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Re: JohnX2 or anyone else- Finding a happy medium! » JennyJen

Posted by JohnX2 on June 16, 2002, at 7:57:12

In reply to JohnX2 or anyone else- Finding a happy medium!, posted by JennyJen on June 16, 2002, at 6:54:25

> Hey Everyone,
>
> So I am back to parnate and still wondering if I have mild hypomania. I am more social ... talking alot at work (maybe inappropriately ... like to gossip!), cleaning my apartment alot, insomnia, return of sexuality.


I'll order what you're having...do they take Visa? :-)


> I think I maybe add low dose lithium to see what that feels like.
> (by the way my pdoc says I am not hypomanic .... just normal for the first time in my life)
>
> My question is .... has anyone achieved a happy medium ... normal feeling and emotions? It seems like AD many bipolars hypomanic and Mood Stablizers make most depressed.
>
> Thanks everyone!
>
> Jenny

Jenny, from your brief description it doesn't sound like you
are having bad hypomania. The insomnia may be an indicator, but this
is a notorious side effect of Parnate, so I would tend to rule that out.

I felt "normal" a few fleeting times. But "normal" is very different
for many people. Some people are Type-A (leadership, extrospective, aggressive, whatever)
some Type-B (more laid back, introspective, whatever, etc). Who can define
"normal"?

It doesn't seem surprising at all that an AD (especially Parnate)
may have a profound impact on your personality traits.
In fact a lot of people with depression who go on AD's discover
a part of themselves they never knew existed. Also antidepressants
can change one's pesonality profile altogether (like from Type-B
to A, etc). There is an interesting book on this subject called
"Listening to Prozac".

Parnate from what I understand can have quite an initial kick that
is almost amphetamine like. I think this wears a bit as you get used to
the med.

I would be worried about hypomania if you see yourself engaging in
activities that would have long term negative consequences on your life.
Like wild spending sprees (WELL beyond your means), many *inappropriate* sexual
indiscrections, grandious thoughts (we're talking big here, like you
are super-man and on top of the world and everyone else is shit).
Another indicator may be persistent racing thoughts.

Remember you have to benchmark hypomania against normal. Its easy
to see the same symptoms (which when in check are euthymia) when
your mood is raised from low to normal.

Btw, a low dose of lithium is unlikely to curtail
hypomanic symptoms. You need to get your blood levels
to a higher range to help with that. This is a time consuming
process. Maybe a depakote trial would be another suggestion
if you feel compelled to do a quick med run. A low dose of
depakote at night may well help with sleep.

In regards to the mood stabilizer issue. I have not
found any stabilizer to make me feel depressed except
strong doses of Klonopin. Seems people starting a mood
stabilizer with mainly antimanic effects (like
Depakote) and no positive AD effect and depression
may feel more flat.

BTW, if just the AD is working pretty steady-state, then
this is a flag on not being bipolar. Usually stand alone
ADs are disasters for bipolars (the work and crap out,
make the patient more depressed, or cause lots of mood
cycles). You seem to have indicated success reaching
a steady response on ADs which is good?

Have Fun,
John



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