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Posted 9/19/2005 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
I am being tested forBP II--I am recovering bulemic who has been on Zyprexa (which made me gain weight) and have tried many other antipyschotics....However, they all make me feel like a zombie and make me gain weight.................HUGE PROBLEM.

I have been told Limictal is a drug that is used for Bipolar II and does not have a weight gaining effect........any experience out there????  Please share.

Right now I am on Effexor and Lexapro for depression and anxitey---does NOT seem to be working--moods are still extreme.

Also, some of my moods seem to be most extreme around my menstrual cycle--so I had blood work done to check thyroid, hormones, etc......everything came back fine....what about that PMDD??  anyone know anything about that???

Posted 9/20/2005 1:03 AM (GMT 0)

Who would put you on TWO SSRIs!  (Effexor and Lexapro).  What kind of tests are you going through for BP II?   If you are BP your worst enemy is antidepressants in that class.  I surprised you're not in a straightjacket if you are BP on those.  They cause mania in BPs very often, extremely on TWO!

OK, PMDD is actually not by itself the problem, it's normal to get a little moody during our cycles, most women do. But the ones who get beyond moody and just turn evil, lol are almost always suffering from some sort of mental illness, usually depression but oh, BP and PMS, baaaaad combination.  I remember I would have about 1 good week a month, the rest I was a monster and kept thnking it was just bad PMS. 

Lamictal is a very good medication for BP, it has a stabilizing effect and works as an antidepressant without the inherent risk of inducing mania.   But, it isn't usually the first choice for a mood stabilizer, it doesn't do that good a job at stabilizing mania, so it's usually used with a mood stabilizer or with an atypical.

Posted 9/20/2005 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the info.   I have been doing a lot of reading and noticed that Effexor and Lexapro both cause agitation/irritability/etc......

Here's the thing.....I have been in Atlanta for the past six years.  Just moved back to my home town-- and am able to go to my pyschologist that has known me for years and I have full confidence in.

When I was in rehab for bulemia, the pysch. put me on all kinds of drugs, I have been on zoloft, risperdal, zyprexa, abilify, etc.

MY pysh. just told me to stop taking abilify abruptly and I ended up in another facility b/c I was wanting to die.....scared to go home b/c of guns,,,,blah, blah, blah,

That pysch. got me off of the anti pyschotics and put me on the two SSRI's.....the thing is, at that time NO ONE would give me a diagnosis,,just more meds...

My pyschologist here finally gave me a possible diagnosis which is BPII--which is what I have suspected for a while  He did a couple of personality tests and I am now setting up an appointment with a RECOMMENDED pysch.for my meds.  Also, I went ahead and had extensive blood work done to rule out any thyroid, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, etc.  I am not a full blown diabetic--I am just now insulin resistant thanks to the Zyprexa.....so anyway, I am trying to be as knowledgeable as possible before I go in to see the pysch. and he starts giving me med. like candy!

Thanks for your imput---It is nice to talk to people who understand.

Posted 9/20/2005 1:29 PM (GMT 0)

I'm so sorry about your bad experience.  That doc ought to have his license revoked!   Taking you off meds that help (abilify), and putting you on TWO that hurt, not bothering to include a mood stabilizer.  Wow.

Were you afraid to go home because there WERE guns there and you thought you might hurt yourself, or were you delusional/paranoid at the time?

Oh, for future reference, we call a psychiatrist a pdoc, to distinguish from a regular doc or a physchologist, it avoids confusion.

It's really best to get a pdoc through a referral of a psychologist, because they know who kind of specializes in what.  You will probably get a correct diagnosis and proper treatment with the new one.  When is your appt?

Posted 9/20/2005 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
I was afraid to go home b/c I was scared of what I would do with the guns.  Things seemed SO hopeless and I was so down that I had major thoughts of suicide.  I have never actually attempted suicide, but the thoughts are so common that actually having easy access to a gun just made ( and still) makes me nervous. 

