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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alchemy on May 31, 2010, at 22:21:36
I've been noticing that a simple thought or even for no reason I will get these short mood dips/ intervals throughout the day. It's hard to describe. They seem fleeting, and I don't stay down there that long.
I'm wondering if it is because I started Dexadrine to my mix even though I am on a stabilizer.
Ideas? Experiences?
Posted by chujoe on June 1, 2010, at 6:39:03
In reply to quick short mood dips?, posted by alchemy on May 31, 2010, at 22:21:36
How long are the dips?
Posted by Phillipa on June 1, 2010, at 10:50:08
In reply to quick short mood dips?, posted by alchemy on May 31, 2010, at 22:21:36
Is it like a negative thought jumps in and then you override it? Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on June 1, 2010, at 20:46:52
In reply to quick short mood dips?, posted by alchemy on May 31, 2010, at 22:21:36
Well, if the dips did not exist prior to the dexedrine, then it's pretty obvious.
If that is the case, then it becomes a matter of experimenting with dosing and timing of dosing.
Posted by Dan_MI on June 2, 2010, at 12:25:14
In reply to quick short mood dips?, posted by alchemy on May 31, 2010, at 22:21:36
I get such mood-swings when there's something brewing...usually a mixed-state.
If it were to happen to me today, I would take 2 extra lithiums, my usual lamictal and steer clear of anything else. That's my non-doctor approved mood-swing breaking procedure.
> I've been noticing that a simple thought or even for no reason I will get these short mood dips/ intervals throughout the day. It's hard to describe. They seem fleeting, and I don't stay down there that long.
>
> I'm wondering if it is because I started Dexadrine to my mix even though I am on a stabilizer.
>
> Ideas? Experiences?
Posted by herpills on June 2, 2010, at 14:14:32
In reply to Re: quick short mood dips?, posted by Dan_MI on June 2, 2010, at 12:25:14
I always wondered how many people use meds PRN for mood (not including the benzos)?
Geodon helped my mixed state very quickly, but it's not a med I want to be on long term. Would love to use it as needed but not sure that works? I've heard of Zyprexa being taken as needed.
herpills
> I get such mood-swings when there's something brewing...usually a mixed-state.
>
> If it were to happen to me today, I would take 2 extra lithiums, my usual lamictal and steer clear of anything else. That's my non-doctor approved mood-swing breaking procedure.
>
> > I've been noticing that a simple thought or even for no reason I will get these short mood dips/ intervals throughout the day. It's hard to describe. They seem fleeting, and I don't stay down there that long.
> >
> > I'm wondering if it is because I started Dexadrine to my mix even though I am on a stabilizer.
> >
> > Ideas? Experiences?
>
>
Posted by alchemy on June 2, 2010, at 18:10:37
In reply to Re: quick short mood dips? » alchemy, posted by chujoe on June 1, 2010, at 6:39:03
The dips I would say are maybe only 10 seconds. Sometimes I can't even pinpoint why. An example might be that I forgot that I had meat in the fridge & it is going bad.
Is this a unique way of cycling? It is most likely the dexedrine. But the dexadrine helps with motivation & work. Right now it this little "glitch" isn't bad enough to stop the dexadrine, but I am worried that it may get worse. (years ago Adderall made me really go up and down without a stabilizer).
I am on 400 mg Lamictal that is a safety net. I am kinda Bipolar II, and use to have the agitation/depression mixed state.
I am still searching for mood improvement, and of course running out of options. I know some have had success adding a little lithium. But I've read that it isn't as effective for bipolar 2s.
When I was 1st in the hospital, the dr. had me try lithium. It seemed to just give me agitation & I was only on it for a couple of weeks.I am not an extreme rapid cycler, but I have no real pattern in my moods. I average around 5 days really bad, 5 days medium low, and 10 days in the middle.
I just read that not only are bipolar 2s hard to treat, but rapid cyclers have an even worse prognosis.
Hope sinks again.
Posted by alchemy on June 2, 2010, at 18:13:15
In reply to Re: quick short mood dips?, posted by Dan_MI on June 2, 2010, at 12:25:14
> I get such mood-swings when there's something brewing...usually a mixed-state.
> If it were to happen to me today, I would take 2 extra lithiums, my usual lamictal and steer clear of anything else. That's my non-doctor approved mood-swing breaking procedure.
>What kind of swings do you get? Are you a typical bipolar with the highs?
Posted by Dan_MI on June 2, 2010, at 21:34:50
In reply to Re: quick short mood dips? » Dan_MI, posted by alchemy on June 2, 2010, at 18:13:15
i'm bipolar 2. unmedicated i tend towards depression & treacherous mixed states, medicated i tend towards mania.
it's been 14 years on lithium and i haven't been suicidal since. but i did have unstable relationships/job situations before i started lamictal. of course lamictal hasn't cured this but it has decreased it's intensity, and i'm proud to say i've been in a long term relationship for four years.
i've never been on a stimulant, and that would be my first guess as to what is causing your anomalies. why are you on the stimulant any way? how can you distinguish between the effects of the stimulant and mania?
> > I get such mood-swings when there's something brewing...usually a mixed-state.
> > If it were to happen to me today, I would take 2 extra lithiums, my usual lamictal and steer clear of anything else. That's my non-doctor approved mood-swing breaking procedure.
> >
>
> What kind of swings do you get? Are you a typical bipolar with the highs?
