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Posted 8/9/2005 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone--hope someone who could answer this w SOME know how----WILL---ok--here goes-

  My psychologist rec. Paxil (if youv rememberb my story---had me diag w "major depression").   For 10 days----i was on 10 mg---today started 20 mg----few days ago started feeling "Wired"---today--really bad (on my first day of 20mg)....like i'm on "speed".    I do NOT have a psychiatrist.    I hated to do this, but i called up my psyvhologist on her cell phone-(i did not know she was on vacation----but she said it was ok)----She was so nice-----said, that since i was "Spikey" (termed she used--very appropro)----i COULD be "hypomanic"......as my brother is BP 1----

   Suggested i see psych (she gave me name of one she kmows)----said--since she is not physician ---she cannot tell me what to do Re: Paxil (i had asked about cutting it in half...starting w tomorrow's dose)-----

   Psychnurse---or someone------(i know she did not want to say anything re" dose as she was not physician)---BUT---i guess it would be OK---if i cut the 20 mg Paxil dose in half tomorrow.

   ALS)----IF i AM......"hypomanic"...(mild mania)-----MUST I HAVE TO TAKE ANY KIND OF "mood stabilizer"????   thought of that---FRIGHTENS me!!!!   I mentioned that to my psychologist on phone--she said..."not necessary---just work w Psychiatrist---getting right kind of med..---

    Someone help me:    TWO questions--1) it would be OK to break my dose of Paxil in half tomorrow (from 20 to 10 last nite had tough time sleeping evebn WITH my valium)---this "wired' feeling is terrible AND--read on Paxil site---it could "induce hypomania"!!    2) MUST a person w "hypomania" take one of those lousy mood stabilizers????     Get back---Psychnurse---someone----Thanks----Robert

Posted 8/9/2005 11:38 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Robert-

first, if you are bipolar you NEED a mood stabilizer. The same thing happened to me when I was put on an antidepressant like yours-I went hypomanic amd my dr immediately started me on an antipsychotic and got me to a pdoc. The paxil (help me out psychnurse) WILL make you manic!Honeslty, I can't advise you on what to do about the paxil, but honelstly if you can't get in to see your doc I would go to the hospital b/c YOU NEED HELP  NOW! Paxil is making you worse, pls get help. Don;'t be scared of the mood stabilizers-it will feel a hell of a a lot better when you are stabilzed, not feeling what sounds to me like manic.

Hope that helps, sorry I couldn't be more help :(

S

Posted 8/10/2005 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
 Robert, Paxil is an SSRI. It does or can cause mani , and is not good for people with BP. I was on effexor (SSRI) and it did the same exact thing to me. I called the doc, he advised I stop the med altogether, and come in. I couldn't leave the house, but I did see him in a few days. I felt like you do, like on speed, crazy, looped. But to me i was manic, not hypo! devil I take wellbutrin now( pyschnurse ) said I should try this instead. I am on 150mg, along with 200mg of topamax my mood stabiliser. Shaanon, has helped me understand what I was going through too. Really you should try a new med, especially if 20mg, is making you feel that way. I was on 37.5 of effexor than 75, I couldn't tolerate either. nono   Good luck, keep us posted.
Posted 8/10/2005 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Honestly--dear friends----i thank you DEARLY fro my heart---BUT----i'm not THAT bad...nrs2b----said i should rush to hospital--golly--made me feel WORSE----i'm sitting here---watching baseball game---just feel "wired"....& jittery---no emergency---only been on Paxil---10 days--lite dose 10mg---waiting for Dr. to call any minute now---so, i'll waen off in a couple days & try something else---just talked to my therapist again---she called. Told me to relax....everything will be OK-----i DO appreciate well meaning posts--but, I'm a bit of a "scaredy cat" myself---Rob
Posted 8/10/2005 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry maybe we miss understood "wired" , " like on speed", around here that can give cause to be very concerned. Glad your"ok " now!

Posted 8/10/2005 3:24 AM (GMT 0)

wotan, if I remember correctly, you were not diagnosed BP, but major depression w/ anxiety?  Paxil can worsen anxiety and cause agitation as well as cause mania for BPs. 

So, you have been on it for about 10 days?  That's not long enough to have any withdrawl effect from stopping, thank goodness.  CALL THE DOC WHO PRESCRIBED IT!  Tell him/her what is happening.  It's not good, whether BP or not.  I can't ethically tell you what to take or stop, so please don't let this wait, because these meds can snowball FAST.  Call your doc tomorrow at the office, and if she's not in, talk to the doc on call. 

Sorry for seeing your thread so late, i hope you feel better quick!

Shannon

Posted 8/10/2005 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kittycat---you didn't misunderstand- just that nrsb2 had me ready to be put in a straight jacket. I'll try to be more precise. The Paxil is helping my depression a bit- but, i feel somewhat jittery....restless, nothing serious---NOT... babbling---running out on spending binges- racing thoughts---just a bit --"nervous"----& i read on Paxil site --that is a possible side effect...initially. Also---just spoke to family Dr-----said to go back to 10 mg----anyway---that's it for now. I probably gave nrsb2 the wrong idea. (But to "run to ER"-----& sit & wait for HOURS----that's what it is here---unless you're having heart attack......seems---ludictous!)----

Being a writer i can just see the dialog

ER DOC

So, what brings you here?


PATIENT
Well, i just started on Paxil...my therapist feels i have major
depression---& now after one week, I'm feeling a bit....jittery.


Doctor looks around puzzled.

