Posted by detroitpistons on January 16, 2006, at 14:25:01
In reply to Re: Med-induced hypomania? Crazy and hopeless » detroitpistons, posted by 4WD on January 13, 2006, at 22:20:14
> 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.
>
Marsha,It definitely is weird that you just started having these symptoms. It seems like it must have something to do with the meds. At least in my case, it would make more sense because I'm only 27, and bipolar or hypomanic symptoms can take years to uncover. I've always had a sense that I'm a bit unstable or cyclical with respect my moods, but I always thought my main problems to be anxiety and depression.
In case you haven't found out yet, med induced bipolarism is considered to be bipolar III, I believe.
After I quit Paxil cold turkey (I know, very, very, very stupid thing to do--was at least 6 WEEKS of misery), I felt like something was changed permanently in my brain. I don't really know how to explain this...It's probably just paranoia. The bottom line is that I seem to get worse every year.
Anyways, I'm on day 6 of Lamictal, I don't feel anything yet. I think the hypomania (or whatever it is) may be beginning to run it's own course as I am feeling slightly better. I've read that the mood stabilizing effects of Lamictal don't kick in until you're up to at least 100 mg, which, as you know, takes 5 weeks. I'm really hoping this is "the answer," although I know I shouldn't get too excited because it would set me up for a major letdown if it doesn't work.
I heard that Depakote can work pretty fast. Are you feeling it yet? Hope you feel better.
Marc
I'm going to see the doc on the 25th again, and I'm hoping he can explain more to me, but I have the sense that he may be just as confused as I am.
poster:detroitpistons
thread:596880
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060115/msgs/599670.html