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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Petrucci914 on March 22, 2010, at 19:12:14
Sooo...a light-bulb went off in my head at my last psychiatry appointment. We were discussing all the medications I've tried, and the paradoxical reactions I've had to most of them, especially stimulatory ones. They either did nothing or made me more tired, irritable, angry, and fatigued. My doctor told me that a lot of times mania can be noticed in the form of dysphoria. I always thought that mania was when you were really happy with a lot of energy. We now may think that I have some bipolar tendencies.
Can someone school me on Dysphoria? Is my doctor right? And is the fact that I haven't experienced any positive effects from my antidepressants be because I have Bipolar disorder? I'm now on Invega and some days I think it is helping me which is partly why my doctor thinks I may be bipolar. I'm not really happy with the sexual dysfunction. If I do have a bipolar subtype, where would the next recommendations be? My doctor hates lithium.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on March 22, 2010, at 19:52:13
In reply to Educate me on Dysphoria, posted by Petrucci914 on March 22, 2010, at 19:12:14
> Sooo...a light-bulb went off in my head at my last psychiatry appointment. We were discussing all the medications I've tried, and the paradoxical reactions I've had to most of them, especially stimulatory ones. They either did nothing or made me more tired, irritable, angry, and fatigued. My doctor told me that a lot of times mania can be noticed in the form of dysphoria. I always thought that mania was when you were really happy with a lot of energy. We now may think that I have some bipolar tendencies.
>
> Can someone school me on Dysphoria? Is my doctor right? And is the fact that I haven't experienced any positive effects from my antidepressants be because I have Bipolar disorder? I'm now on Invega and some days I think it is helping me which is partly why my doctor thinks I may be bipolar. I'm not really happy with the sexual dysfunction. If I do have a bipolar subtype, where would the next recommendations be? My doctor hates lithium.Dysphoria is a vague term which can refer to a variety of unpleasant emotions. In dysphoric mania, typical manic symptoms such as overexcitement, pressured speech and racing thoughts are combined with feelings of distress.
Lithium is the best established treatment for bipolar disorder, it would be foolish to 'hate' it. In some cases, it can be problematic because the dose is too high. The drug that you doctor has chosen to prescribe (Invega) is far from being problem-free.
It sounds to me like your diagnosis is unclear. I think it would be wise to look into this more closely before jumping to any conclusions. Many people do not benefit from antidepressants, this does not mean that they are bipolar. Antidepressants can be particularly problematic in bipolar disorder however, because they tend to induce symptoms of mania and sometimes rapid cycling of mood.
Best regards
Posted by Petrucci914 on March 22, 2010, at 20:00:25
In reply to Re: Educate me on Dysphoria, posted by ed_uk2010 on March 22, 2010, at 19:52:13
I've been dealing with this for 6 years and never really got a clear diagnosis. When I pushed a therapist to give me a clear diagnosis, she came up with dysthymia. No idea what to believe anymore. So sick of being tired, fatigued, irritable, and depressed. All I want to do is sleep.
Posted by Frustratedmama on March 22, 2010, at 20:05:37
In reply to Re: Educate me on Dysphoria, posted by Petrucci914 on March 22, 2010, at 20:00:25
You described me in your post....what is invega? Are you getting any relief?
Posted by Petrucci914 on March 22, 2010, at 20:11:55
In reply to Re: Educate me on Dysphoria » Petrucci914, posted by Frustratedmama on March 22, 2010, at 20:05:37
Invega is an atypical anti-psychotic. It is basically a time-released variant of Risperdal. I thought it was helping but I'm not so sure anymore. It seems to be making me reflect a lot on my life and realize just how unhappy I am. I didn't want medications to make me realize how much of a failure I am.
Posted by Frustratedmama on March 22, 2010, at 20:35:24
In reply to Re: Educate me on Dysphoria, posted by Petrucci914 on March 22, 2010, at 20:11:55
You're communicating with me so in my eyes you are an angel and not a failure- I hope you know that it means a lot to me- as I am having a hard time holding on to life right now. Please just keep communicating..... that's what this board is for. I understand how you feel though! Unfotunately, I know all to well how it feels.
Posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2010, at 0:31:01
In reply to Re: Educate me on Dysphoria » Petrucci914, posted by Frustratedmama on March 22, 2010, at 20:35:24
I know I have Gad but backpain and little bits of opiods make me feel normal but no doc will prescribe as addicting they say but aren't all the others also. Boy we got problems. I thought we had a happy pill? Oh well. We're here Love Phillipa
Posted by Roslynn on March 23, 2010, at 10:57:10
In reply to Educate me on Dysphoria, posted by Petrucci914 on March 22, 2010, at 19:12:14
Hi, yes, you can have dysphoric mania, mixed mania, and dysphoric hypomania. There seem to be many subtypes.
It makes it difficult to pin down a diagnosis. That is what I am dealing with too.
Posted by floatingbridge on March 24, 2010, at 11:18:13
In reply to Educate me on Dysphoria, posted by Petrucci914 on March 22, 2010, at 19:12:14
Dysphoria, I don't think, conclusively indicates bipolar. I've experienced 'dysphoria' though mine is less agitated than some. For me, terrible, horrible, intrusive thoughts--like someone shouting in my head accompanied by high anxiety and restlessness. So, yes, it is a stimulated mood, mixed, in my case with fatigue (I mean who wouldn't be worn out by that?).
Provigil, strattera, and abilify have induced it for me.
I like low dose lithium. I'm not bipolar and take it daily.
Good luck--you've companions here.
Posted by Petrucci914 on March 24, 2010, at 19:57:52
In reply to Re: Educate me on Dysphoria » Petrucci914, posted by floatingbridge on March 24, 2010, at 11:18:13
I'm going to give up. I've maintained hope of finding something that would work but I don't think that will happen anymore. I'm giving Invega another week or two and then I'm going after Parnate. All the food and drink in the world is not worth feeling like sh*t. I can't enjoy my job or life at all.
Posted by floatingbridge on March 28, 2010, at 1:03:26
In reply to Re: Educate me on Dysphoria, posted by Petrucci914 on March 24, 2010, at 19:57:52
> I'm going to give up. I've maintained hope of finding something that would work but I don't think that will happen anymore. I'm giving Invega another week or two and then I'm going after Parnate. All the food and drink in the world is not worth feeling like sh*t. I can't enjoy my job or life at all.
Hey, I would forego all the cheese in Europe to feel alright. Friends have found parnate to be the key for them--one over twenty years. I'm not familiar with invega--. I'm sorry to hear it hasn't kicked in yet.
I wanted my doc to put me straight on patnate--if not that, emsam. Instead, we're cobbling something together--seems to be getting somewhere. I still think parnate ain't bad. Keep on!
This is the end of the thread.
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