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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by orthius on January 31, 2001, at 22:08:14
I have been diagnosed with bp although i have never had a manic episode or anything closely resembling one my main symptoms sem to be irritability inability to sleep and no tolerance for other people concentration is also poor and memory seems to be shot can not even remember anything that i have just read and input would be appreciated thanks
Posted by SalArmy4me on February 2, 2001, at 3:50:25
In reply to wrong diagnosis ???, posted by orthius on January 31, 2001, at 22:08:14
Bipolar or not, the medicines used for bipolar disorder also work well for regular depression. Lithium and Lamictal have strong antidepressant effects. I take them for my regular depression.
Posted by kazoo on February 2, 2001, at 14:43:34
In reply to wrong diagnosis ???, posted by orthius on January 31, 2001, at 22:08:14
> I have been diagnosed with bp although i have never had a manic episode or anything closely resembling one my main symptoms sem to be irritability inability to sleep and no tolerance for other people concentration is also poor and memory seems to be shot can not even remember anything that i have just read and input would be appreciated thanks
^^^^^^^^^^^
The solution to your problem is simple: if you feel victim to a "wrong diagnosis," then get a second opinion. Why not? This is done for physical ailments, so why not psychological ones?
(a sad) kazoo :-(
Posted by ms. b. on February 2, 2001, at 18:19:07
In reply to Re: wrong diagnosis ??? » orthius, posted by kazoo on February 2, 2001, at 14:43:34
> The solution to your problem is simple: if you feel victim to a "wrong diagnosis," then get a second opinion. Why not? This is done for physical ailments, so why not psychological ones?
>
> (a sad) kazoo :-(
_____________________Re: the first message, go to the DSM-IV, irritability is one of the main symptoms of bi-polar disorder. Maybe this dr. is onto something after all? Just a thought.
BUT - kazoo, why are you sad? What's going on? Please write back,
B.
Posted by orthius on February 2, 2001, at 19:37:53
In reply to Re: wrong diagnosis ??? sad kazoo » kazoo, posted by ms. b. on February 2, 2001, at 18:19:07
i appreciate the replies i realize that irritability can be a sign but its also a sign for other thigs i dont seem to have much tollerance to antidepressants or mood stablizers can usually even make it to the lowest does of any of them plus the insomnia is really getting bad and the doc seems reluctant to prescribe anything for it i think lack of sleep is causing alot of the problems
Posted by JohnL on February 3, 2001, at 5:57:49
In reply to wrong diagnosis ???, posted by orthius on January 31, 2001, at 22:08:14
> I have been diagnosed with bp although i have never had a manic episode or anything closely resembling one my main symptoms sem to be irritability inability to sleep and no tolerance for other people concentration is also poor and memory seems to be shot can not even remember anything that i have just read and input would be appreciated thanks
Hi,
It's just my observation, but I have often seen that the drug(s) that end up working for someone have no relation to the diagnosis at all. I've seen anxiety patients who were not helped at all by benzos, SSRIs, or antipsychotics, yet experienced complete remedy in less than a week on Lithium. Lithium has no clinical justification for anxiety, yet it worked completely in some people.With me doctors tried over a dozen different antidepressants which were useless in treating my depression. I ended up doing best in the antipsychotic category. Someone diagnosed with depression isn't likely going to be prescribed an antipsychotic. That's too bad, since they are proving very useful in depression.
Zyprexa is an antipsychotic now showing real promise as a mood stabilizer, an antianxiety agent, and an antidepressant. It is a psychiatric drug with a wide spectrum of therapeutic value with little relation to the actual diagnosis.
I take a diagnosis with a grain of salt. I think the best thing to do is to sample 2 or 3 drugs from each class of drugs briefly in an attempt to identify which ones show the most promise. Then one can stay with the favorite, or favorites, for longer term trials. This in the long run is a much more effective way of fixing the problem than is trying to match a drug to whatever diagnosis. Both strategies have their merits however. I've personally just seen too many flaws in the diagnosis strategy to rely on it. It's really not any better than tossing a coin or picking a drug at random.
John
Posted by JahL on February 3, 2001, at 14:06:16
In reply to wrong diagnosis ???, posted by orthius on January 31, 2001, at 22:08:14
> I have been diagnosed with bp although i have never had a manic episode or anything closely resembling one my main symptoms sem to be irritability inability to sleep and no tolerance for other people concentration is also poor and memory seems to be shot can not even remember anything that i have just read and input would be appreciated thanks
You should find the following link on BP II diagnosis helpful; http://www.psycheducation.org/bipolar/02_diagnosis_app.html#Anchor-GAD-25741 .
It mentions profound insomnia & concentration difficulties as indicators of good response to mood-stabilizers. As you know, irritability (which could translate into intolerance of others) is also suggestive of BP II.
Your description of yr condition sounds *uncannily* like my own, esp. the intolerance of anything human-like (pets don't wind me up). People have a hard time dealing with how agitated their very presence makes me feel. It's not an emotion that illicits much empathy.
Anyway, I seem to be coming round to the same dx as you (even tho' like you I've never been manic) & given how similar yr condition sounds to mine, I would be interested to know: 1) which meds (if any) have helped you so far & 2) how you progress from here.
My new pdoc is trying me on Depakote currently (it's a favourite of his) but looks like putting me on Lamotrigine next, for exactly the symptoms you describe.
Ta,
Jah.
Posted by orthius on February 4, 2001, at 4:12:34
In reply to Re: wrong diagnosis ??? » orthius, posted by JahL on February 3, 2001, at 14:06:16
i have been on several antideppresants prozac no response made it hard to breathe, effexor nervousness insomnia worse and shakes sexual problems, paxil helped some on relating to people about it of course weight gain sexual side effects, remeron used to help sleep but stopped working, trazadone to help sleep didnt work well at all, serzone no help at all, lithium helped some on mood swings could not tolerate normal doses, depakote helped some not much, carbatrol gave me a rash,wellbutrin has helped more than any other antidepressant that i have taken helps control temper and picks me up a little about the only onesi have not taken are the maios and tris which because of their side effect profiles i dont think i would how ever i have been thinking about suggesting lamictal to my doc from what i have been reading it has worked where other things have failed only bad i can find from people about it is if they get the rash from it i hope i have been of some help to ya i know its hard and i dont think people understand my actions alot of times but as bad as i try i always seem to take an attitude with people
Posted by orthius on February 4, 2001, at 4:21:53
In reply to Re: wrong diagnosis ???, posted by orthius on February 4, 2001, at 4:12:34
i forgot to add i have tried zyprexa and seroquel both of which cause confusion worsened the insomnia and caused alot of aggitation
This is the end of the thread.
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