Posted by alchemy on June 2, 2010, at 22:58:27
In reply to Re: quick short mood dips?, posted by Dan_MI on June 2, 2010, at 21:34:50
Thanks for your response.
I added a stimulant a couple of months ago because I am running out of options. It didn't help my mood, but it did help a little with motivation. I also noticed that tedious tasks weren't as tedious. Sometimes I don't think it does anything, but overall it does actually help me.
I have no idea what mania feels like, I would love to just for a minute. I just go from low to lower. When I wasn't on a stabilizer, I tried Adderall. I actually did feel pretty good on it. I remember that Sat. wanting to make cookies for my friends and amazed that I felt so much better. Then in about a week, the cycling began with horrible lows.
Posted by Dan_MI on June 3, 2010, at 16:08:59
In reply to Re: quick short mood dips?, posted by alchemy on June 2, 2010, at 22:58:27
Very sorry to hear that. I hope you get relief soon.
I remember yearning to be manic when I was depressed.
> Thanks for your response.
> I added a stimulant a couple of months ago because I am running out of options. It didn't help my mood, but it did help a little with motivation. I also noticed that tedious tasks weren't as tedious. Sometimes I don't think it does anything, but overall it does actually help me.
> I have no idea what mania feels like, I would love to just for a minute. I just go from low to lower. When I wasn't on a stabilizer, I tried Adderall. I actually did feel pretty good on it. I remember that Sat. wanting to make cookies for my friends and amazed that I felt so much better. Then in about a week, the cycling began with horrible lows.
Posted by floatingbridge on June 3, 2010, at 20:57:08
In reply to Re: quick short mood dips?, posted by alchemy on June 2, 2010, at 18:10:37
Hi Alchemy, sounds like you are in an uneasy place. I'm sorry. It's no fun.
Yeah, wanting to make cookies. I can relate. Have you tried something like neurontin? (I haven't.)
How much lithium did you take in the hospital? (I did get that right?) Maybe it was too high. Right now I take 300 which is well below theraputic range. Maybe 600 would help? (Just a thought.)
I experience the mood instability you describe, from low to lower. I take a stimulant also. Stabilizers haven't workef for me, though if necessary, I'd try neurotin.
Posted by floatingbridge on June 7, 2010, at 15:07:06
In reply to quick short mood dips?, posted by alchemy on May 31, 2010, at 22:21:36
Alchemy, I have a question, if you don't mind. Has lamictal helped moderate your mood swings at all?
(How are you doing?)
Thanks.
Posted by alchemy on June 7, 2010, at 19:25:52
In reply to Re: quick short mood dips? » alchemy, posted by floatingbridge on June 3, 2010, at 20:57:08
> Alchemy, I have a question, if you don't mind. Has lamictal helped moderate your mood swings at all?>
That's a good question. I would say yes, but I can't answer that with 100% certainty. Comparing taking a stimulant with and without a stabilizer may show that it does help. I have been on dexadrine for 2.5 months. With Adderall & no stabilizer I cycled the next week and eventually ended me in the hospital.
I'm not sure what the dosage of my Lithium was. I had agitation, anxiety, and depression. I have been thinking about giving it another try w/ Lamictal. I was only on it for 2 wks and I was already in a black hole.
So have you tried all of the stabilizers (except Neurontin)? Do you think Lithium helps you at all? That sucks. What stimulant do you take? At what dose? I only take 2mg x 2/day. It's effect is minimal. I would guess that it would have more of an effect without the Lamictal.
Why do you take a stimulant? Do you take an antidepressant as well?
The antipsychotics I have tried have not been good for me. Geodon made me beg to get in asap for ECT.I will never try Depakote again- it made me more depressed.
I did try Neurontin. I won't try that again either. It started some "weird" feelings for me that night. The next night I was driving and felt like I didn't have much control over my body. My dr. doubts it could have done anything that fast.
I wish I had another stabilizer to try. For me, I need more help for depression than being stabilizied.
Thanks for asking how I am - pretty hopeless. I have been for a long time. How about you?
Posted by floatingbridge on June 7, 2010, at 20:47:50
In reply to Re: quick short mood dips?, posted by alchemy on June 7, 2010, at 19:25:52
Hi Alchemy, I'm sorry you feel pessimistic about treatment options. Not a good feeling. Sounds like you've reached a plateau? Also sounds like your dx is BPll?
2mg x 2 daily is quite low. I wouldn't feel it. Safeguards against cycling, but I wonder if you find it helpful. How much adderall were you taking previously (for add)? I take dexedrine 45-60mg daily, originally as an add add-on. My depression broke for the first time in 8ish years. So my use is atypical, I guess. I also experience cfs.
Honestly, I have not tried all the stabilizers. Abilify and depakote. Depakote felt like nothing--odd. But blunting. (Lithium 300 is an add-on.) Meds scare me--serquoel felt terrible and abilify above 2mg (and even that dose gave me a twitch, but I didn't recognize it until later).
I must be forgetting something....
You must have tried more stabilzers than you've mentioned. My pdoc was naming some I hadn't heard. If you're interested, you could post or babble a list, and I'll keep you
in mind while I read up on lamictal, etc.Neurontin works really well for some people. I'm sorry it was a bust for you.
Yes, I currently take pristiq, 50 mg. Really low sides. Also fairly low effect for me. However, I am trd as are many here.
Less mood reactivity would be wonderful. Life is full of
triggers on top of depression & anxiety. Fun fun.Keep on. Wishing you the best. Post/send a list if you want.
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