Newly diagnosed, Bipolar. New to this, or any, forum.

I was diagnosed several months ago Bipolar II, and anxiety. My doc prescribed Lamictal, and I was already taking Prozac that my OB gave me because I thought what I had was PMDD. I have used alcohol and different prescription drugs to try and self medicate for most of my life. Having a few drinks was the only thing that ever made me feel better, relaxed, happy. Alcohol for me has always been kind of a slippery slope, because once I started drinking, I usually would not stop until I was stumbling drunk. I decided to seek help when my husband told me that he could not take anymore and that he wanted out. Our marriage counselor actually diagnosed me as Bipolar.

The lamictal has taken away the urge to get drunk 3-4 nights a week, in fact in 2 months that I have been on it, I have not been drunk once. It is a big deal for me. I still have a drink or two from time to time, but that inability to stop myself is gone. I am 34 years old and I started drinking in High school.

Problem is, I cannot seem to relax, I have tension all through my shoulders, neck, face, jaw and head. I realize that I am clenching my jaw, and everything is tight and stressed feeling all the time. My teeth hurt like hell. She says it is anxiety. To combat the anxiety the doc prescribed Buspar, to replace the Prozac, but after about 10 days I was having weird electrical flashes, and I could not stop crying. Seriously, I almost never cry, never have been a big crier, but I spent most of my days collapsed in a heap sobbing. Not cool. So, 10 days ago she switched me to Zoloft, the crying has stopped, but I still have the severe tension in my head, neck and shoulders.

I also take Ambien at night to sleep. That is the only thing that takes away the tension, I would give anything to just feel relaxed. I have two young kids, and all that goes along with that....plus the issues with my husband. We are still living together, things are pretty rough though. It is not helping the anxiety.

I also take levothyroxin for Hypothyroidism.

So as of right now here is the list.
Sertroline 50mg
Lamictal 150mg
Levothyroxin 150mcg
Ambien 10mg

Has anyone else taken this combo...or ever had the tension issues? I would like to ask my doc for xanax for the times when the tension is unbearable. Any suggestions would be great.

Hey there and welcome!  I have been on Lamictal for umm.. *counts* about 8 years?  I take 325 mg a day.  I've never had any problem with it at all. 

You clearly have anxiety.  Ask your p-doc about a benzo like xanax.  It's fast working (about 15 min for me) and it has a short life.  It's the most normal I can feel if you understand what I'm saying. lol  It takes my tenseness away and doesn't zone me out at all.

Hi, I was diagnosed with BP II in July. It does sound like intense anxiety but you should check with a GP to make sure it's not something more....biological... if you know what I mean. I was diagnosed with a panic disorder about 6 years ago and besides panic attacks and things (which I don't get anymore) I get REALLY tense, so much it can really hurt. I take Xanax (it was a maximum of 3mg/day) but I found that I didn't need more than 2.25 mg/day. (It does make me drowsy and if i don't get up and do stuff I'll just fall asleep). Recently since my diagnosis, with trying to find a mood stabiliser that works and the fear that goes with finding out I have a REAL mental illness (what's going to happen, what will people think, will my life ever be the same, will I ever feel good again, and If i do is that feeling dangerous as i may end up hypomanic....sorry just a few of my fears at the moment) I have gone up to between 4 mg/day and occasionally just over 5 mg/day. (my psychiatrist assures me this is just until I get on top of things). But it definitely helps!!!!

With the self medication....not going into it too much but from 14 years until onwards there has been some sort of self medication at hand....you name it i've put it in my body pretty much............my drinking has always been the same as you. Can't have just one. (1 is too many 40 is not enough ;-)) I haven't had a drink in about 3 months, maybe a bit longer. (I wasn't an alcoholic, but I binged whenever I drank and couldn't go out without drinking). Admittedly I've been feeling too crap to really go out since just before the diagnosis but I'll admit I am REALLY nervous about catching up with mates without drinking (only a couple of mates know what's going on). But drinking makes me feel worse so I'm just not going to do it.......

Anyway, I got a bit carried away with my own things there.

Good luck!

No wonder you're feeling so uptight: no drinks and caffeine and nicotine withdrawal........the cigarettes took months to get over....but I did get over them!!!!! Caffeine was a hard one as well! Does get easier with time!!!!!!!! And being a student I'd have up to 10 cups a day of STRONG coffee (no offense but not the weak, horrible stuff that was all I could find in the states....)

Have you asked you doctor about diazepam or valium? I tried them but found they didn't quite cut the anxiety out enough.

Honestly (and I'm bad at keeping it up) but going for a good jog or some sort of cardio work, not too hard, just whatever you can do but for at least half an hour a day really gets my stress down (physical, psychological and emotional) after a few days. Really helps me relax!!!

Re-reading. She recommended Benadryl WITH Lamictal?! There is a drug interaction between the two. For me, it created intense migraine headaches. Until I figured out to check drugs.com for interactions, I curled up in the fetal position on the couch for 2 days. It was awful!

The Lamictal (Pronounced Lamistal) gave me a wicked headache for the first few days, and everytime I increase my dosage, but once I got settled on it, it is great. I would say it took me about a week to feel the effects, I guess it is different for everyone. I stopped drinking when I started taking it because I wanted to see how it made me feel. And don't get me wrong, that urge to have a couple drinks after a long day is still there, but IF I do have a couple, it no longer leads to 10. I am trying to cut out alcohol completely, but as a lot of people know it is much easier said than done.

On a happy note, the doc switched me from the Sertoline, to Cymbalta...I feel so much better! Today is day 7 of the cymbalta, and I increase my dosage tomorrow to 60mg, I am actually looking forward to it. The tense, stressed feeling still comes and goes, but it is not nearly as bad as it was. I am hoping that once I get leveled out on my dosage, It will be gone.

I still wish that my doc would give me xanax to get me through the rough days, but she is pretty against it. I might ask her again if I am still having these issues next visit.