Posted by Helen Ball on July 21, 2019, at 7:24:40
Hello fellow Babblonians!!
I know there is a wealth of experienced information within this group and am seeking your advice.
I have had a 45 year old history of (at times) severe OCD - resulting in a 20 year compliance to various SSRI's and lately SNRI's. These antidepressant have helped reduce the anxiety associated with my OCD. For the last seven years I have experienced serious depression - hence the journey to find the 'correcting' medication for my depression. For 2.5 years I functioned happily on Prozac 20 mg and Lyrica 75 mg po od. My family doctor has been treating. I finally attended a 'consultation' visit with a psychiatrist who has diagnosed me with suspected Bipolar II (still not convinced), as my depression has lasted this long. She has (I believe), interpreted my irritability as a sign of occasional mania?? Here's the crunch ... she has taken me off all antidepressants. (Stopped Lyrica a year ago as pooped out), and started me (very slowly titrating) on Lamotrogine (Lamictal). It has been seven days. I am only taking 5 mg Lamotrogine. For the last couple of nights I have been experiencing return of anxiety and OCD symptoms - not sleeping - anxious ruminating thoughts - ruminating on my breathing, ruminating obsessively on order and compulsively getting up to straighten, etc.
My questions to you are:
1) Is it possible to be dx. bipolar II because of longstanding depression and irritability?
2) Do you think I should have been taken off SSRI/SNRI because of my OCD? (My daughter who is a psych nurse told me ... "Mom, I think your OCD is going to get worse ... I don't think PDoc should have taken off SSRI/SNRI.
3) Is it possible that long time use of SSRI could in fact cause depression? Too much seretonin?4) What antidepressant/med. do you think would work best with OCD and possible Bipolar II?
Note: Even at 5 mg of Lamictal for a week, my mood appears improved. My anxiety/OCD worse. I was titrating off my Duloxetine and was down to 15 mg. when off completely a week ago and started Lamotrogine (only med.)
If you have the time ... I would appreciate your thoughts re. my questions.
Thanks. I hope you are experiencing some sense of recovery from your own struggles.
Kind regards,
Bones
poster:Helen Ball
thread:1105343
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20190513/msgs/1105343.html