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Bi Polar 2 or just depressed

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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 8/7/2014 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi forum:

I have been on the depression forum for a couple months now. I have had depression episodes for over 10 years now. Usually in the summers. I usually took Lexapro for it, and it would go away. This spring, my depression hit. I tried generic and name brand Lexapro. Both made me worse. Anxiety attacks and depression. When I went back to psychiatrist, he said I might be developing bi polar 2. He said this because I get worse on antidepressants.

Since, I've been on seroquil and Remeron for the past 3 months. They haven't made me feel any better and made me ver sleepy. Also I have no appetite and these drugs were supposed to help get it back. Now doctor added Zoloft and Ativan. I've been on the Zoloft for 4 days, still anxiety attacks, the Ativan helps a little.

How did you find out you were bi polar 2? How did they distinguish it from major depression? Is mood stabilizers work? Did antidepressants make you worse?

Needing advice
Hawk
Posted 8/7/2014 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Cymbalta for well over a year. I have tried numerous medications and Cymbalta is the only medication that helps even me out. If I take benzos it makes my psychotic worse, like get out the protection order and call the police worse. But we are all different. Lexapro was a joke. Prozac put me in the hospital because I tried to o.d. to commit suicide. Seroquil was a nightmare that I literally couldn't wake up from. Cymbalta helps with depression, anxiety and an added bonus relief with nerve pain. Maybe give it a try. Its the only thing that works for me. Good luck!
Posted 8/7/2014 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
How did you find out that you were BI Polar 2? I am not sure I am and is there a way that you can for sure find out?

Hawk
Posted 8/7/2014 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hawk, welcome to the Bipolar forum!

I am sorry for how you are feeling lately. I'm also sorry that the meds don't seem to be helping. Maybe you can give the Zoloft a little more time to see if it will make a difference. If you do not feel any better, talk to your doc again. Maybe a dosage adjustment can work or they can recommend another med for you to try.

All meds work differently for everyone. Some may work for you but it may not work for someone else. Sometimes you may have to try different combinations and dosages.

In depression, there's no mania. Bipolar 2 is technically the combination of hypomanic phases with separate phases of severe depression. The person does not experience full-blown manic episodes. Instead, they may experience episodes of hypomania and severe depression.

I hope you will feel better nd the meds will start working soon.

UA
Posted 8/9/2014 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
I can't remember any hyper mania or wen times where I wasn't sleeping and feeling like I could get a lot done.

So I wonder if I have bipolar or am just severely depressed and drug resistant. It's scary. And awful.

I just want to know what I have so I can treat it.

Hawk
Posted 8/10/2014 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Hawk,

I'm sorry for how you're feeling. I hope you will be able to get answers too. Ask you doc the signs that he sees which shows that you are developing Bipolar 2. Maybe this can help you understand when he says 'you've developing Bipolar 2'.

My therapist once told me that she saw traits of schizophrenia in me but I was not schizophrenia. She explained that her evaluation did not show I have schizophrenia but certain only traits of it.
Please ask your doc exactly what's he's seeing that shows you're developing Bipolar 2. Hopefully this may be able to clarify why you've been feeling that way. I hope they will be able to provide answers so you can get treated.

Please keep us updated on how you're doing.

Take Care

UA
Posted 8/10/2014 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
He says that I have adverse reactions to antidepressants. Like getting more depressed and anxious on lexapro where I use to use it well

Hawk
Posted 8/10/2014 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
An adverse reaction occurs when some has a drug overdose, drug side effect or drug interaction. Do you think this could be a drug interaction? Maybe the combination needs changing?

UA
Posted 8/10/2014 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
It was stand alone at the beginning. Just the lexapro. So don't know.
Posted 8/10/2014 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe it's a side effect from the meds. Have you ever tried stopping them and see how you felt which not using any?

Did you doc say if it was due to drug side effect?

UA
Posted 8/11/2014 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
I've been taking meds this episode time since April. I was off of meds for at least a year going into this episode. I'm contiplating going off the antidepressants and just staying on the mood stabilizer Seroquil and Ativan for anxiety. But not sure that's smart either. I will email my doctor, but not sure he has an answer. I'm trying to switch doctors too. Lots of unknowns.

Hawk
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