Posted by polarbear206 on April 7, 2007, at 20:40:20
In reply to Mood stabilizers? Dysthymia? Cyclothymia?, posted by peddidle on April 7, 2007, at 13:50:25
> My T finally got me to agree (though I'm not entirely sure how... she's sneaky lol) to talk to the pdoc. She said if she were prescribing, which, obviously, she can't do, she would give me a mood stabilizer. I gave her a really surprised/nervous look, and she asked if I was worried because I associate mood stablizer with bipolar disorder. I said yes. She reiterated the fact that she doesn't like labels, but that she doesn't think I'm bipolar, though I may be a little cyclothymic. I told her I like labels, but I probably should have qualified that by saying it's just harder to research without a label. :P
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> I've been reading a little about cyclothymia, and I really don't think it applies to me. I really don't even think I'm depressed. She insists that I am, and that I just can't recognize it anymore because the dysthymia has been there for so long. Regardless, I really, really don't think I have any symptoms of hypomania, and I don't understand why she thinks I do. I know, I should have asked her... maybe I'll ask her next time, if I remember, or I'll email her and ask.
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> I've been on some dose of zoloft for roughly 7 1/2 years, and I started taking concerta about 2 years ago. Last time I adjusted the zoloft, I think the ultimate goal was to try to get me off of it completely, but I had to stop because I couldn't handle the withdrawal anymore.
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> I really don't want to add any more meds, especially ones that can cause severe side-effects-- from what I've read, there is a very thin line between the therapeutic level and toxic level of these meds, so you have to have regular blood tests, etc. Maybe I'm just scared, but I really don't think I need to add a new medicine. I don't even think I need to change my meds at all.
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> Are mood stabilizers ever prescribed for unipolar depression or dysthymia?
There is a broad spectrum to bipolar disorders. You don't have to have a clear cut text book case of hypomania to be diagnosed. It can also present as anger, anxiety, etc.. It can be very tricky to diagnose. For example, a person with a hyperthymic personality can cycle with depression and be bipolar. You can also be bipolar if you are depressed most of the time too.
poster:polarbear206
thread:747891
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070407/msgs/747980.html