Posted by Budgie on November 12, 2003, at 11:30:10
In reply to Re: Bi-Polar 2...Parnate and Lithium/Lamictal? » Budgie, posted by mattdds on November 12, 2003, at 0:50:56
> Budgie (Chris),
>
> What's up man? Glad to see you back here.
>
Thanks, Matt. How've you been doing? Still just on the Klonopin? No major worries?> It's interesting you say "breakdown", can you describe in more detail the symptoms that brought you to the ER? Did you have symptoms of mania?
>
You know, I still can't say what it exactly was/is. Definitely not mania, per se, at least in the classic conceptualization. After an initial incredible response to the Parnate- best I felt since a carefree kid, I think- I started sliding downhill and couldn't figure out what the @#$% it was. I'd get these intense waves of anxiety and depression, feel better, then slip again back down further each time. I came to realize that I couldn't attribute each switch to anything in particular, only maybe trivial things sometimes. That was really scary in itself- not knowing what was causing me to be all over the place. Anyway, I just felt like I was on the verge of losing total control over things...One morning I woke up and I just knew I was either going to lose it completely and freak out of my skin or just kill myself if I kept trying to hold it in, keep it composed, you know? So I guess I didn't quite hit the "breakdown" point, but I knew it wasn't far away and I had to do something about it. It was the weekend, so I had my fiancee take me to the ER, hoping that I could see a psychiatrist who could do something for me until I could meet with my doc again. I was there ALL day, talked to four different people, none of whom did anything for me. One social worker did mention something about bi-polar, though, and that got me really thinking. Anyway, I left more furious than anything.
> I'm curious because I wound up in the ER with panic attacks a couple years back. The diagnosis was panic disorder, GAD and major depression.Was this your first exposure to these things, or were they severe attacks of something that you already knew was wrong? When I was 19 I had my first panic attacks- out of the blue. If I had known better, I would have gone to the hospital and asked someone what was going on. Wish I had...
>
> I wonder if I could be diagnosed with BP II as well, by some docs. I've eluded most of the online screenings, if I do "have it", but perhaps I have a more subtle type like cyclothymia. I do notice cycles of feeling noticeably better than most and a little worse than most, over different periods of time. I'm not sure this bothers me enough to seek treatment for it though. I've never had acute, classic mania in any way though.
>
Yeah, I'm really cautious about it, too, actually more out of respect for those who obviously have full-blown, classic manic-depression. But I look at my family history (one case of BPI with many hospitalizations, and what I see as an obvious tendency/undiagnosis in many other relatives, other mental illnesses, etc.), when I look at the periods between my major depressions, and even the qualities of the depressions themselves- and I can't ignore the extreme behaviors and basic instability that have constituted my life since I was a teenager. The kicker has been my horrible responses to AD monotherapy (especially SSRIs), and the positive response I had to Zyprexa (taken for anxiety, but as you know is also indicated for controlling mania).
> I'm curious as to how you do on mood stabilizers, do keep me informed! You sound a lot like me, for some reason.
>
> One of the times that I wound up there, however, was not for an acute panic attack - I just felt so wound up and irritated that I couldn't take it anymore. They did very little except tell me there was nothing physically wrong, and off I went with 3 days worth of lorazepam (Ativan, a benzodiazepine).
>
> You mentioned lithium, lamictal and the AP's. Has your doc mentioned Depakote? From my limited knowledge of BP, I understand that Depakote is more suited for BP II, and lithium for BP I.
>
Really? I hadn't heard that. I thought Depakote was better suited for mania, and it seems that BPII's struggle much more with depression. But yeah, I don't know.
> How is the Klonopin working?
>
It's a miracle for social anxiety; you were absolutely right! Great for sleep. I have no idea what the long-term plan is with it.
> If the docs are thinking that Parnate may have played a role in your attack, will they keep you on it?
>
I think we're reluctant to make too many changes at once. I am getting some benefit out of it, especially when balanced out with the Klonopin. Besides, what other AD's are really an option? Maybe if a mood-stablizer works, I could eventually go off all AD's. It would be nice not to worry about taking 20 different pills!> Glad you're back, hope you feel better!
Much appreciated! Talk to you soon...
Chris
>
> Matt
>
>
poster:Budgie
thread:278633
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031111/msgs/279012.html