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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by letterbox on September 25, 2009, at 2:24:10
I have recently been diagnosed with Bipolar II. I am still on Effexor from a previous diagnosis of depression and anxiety, but I am now see a Psychiatrist who diagnosed me as Bipoloar II. She has put me on 3 mg of Invega. Next week I will also start taking Lamotrigine. Eventually I will taper off Effexor but she didn't want to take me off it right away because my symptoms are too severe. I mostly get severe depression with some hypomania in between. After hypomania, I crash with a severe panic attack and am exhausted for a week.
Anyone else take Invega? Problems, benefits? I know tapering off Effexor is hell. I also take Clonazepam each night. I am trying to beat this - getting out for walks etc, but it sure is hard some days!
-LB
Posted by Phillipa on September 25, 2009, at 11:56:00
In reply to Invega, posted by letterbox on September 25, 2009, at 2:24:10
Haven't taken invega but what will you take for depression? I the doc saying the effexor caused the hypomania? And if panic will invega help it? Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on September 25, 2009, at 12:02:01
In reply to Re: Invega » letterbox, posted by Phillipa on September 25, 2009, at 11:56:00
Wiki has a pretty good description. And welcome to babble. Phillipa
Posted by manic666 on September 25, 2009, at 12:18:56
In reply to Invega, posted by letterbox on September 25, 2009, at 2:24:10
thats sounds bad news,getting told 1 illness an then another , the p docs want to see what its like this side of the chair.They swap meds like you get over them ASP. it dont work that way, stay safe
Posted by letterbox on September 28, 2009, at 1:39:36
In reply to Re: Invega, posted by manic666 on September 25, 2009, at 12:18:56
Hi
Thanks for your responses. I believe the Invega is for bipolar depression and lamotrigine to prevent panic attacks and hypomania.
I had a nervous breakdown last January. My family GP prescribed the Effexor for anxiety and depression before I saw my psychiatrist. The Effexor stopped working last month, gave me hypomania (which I've experienced before I was on any medication)which resulted in a severe panic attack and anxiety, then severe depression.
I insisted on being referred to a psychiatrist. My GP was resistant to that because she said the waiting list is six months to one year. I was lucky because my boss' husband is a child psychiatrist who got me in immediately to see a pyschiatrist. She is supposed to be the best in my city.
The psychiatrist (P-doc) diagnosed me as bipolar II and changed my meds to Invega and Lamotrigine. I am only still on Effexor until the new meds kick in, then I will be gradually tapered off the Effexor for good. Effexor is the most difficult med to get off of because of the severe side effects. My Poc said my depression is too severe to go off it too quickly.
My GP doesn't know a lot about all these different meds so it's a good thing I got in to see the P-doc. So far, I am feeling a little bit better, but it could only be because I've been off work for two weeks.
This is the end of the thread.
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