I don't think I will do anything and for now I feel like I am doing a lot better.  That is why I wonder if it is BPII or not.  I am a school teacher and have never gone a summer without a job. (Except of course when I was in lock up at eating disorder rehab)  I am not good when I don't have a schedule that keeps my mind occupied and I feel like I have a purpose.  I am an elementary school teacher so during the year, I don't get as scattered and foggy and don't have as much depression b/c I am busy and focused on helping kids.  However, the irritability/agitation obsessing over things being perfect organized, short temper......about to just go off the deep end--comes more regularly during the school year......depressive moods set in sometimes on the weekends when my husband is at a work and I am idle....... I like to stay busy,,,that is the only time I feel sane........

But the extreme mood swings, the irrational thinking (blowing things way out of proportion--getting so sad I jsut go to bed or feel like I am in this deep fog---then the extreme energy, overproductivity, complete focus and driving force, outgoing, free spending, promiscious (in my past) side can come out to....and then some days I would consider just normal---something is not right--I know that.........I just don't know what is best for me to do to tame these extreme moods and work to improve this.  I am the type of person who wants to fix things...I need a problem and then I will find a organized solution that makes sense to me and I will make it work.,,,,,somehow I am beginning to realize that this type of issue may not work that way???

Posted 9/20/2005 7:37 PM (GMT 0)

Well, hon, everything you have described is classic BP.  Of course I cannot diagnose you, but you sound like it.  And, the old "I don't think I am" is part of it too.  

Truth is, there is NO easy organized solution.  It's a constant daily battle to stay well, and many days we lose.  But, on the right meds, the majority of the time we win and feel sooooooo much better.  Losing the irritability, the spending sprees and the anger were the best part for me, unfortunately too late for the financial status - had to file bankruptcy.

I he decides you are BP, a ood stabilizer such as Lamictal would be ideal to start with.  If you have trouble sleeping, like most of us do, Seroquel is an excellent medication to help with that, it also is an antipsychotic so it does help with psychosis in mania, too.

Posted 9/20/2005 10:22 PM (GMT 0)

Dear Sassie and Sad

Hi! about the PMS thing, I have heard of 2 female drs in the states who actually medicated one of their patients with lithium for their BP and after several blood tests throughout her cycle, they establised a time where they would bump the dose of Lithium up for a few days then bring it back down. Apparently it took awhile to know when to bump it and lower it due to cycle fluctuations and possible lithium toxicity. Their approach was women should not have to suffer every month when some fancy footwork could alleviate it (they wrote a book called Women and their Moods). My pdoc told me that being on the birth control pill helps because it keeps those estrogen levels up (arrrgghh-more pills!) However I find I still get super aggressive 2 days before my period, he (to date) has give me the impressi0n that it is just one of those things I have to live with or take a benzo! Grrrrrr.

I'll let you know if I hear anything more, this can't be the end of this discussion!!!

Shannon2

Posted 9/20/2005 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your input.  Right now I am just trying my best to get all the info. I can as far as medicine is concerned.  I have Kolonipin I take on a "as needed" basis--I mainly use it when I can't sleep or can't relax--when my mind won't stop going....Does Seroquel cause weight gain?  Did you say Limictal does have a mood stabilizing element or does not? 

  It is like I have analyzed this whole situation so much I can't figure out if my feelings are real or if I have read so much that I am THINKING I have these symptoms......UGH--I just feel crazy and tired and almost numb right now.  I am just feeling extremely down.  I have been SO irritable/agitated with my students today--I mean, granted they did some silly things, but nothing that should make me so agitated that I just want to SCREAM....they are not bad kids at all-yet at the end of the day I was SO agitated.  I teach with my mom and she came in and I was telling her that I was so ill with my kids and she asked why and I realized there is no HUGE reason to even be ill with them-why do I want to punch a hole in teh cement wall behind me???  Who the hell knows?  All I know was at that point I was ready to get out of there and be alone.  I was supposed to go walking with a girlfriend but I just wanted to isolate myself.....I came home and took a bath and talked to my friend that I feel like really understands and hears me.....that made me feel a little better.  Now I am just so depressed.  Things are just so sad to me and I don't even know why I am feeling this way.  I know in my head that things are not a big deal, but I feel so sad and like things are HUGE.  I feel like my family (mom and dad) aren't interested in my life anymore, I am in constant worry about their screwed up relationship, and there are so many things I need to say to both of them but can't b/c of the constant guilt I feel if I even THINK I made them feel bad about something.....................all these emotions and I don't know what to do witht them.  So many thoughts and I just want this to stop.  I want to feel normal, I want to be normal,,,,,,,,,,Sorry to be so negative......