ER DOC

That's it???

PATIENT

Well. yea----



To be continued-------(just trying to be a bit humorous)--Robert
Posted 8/10/2005 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Psychnurse---Thank you so much. In summation--here is the problem:
1) My therapist is EXCELLENT!!! (She is the one i found after much searching)---She feels i am suffering from major depression --& i told her my brother is BP 1. So, she told me---that sometimes differentiating between "depression" & "BP" can be difficult sometimes initially----esp. w someone who has milder "mania" or "Hypomania".

She is on vacation this week. My family Dr. (who i "inherited" in 2001 when my other family Dr. retired on disabilty--as a young man of 54--)--is really getting me on my nerves--nice guy, but, incompetent!! (I see ALL specialists---cardiologists, neurologists, pulmonary, etc)----i only keep him, because, he does return calls, gets back -is accessible-----BUT----fairly recently come to conclusion---he does NOT know what he' doing...AND---is not too bright!!!!

He bought out my previous Drs practice-----so, it was "easy" to stay w him---esp. since all of my major problems i saw specialists.

In THIS situation---he's aggravating me!!!! When i told him i had applied for SSD---he was like.."Oh, their gonna see 'depression' & think you're malingering!"-----And a couple other remarks that shows he has no clue(I told him awhile back----that when younger i wanted to be a "Jungian analyst"...he hesitated & said..."Oh, my God---the primal scream!" referring to the guy who wrote that "fad" book in 1970s---Art Janov)------

Anyway----my therapist FULLY understands & comprehend me condition---She called me BACK from her vacation last nite to check up on me----gave me name of good psychiatrist in my area to make appt. with (to get meds--i told her about my incompetent family Dr.---she doesn't say too much there--except to say---when she gets back---she will call him.."I'll educate him a bit in psychology.."

OK---so, my incompetent family Dr. finally calls last nite (HE'S on vacation, too--till Sept)----& he aggravates me ...AGAIN.....says it's "highly unlikely" that Paxil is causing my agitation-----i practically had to tell him i want to reduce the dose (back to 10mg)-------THEN.....i mentioned when he gets back to expect the paperwork for the SSD......because i know it will be sent out in next wk or two------he says...AGAIN.."Robert, this SSD won't be easy---i have patients who tell me horror stories about going up against 'INSURANCE CO.' attorneys----i tell him---"-i am NOT going up against an ins company! But...SSD!!! Again---he talks like i am NOT really disabled (in my work i must talk on phone w people--i work from home---but...i can't concentrate---i wanna sleep all the time & it's very mentally taxing!)---This "dodo" does not get it!!! (my wife who works in medical records--got on phone & lisyened--she spoke to him----then afterward said---"After your disabilty---just get another dr."--I WILL---but now---he'll be getting the paperwork--as well as my psychologist. My atty friend (& my wonderful wife& psychologist) )---have assured me the Soc. Security just will contact him just to get med records from my psychologist-----& specialists------BUT, botto line is..i'm stuck w him till he gets all the paperwork out. (I had feared that maybe his incompetence would hurt me w SS----i was assured he would not---#1) he just supplies the records---and #2) When i pressed him on this...& TOLD him..."I am disabled!!"...he backed down 7 said..."I'm just trying to give you a positive spin."----Anyway---that's it----my therapist gets back this weekend & i see her..MONDAY morning!! THANK GOD!!! And i'm making appt w shrink she recommended! Today, i'll cut the Paxil in half..to 10 mg.....& then....just wait till either --I talk to this psychiatrist or see her----That's my tale of woe!!! I SHOULD have sought out a family Dr. sooner! Now, i WILL RUN...& not walk to find another family Dr.----Thanks again Psychnurse Robert
Posted 8/10/2005 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Wonton,

Sounds like you are irritated and nerves are fried. If you can't sleep at night, try taking Tylenol PM until you get to a Psychiatrist. Also maybe evaluate your diet. Are you on any diet pills, drinking any caffeine, and sugars? I am BP and there are foods that also trigger manic episodes and of course stress. My pschotherapist has tought me breathing exercises that help calm the inside. Check into that as well.

Good Luck and God Bless
Posted 8/10/2005 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hey "redavogirl"----it's "WOTAN"---the ancient Germanic mythical god"...not "Wonton"-----lol------I take valium-----& i meditate w breathing excercises. But thanks for your concerns----Robert--aka..."Wotan"
Posted 8/10/2005 10:27 PM (GMT 0)

Wotan:

It seems that the misinterpretation open to email has left you with a bad impression- my concern, and it was concern, appears to have offended you.

I apologize, but I have seen the results of mania , and comments like "speed" and "need immediate advice" concern me. As for the straight jacket, pls remember that I also have bipolar and have been manic, I was not trying to insinuate that you were "so ill as to need a straight jacket". I simply read your email, cared enough to respond, and wanted to treat your feelings seriously. BTW, we have (The Dr I work for) have sent people to hospital for a lot less. I understand the line ups, we have them here too , but hypo/mania can be a very dark (or light!!) place, and when it snowballs, untreated and exacerbated...well, it sucks.

Hope you feel better.

S

Posted 8/11/2005 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi nrs2b-----my dear lady---no, you did not "offend" me---my error in giving wrong impression---i just wanted some immediate feedback---as the Paxil made me.....OK...a tad jittery. I was just trying to put a little humor into the post---lol---no offense---& i DO---THANK YOU---for your concern----stay well --Wotan(Robert)
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