexor, I was probably hypomanic, but euphoric in that case. I didn't see it as hypomania at the time, but I was talking fast and feeling really good. My confidence was sky high, which is unusual for me. Someone I worked with actually asked me, "are you on drugs?" LOL. The Effexor eventually pooped out on me too.
>
> Since then, I've tried Paxil and Lexapro, and I didn't have much success with either. Paxil seemed to help the depression for a couple months, but also made me agitated and impulsive. One day at work, I went off on my boss (it was bad). I was in the right, but I should have approached it a different way. I felt like I had totally lost control of myself at that point. It was kind of scary. It's a wonder I didn't get fired.
>
> This "dysphoric" hypomania is totally new to me, and it really sucks. Based on my fast and furious research today (could actually focus on that), I think we would probably fall into the category of Bipolar II or something called Bipolar Spectrum Disorder, if we indeed have a bipolar disorder...This whole bipolar diagnosis business can really be quite complicated if you're not a classic bipolar I -- true manic depressive.
>
> One thing I've learned about bipolar II is that one of the hallmarks is that you go through at least 3 antidepressants with limited or no results, or pretty rapid poop out.
>
> If you haven't already, check out this site:
>
> http://www.psycheducation.org/start/BPIntro.htm
>
> I do have Xanax to take during this time, although my doctor told me to try not to take it because it would mask the symptoms, which he probably wants to know about for my next visit in two weeks...I don't think I can make it without at least a little Xanax though.
>
> Good Luck!Hi Marc,
On Lamictal I felt better even though I never got beyond 50mg. I had some weird side effects though. Sharp shooting pains in various parts of my body that would come and go at random. Finally they settled into a kind of neuralgia in my bottom front teeth. Also headache and very intense muscle spasm in my upper back. All went away within a couple of weeks of stopping the Lamictal.
Paxil and Lexapro both made me much more agitated and scared and jittery. Actually that's part of what started this whole thing (along with a bunch of traumatic events). When the Effexor pooped out I tried Paxil. Within a week, I was panicky. Went back to Effexor and was okay again, but still depressed. Tried again a couple of months later with the same effect. Same thing happened with Cymbalta. So I went backto Effexor but that time it didn't work for the anxiety even any more. So I switched to Celexa which didn't help much. (Not at all with anxiety). The last time I was on Effexor was about a year ago so I'm hoping that enough time has passed that I will respond to it again. Even if I get apathetic and anhedonic again, it will be better than being scared and jittery and suicidal.
I've been through at least 15 antidepressants with failed results or intolerable side effects.
I'm glad you've got the Xanax for the rough times. I'm not trying to stop my Klonopin until I've got the Depakote built up in my system a bit. I'm hoping desperately it will take care of the anxiety/fear (hoping that the fear is a function of the "dysphoric mania.")
I never had any kind of mania before SSRIs. I know mine is med induced. I don't think you can suddenly become biologically bipolar at the age of 48. I'm not sure what the classification is but there's bound to be a name for med-induced bipolar cycling and dyphoric mania/mixed states.
I'm just relieved to have a (possible) answer. I've been living in hell for the past 16 months.
And you're right about the dysphoric mania - it's a new concept for me (that I'd never have known about except for this board) and I hate it beyond any state I've ever experienced. Even when I was the most depressed (unipolar), I was't suicidal, just blank and miserable. This other state is just plain dangerous.Good luck with the lamictal. Let us know how it goes.
Marsha
Thanks for the link. I'd been there before but forgotten about it. I've bookmarked it now.
poster:4WD
thread:596880
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060108/msgs/598885.html