Posted 9/20/2005 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Shannon2

Thanks for your input.  The weekend before my period I just have extreme moods....either really high--lots of energy, lots of fun, etc., or really depressed, sad, and everything is completely overwhelming and blown way out of proportion.  This weekend I got so upset and felt like everything was SO HARD just b/c I was looking up different doctors and they were all closed.  HELLO-it was saturday....but it just sent me over the edge! THINGS ARE JUST NUTS!! That is why I had the blood tests done...My pyschologist recommended 'The Depression Workbook" which deals with depression and mania.... I read about a lady who was put in several institutions only to find out from a blood test on thyroid that it was something with her thyroid..............SO, I wanted to get all that checked first.  I got that blood work back and found that all is normal--no hormonal imbalances...............regular thyroid................????  Who knows?  I just want to feel normal. 

 

Posted 1/12/2008 4:22 AM (GMT 0)

I have never been diagnosed with any type of mood, or other mental disorder, though after what I've been through over the last few months with my son, it makes me wonder with the similarities in my own thoughts, moods, and behaviors.

He was diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar recently and takes 15 mg of abilify daily.

The effects of the meds for him are tremors/shaking, loss of balance, dizziness, drowsiness, and bad dreams/sleeplessness.

He has been taking it about 90 days. The effects that have deminished are the drowsiness during the day. He has to take it at night because he does sleep a couple hours soundly after taking it.

Now though, he's fighting severe depression. I have no idea what is safe for him to take and what is not with the  bp and abilify.  He also hears a voice in his head (when he is not on the abilify.) and has been hospitalized twice for being suicidal because of this.  He says he doesn't hear the voice now.

Yet he is withdrawn and his smile never reaches his eyes. He wants no social interaction w/us (his family) except for initial, "hi, I'm home, how was your day."  We've always had a great relationship, talking and laughing a lot. Playing guitar hero and rockband. He won't play anything now though. Says he doesn't feel like it.  This has been going on for weeks and I've been playing phone tag w/the pdoc's nurse.

His pdoc can't see him again until march and I feel like a huge timer is counting down over his head. I took him to his regular doc, who prescribed lexipro, which I never filled or gave to him because of what I read about it on this url.

I am so scared and worried all the time. I've never felt so helpless in all my life. I am afraid one day I will lose my son to bp. I don't want it to consume him forever as it has the last few months.

I have a sister that is bp, but even with that I never understood how difficult and life altering bp was until I lived with it and watched it every day.

Can anyone please give me any advice as far meds and supporting someone with bp?  Any personal experiences and/or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Including supporting someone w/bp.

Reading through the questions and responses on here, I finally feel like I am at a place where there is some form of assitance, even if it is only understanding.

Posted 1/12/2008 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
what is the difference between bp and bpII?

Posted 1/12/2008 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
i was on lexapro several years ago and it made me CRAZY! I would get so frantic with anxiety that one day I was on the Tapanzee bridge during rush hour and I completely lost it! Called my pdoc office and had to push the life tthreatening number and get contacted to the Emergency nurse on call. They had to call me in something to take the edge off. I get really teary and sometimes beastly around my period. It's something that I wish would just go away. I have BP2 and just got put on Limictal and zyprexa. i will only be taking zyprexa for two weeks or so until the Limictal gets a chance to start working. I also take 60 mil of cymbalta. I have ruined two relationships because I wasn't properly diagnosed and on the wrong meds. One of those relationships was with the love of my life and after he left me I became severly depressed and suicidal. It's been over a year now and I am not much better just the suicidal thoughts aren't as strong. It's been a hellish time of my life, and I don't wish this on anyone! I hope you get your meds. straightened out, 'cause I know how you're feeling. Is there any way we can be in touch privately?
Posted 1/12/2008 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Easily amused,

Welcome to Healingwell and to our board. This is a really old thread from 2005, so unfortunately, you may not get the response you're looking for. If not, hit "New Topic" and introduce yourself again.

