Posted by Mr.Scott on September 18, 2004, at 22:21:27
I have a bipolar disorder. I also have a psychiatrist who is wishy washy and ambivalent to say the least.I am far more frequently depressed (like 85-90% of the time I'm unhappy but I believe some of that is due to the consequences of my mood disorder rather than the disorder itself), and I have never had a full blown Mania. My hypomania's have only been induced by antidepressants and stimulants and rarely debilitating except for the inevitable crash. It was hard to sleep and I was euphoric or agitated and impulsive on Nardil and Prozac and a little bit on Ritalin as well for a few weeks until they stopped working or actually made my depression worse! Tricyclics may me want to kill myself immediately. I may have experienced more pure maniclike symptoms when I was younger and then my first clinical depression was at age 16. I also have a seasonal component.
After years of drugs (now in recovery) and meds my response to Antidepressants is generally a very quick hypomanic reaction (within 1 day for sure every time) followed in a few days by an enduring mixed state (lots of agitation, mood shifts, irritability, grandiosity, being a dick, and still being depressed and tired).
The disappointing thing about all this is my doctor's essential throwing up of his hands. I can't take Lamictal due to rash. I currently take 25mg of Zoloft and .75mg clonazepam and when I tell you I suffer I'm not lying.
Wouldn't straight lithium or maybe Depakote + Antidepressant make sense here?
I'm asking for help with this matter because I can't seem to get it fixed on my own, and I don't really know what I want from my doctor, but obviously I'm not getting it.
Surely someone who has had an unconventional or misdiagnosed bipolar disorder can share there experience with me...I hope.
Scott
poster:Mr.Scott
thread:392467
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040915/msgs/392467.html