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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nmk on June 7, 2004, at 12:28:43
My pdoc says no but from all of the research I have been gathering, I am reading otherwise. Can someone please set me (and him)straight?
I have been on every ssri known to man, all of which send me into a hypomanic state almost immediately. This typically lasts a few weeks and then I come crashing down into a pretty severe depression. Is this typical of someone with BP II?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Nicole
Posted by B2chica on June 7, 2004, at 14:24:07
In reply to Is AD induced hypomania indicative of BP?, posted by nmk on June 7, 2004, at 12:28:43
if i remember right it's classified as Bp3 (drug induced mania). However, there are several symptoms that they look for so i'm guessing they're assessing the whole not just those reactions. However,
I am no physician, and this is only from what i've been reading. but i was dx Bp2 last fall and since then i've done a LOT of reading. In fact i remember reading that many Bp people are mis-dx as depressive instead of Bp..
Don't try to set him straight, just Please get second and third physician opinions! Never take one doctors word no matter what their decision is. i had one psychologist say i definately did not have bipolar and that the psychiatrist there would never dx me with that either. since him (who frustrated me completely) i've had 1Gp, 2PA's, and three psychiatrists and a hospital psych ward full of nurses witness and dx me with bipolar. So NEVER take just one persons word. get a few. and always trust your instinct. You know if somethings up with your mind or body.
Best Wishes.
B2c.
> My pdoc says no but from all of the research I have been gathering, I am reading otherwise. Can someone please set me (and him)straight?
>
> I have been on every ssri known to man, all of which send me into a hypomanic state almost immediately. This typically lasts a few weeks and then I come crashing down into a pretty severe depression. Is this typical of someone with BP II?
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Nicole
>
>
>
Posted by griswald on June 7, 2004, at 19:50:26
In reply to Is AD induced hypomania indicative of BP?, posted by nmk on June 7, 2004, at 12:28:43
I think AD depressed induced hypomania/mania can be indicative of BP. I am BP II and AD's (particularly SSRI's) send me hypomanic almost immediately, even with the smallest of doses. The hypomania is always followed by a severe depression. It's been a very frustrating journey for me. Right now I take lithium, lamictal and a very small dose of Wellbutrin, which seems to be working. Please let us know if you find anything that works for you. I'll try anything!!
Posted by harryp on June 8, 2004, at 20:33:52
In reply to Is AD induced hypomania indicative of BP?, posted by nmk on June 7, 2004, at 12:28:43
If you don't get hypomanic UNLESS you take an AD, then I don't think it would be appropriate to diagnose you as bipolar. You probably just respond badly to SSRI's. SSRI's are well-known for inducing hypomania, even in some people who are not bipolar.
I would try a different class of AD's, unless you do get hypomanic spontaneously--in which case you should look into AD/mood stabilizers like lamictal.
Posted by Mats on June 9, 2004, at 1:23:46
In reply to Re: Is AD induced hypomania indicative of BP?, posted by harryp on June 8, 2004, at 20:33:52
I agree with harry.
Zoloft made my hypomanic in on day at 25mg! Never been having indications of BP without meds.
Posted by Viridis on June 9, 2004, at 3:25:41
In reply to Is AD induced hypomania indicative of BP?, posted by nmk on June 7, 2004, at 12:28:43
I think this is what's now called "BP III" by some. However, I have had bad reactions to SSRIs, including lasting anxiety and rapidly changing moods, and question whether this really indicates a form of BP disorder.
When my pdoc prescribed a very low dose of Zoloft and I experienced extreme mood swings, he simply told me to stop taking it, and that we'd try other meds. I asked if this was indicative of bipolar disorder, and he said not necessarily -- quite a few people just can't tolerate SSRIs, in his experience. He seems to be quite conservative when diagnosing bipolarity (although he has suggested that I may be cyclothymic, and Lamictal, a mood stabilizer, seems to help).
Although he hasn't said so outright, I get the feeling that he considers "BP" to be an overused diagnosis. Not that it isn't real -- I just get the impression that having been around quite a while, he's seen a lot of trends come and go and is somewhat skeptical of the latest fads. He does do an excellent job of managing complex problems, though, listens to his patients, and seems quite willing to prescribe whatever combination it takes (within reason). This guy, at least, seems more interested in getting patients back to normality than "labeling" them.
Posted by sjb on June 9, 2004, at 8:53:13
In reply to Re: Is AD induced hypomania indicative of BP? » nmk, posted by Viridis on June 9, 2004, at 3:25:41
I agree and also think just about anyone that goes to see a PDoc would get a diagnosis of something and a script for a med.
I've seen a number of PDocs and have been diagnosed with things all over the place. They ain't all right. ADs also send me into mild mania, but I am convinced now that am not bi-polar I, II, III, IV, whatever.
It's not a denial thing, hell, I've had some crappy depression, no denying that, but I'm not bi-polar.
Posted by nmk on June 9, 2004, at 11:37:15
In reply to Re: Is AD induced hypomania indicative of BP?, posted by sjb on June 9, 2004, at 8:53:13
Thank you so much to all that have responded. It was great to get some insight into how others respond to SSRI's. It has been 2 1/2 years on this roller coaster ride and I have decided to seek out a 2nd opinion. My hyponmania is ONLY ssri induced yet if I try to go off, I become severely depressed. I may have to look at TCA's as an option since I do need an AD on board.
Thanks again.......I don't know what I would do without this board.
Nicole
Posted by harryp on June 9, 2004, at 16:46:16
In reply to Re: Is AD induced hypomania indicative of BP? » nmk, posted by Viridis on June 9, 2004, at 3:25:41
> I think this is what's now called "BP III" by some. However, I have had bad reactions to SSRIs, including lasting anxiety and rapidly changing moods, and question whether this really indicates a form of BP disorder.
>
> When my pdoc prescribed a very low dose of Zoloft and I experienced extreme mood swings, he simply told me to stop taking it, and that we'd try other meds. I asked if this was indicative of bipolar disorder, and he said not necessarily -- quite a few people just can't tolerate SSRIs, in his experience. He seems to be quite conservative when diagnosing bipolarity (although he has suggested that I may be cyclothymic, and Lamictal, a mood stabilizer, seems to help).
>
> Although he hasn't said so outright, I get the feeling that he considers "BP" to be an overused diagnosis. Not that it isn't real -- I just get the impression that having been around quite a while, he's seen a lot of trends come and go and is somewhat skeptical of the latest fads. He does do an excellent job of managing complex problems, though, listens to his patients, and seems quite willing to prescribe whatever combination it takes (within reason). This guy, at least, seems more interested in getting patients back to normality than "labeling" them.
Wow. This sounds like a truly great doc! The psychiatrists I've known have been as faddish as pre-teen girls. The antipsychotic craze (lets put EVERYONE on Zyprexa!) has been going on a few years now, and we're still in the middle of the BP II craze, which everyone with chronic, unclassifiable depression seems to have now.I keep hoping that psychiatrists will go retro, grow out their hair a bit, and rediscover the MAOI's, TCA's, lithium, benzos, low doses of Haldol, etc.
This is the end of the thread.
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