Posted by Racer on January 27, 2008, at 17:37:08
In reply to Which meds?, posted by daveuproar on January 27, 2008, at 15:12:52
Bipolar disorder has been extended from the "classic" form, Bipolar I, with it's full blown manias, to a spectrum that includes milder forms involving hypomanias. There's even a classification of bipolar which involves mania or hypomania which is only apparent on certain medications -- primarily antidepressants.
It's very possible what you're experiencing is somewhere on the bipolar spectrum, and it's probably in your best interest to discuss it with a good, knowledgeable psychiatrist. Of course, it's easy to find a psychiatrist who sees bipolar in the woodwork these days, so trust your gut: if you feel as though the "highs" are beyond your normal functioning range, and the doctor says it's a mild form of bipolar, that makes sense. If you think that you're just a particularly happy, energetic person AND you aren't getting any information to refute that from anyone at all other than the psychiatrist, then it's worth getting a second opinion. If your second opinion also says bipolar, it might be worth listening...
Here's the bottom line: it doesn't matter what your diagnosis is, except as it applies to treatment. (I've heard it said this way: it doesn't hurt a kangaroo to call it a cat, unless it's expected to chase mice.) If the addition of a mood stabilizer improves your response to anti depressants -- and sometimes it does, even for unipolar depression -- then you've gotten a benefit, even if the diagnosis is iffy. If it just leads to further adventures on the Medication Go Round, then it's not helpful.
Tecknohed's right about the withdrawal from Effexor: if it's no longer working for you, there are a number of things you can do to minimize the discomfort of discontinuation. The Withdrawals board here has a lot of suggestions, from people who have done it. I did it -- after several years on Effexor, more than a year of it not working, I stopped it by tapering slowly. It can be done, and it might be especially useful, because it might help clarify the diagnostic questions.
I wish you the very best luck with this.
poster:Racer
thread:809192
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080124/msgs/809207.html