Posted by 4WD on January 26, 2006, at 21:35:26
In reply to Re: Bipolar II, posted by fiftylager on January 26, 2006, at 21:04:38
> Oh my goodness! I saw a counsellor when I was teen (bad depression, suicidal) and he suggested bipolar because I use to get really hyper between my lows. I mean, I was really wacky. I did some reckless stuff. I just did some reading and it scared me. Could it be? I do have changing moods, mostly very bad anxiety, scared, hopeless, guilt, can't stop talking, depression but not as severe as when I was a teen. I'll spend too much money then have a panic attack when I do it. Could I have it or am I just looking for an answer?
Hi Fiftylager,Some people get more anxious on SSRIs like Celexa or Prozac or Zoloft. I do. For a long time I was fine on Effexor but still a nervous jittery sort of person. When Effexor kind of pooped out for depression, I switched to Paxil and had the same sort of reaction you talked about. I was terrified within a few days of starting it.
About the bipolar. I don't know if I'm truly bipolar or if I just get bipolar symptoms from being on SSRIs but what has helped me is a combination of Effexor and Depakote (an anticonvulsant drug that also acts as a mood stabilizer). If your doctor is unwilling to provide benzos then this might be an option since Depakote (or another mood stabilizer) could help with the jitteryness caused by the antidepressant.
But first, I think I might try the Effexor. For me, for a long time, it truly did control my anxiety all by itself. I still was kind of nervous but I was totally functional and even happy a lot of the time.
You doc might also be willing to prescribe Buspar for your anxiety. It doesn't work as well for most people as benzos but it might be better than nothing. One thing that make a benzo-phobic doctor change her mind is if you were to show up in her office unannounced in the middle of an especially bad anxiety attack. Sometimes I think they don't have a clue how bad it can get and think you should just be able to tough it out. When they see someone actually shaking with fear and can measure their elevated blood pressure and see the tears and the horror in the patient's face, they just might have a better idea of what you are going through.
Hope this helps a little. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. It sounds so much like where I've been and am just barely beginning to emerge from.
Marsha
poster:4WD
thread:602856
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060122/msgs/603222.html