That said, let me say a couple of things.

1. I'm sorry to hear of your poor son's struggles. He must be in a lot of pain. Bipolar does run in families, so if you're concerned about your own health, you might talk to a doc, especially if your sister has it too.

2. It defintely sounds like something isn't quite right with his medications if he's that depressed. He needs something else to help with that. You said you didn't fill your son's prescription based on what you read here. If you don't trust your doctor's recommendations, you need to get more professional advice, not just feedback from internet chatrooms. We are great for personal support, but it is dangerous to not take doctor's advice just based on what you read on the internet. Some people have had bad luck with Lexapro. Others have done just fine. Everyone is different. I hope your son is seeing a qualified psychiatrist. That's who should be treating his ptsd and bp.

3. Here's a link that explains the difference between bp i and bp ii:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=2

Welcome and good luck,
serafena
Posted 12/8/2008 3:37 AM (GMT 0)

hello.  I have depression and so can understand your sons predicament. i am so sorry.  I wanted to let you kno w that I have started taking RELIV products and I think they are changing my life!  Please check into these awesome products  I think it would be worth your time.

 

 

helloeasily amused said...

I have never been diagnosed with any type of mood, or other mental disorder, though after what I've been through over the last few months with my son, it makes me wonder with the similarities in my own thoughts, moods, and behaviors.

He was diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar recently and takes 15 mg of abilify daily.

The effects of the meds for him are tremors/shaking, loss of balance, dizziness, drowsiness, and bad dreams/sleeplessness.

He has been taking it about 90 days. The effects that have deminished are the drowsiness during the day. He has to take it at night because he does sleep a couple hours soundly after taking it.

Now though, he's fighting severe depression. I have no idea what is safe for him to take and what is not with the  bp and abilify.  He also hears a voice in his head (when he is not on the abilify.) and has been hospitalized twice for being suicidal because of this.  He says he doesn't hear the voice now.

Yet he is withdrawn and his smile never reaches his eyes. He wants no social interaction w/us (his family) except for initial, "hi, I'm home, how was your day."  We've always had a great relationship, talking and laughing a lot. Playing guitar hero and rockband. He won't play anything now though. Says he doesn't feel like it.  This has been going on for weeks and I've been playing phone tag w/the pdoc's nurse.

His pdoc can't see him again until march and I feel like a huge timer is counting down over his head. I took him to his regular doc, who prescribed lexipro, which I never filled or gave to him because of what I read about it on this url.

I am so scared and worried all the time. I've never felt so helpless in all my life. I am afraid one day I will lose my son to bp. I don't want it to consume him forever as it has the last few months.

I have a sister that is bp, but even with that I never understood how difficult and life altering bp was until I lived with it and watched it every day.

Can anyone please give me any advice as far meds and supporting someone with bp?  Any personal experiences and/or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Including supporting someone w/bp.

Reading through the questions and responses on here, I finally feel like I am at a place where there is some form of assitance, even if it is only understanding.

Posted 12/8/2008 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
I have depression too. I understand some of your troubles. I wanted to let yu know about some products that have helped me so much. RELIV is the name. And they are changing my life! The fog is less.

Also, I was put on the Birth Control pill and only have periods 2 or 3 times a year. My life has greatly improved!!!

Would you help me too? My niece is always throwing up. For about 5 years now. She's in Colorado, so I only see her once in a while. She has gastroperesis too. But she claims she doesn't have bulemia. But i read you can get gastroperesis from Bulemia. What do you think I should do? Her mom is a sweetheart and a nurse. Should I try to help or back off? I can't sleep bec I am so worried about her.
Thanks
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