Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 134611

Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!

Posted by jay on January 5, 2003, at 13:01:01


Well, I start as an outpatient this week at a good psych hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, and tommorow is my last shift at work for a 4 week leave of absence. I will get a good workup with tests and such, but my current doc is about 100 percent sure I am Bipolar 2 or 3. It's taken almost a decade for me to arrive at this..but man treating the BP symtoms rather than just dumping antidepressants on me is SUCH a relief...that is an understatement! I was never actually suicidal until I was prescribed my first antidepressant..Elavil! (This is going back to the late 80's.)

Anyhow..both Zyprexa or Risperdal help greatly with squashing my hypomania quickly, and usually adding a benzo like bromazepam or clonazepam can smooth me out in a matter of hours. I take Risperdal because it is cheaper than Zyprexa, but it also works better for me than Zyprexa.

I've been down the 'mood stabalizer' route...the anticonvulsants, with little success. WAY too many side effects, and it is starting to look like the atypical a.p.'s are working wonders for BP'ers. Being in an aggitated hypomanic state I think is one of the worst nightmares, because it is so damn *physical*. Muscles are bitingly tense, like they feel as if they could 'snap'..like somebody is running a razor blade over them... and the seething anger is just plain horrid. That description does not even do it justice.

There is so much suffering out there with mental health...and it hurts me to see the pain a misdiagnosis can bring. I really wonder if one of the reasons we still aren't treating all mental illness is because of misdiagnosis. Labeling a BP'er as 'depressed' and just giving them antidepressants is like adding gasoline to a fire.
I pray for much better diagnosis and a very open attitude to treatment, because even most of the psychiatrists in my mid-size town are very uptight about using expert pharmacology and giving a good, rounded diagnosis.

I'd love to hear some other comments...especially from fellow BP'ers, and those with rapid cycling. It's a complex and still grey area of treatment, and I'd really like to hear what has been most helpful..and least helpful. Most of all..though..I hope we can learn from each other.

Jay

 

Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief! » jay

Posted by Ritch on January 5, 2003, at 14:40:55

In reply to BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!, posted by jay on January 5, 2003, at 13:01:01

>
> Well, I start as an outpatient this week at a good psych hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, and tommorow is my last shift at work for a 4 week leave of absence. I will get a good workup with tests and such, but my current doc is about 100 percent sure I am Bipolar 2 or 3. It's taken almost a decade for me to arrive at this..but man treating the BP symtoms rather than just dumping antidepressants on me is SUCH a relief...that is an understatement! I was never actually suicidal until I was prescribed my first antidepressant..Elavil! (This is going back to the late 80's.)
>
> Anyhow..both Zyprexa or Risperdal help greatly with squashing my hypomania quickly, and usually adding a benzo like bromazepam or clonazepam can smooth me out in a matter of hours. I take Risperdal because it is cheaper than Zyprexa, but it also works better for me than Zyprexa.
>
> I've been down the 'mood stabalizer' route...the anticonvulsants, with little success. WAY too many side effects, and it is starting to look like the atypical a.p.'s are working wonders for BP'ers. Being in an aggitated hypomanic state I think is one of the worst nightmares, because it is so damn *physical*. Muscles are bitingly tense, like they feel as if they could 'snap'..like somebody is running a razor blade over them... and the seething anger is just plain horrid. That description does not even do it justice.
>
> There is so much suffering out there with mental health...and it hurts me to see the pain a misdiagnosis can bring. I really wonder if one of the reasons we still aren't treating all mental illness is because of misdiagnosis. Labeling a BP'er as 'depressed' and just giving them antidepressants is like adding gasoline to a fire.
> I pray for much better diagnosis and a very open attitude to treatment, because even most of the psychiatrists in my mid-size town are very uptight about using expert pharmacology and giving a good, rounded diagnosis.
>
> I'd love to hear some other comments...especially from fellow BP'ers, and those with rapid cycling. It's a complex and still grey area of treatment, and I'd really like to hear what has been most helpful..and least helpful. Most of all..though..I hope we can learn from each other.
>
> Jay

Jay, I hope you can post from the hospital and let us know how you are doing and what the docs thinking and ideas are. AP's have done some wonders for me over the years but I get too many dystonic reactions from the things. Anger-wise, the little bit of Depakote I take works just as well as Thorazine used to with a somewhat clearer head. My pdoc reports a lot of success with Zyprexa, however. good luck.. Mitch

 

Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief! » Ritch

Posted by jay on January 6, 2003, at 1:51:56

In reply to Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief! » jay, posted by Ritch on January 5, 2003, at 14:40:55

> Jay, I hope you can post from the hospital and >let us know how you are doing and what the docs >thinking and ideas are. AP's have done some >wonders for me over the years but I get too many >dystonic reactions from the things. Anger-wise, >the little bit of Depakote I take works just as >well as Thorazine used to with a somewhat >clearer head. My pdoc reports a lot of success >with Zyprexa, however. good luck.. Mitch

Hey Mitch...thanks very much! Right now I am pretty much open and game to most meds, even though I have tried pretty much everything. I have a couple of combos in mind I would consider...(some that have worked in the past...but because of a former uptight doctor, he wouldn't allow and didn't tolerate polypharmacy..)even Depakote (Epival in Canada) with an a.d., mainly because my depression cycles are very deep also. I know it's risky using an a.d. in BP, but the 'extra' mania I have found can also be controlled by a benzo, even as needed.

Until I get my hospital recomendations, a small dose of an a.d. plus the risperdal and a benzo is 'holding me over'...but I know I *have* to feel better than this. I still sleep 14 hours one day...2 the next..etc. My mood is also still fairly bleak, but I have worked on my own cognitive thinking, giving me some hope for the future.

I was once on two mood stabalizers...Depakote and Topomax, with high dose Effexor, which seemed to make me feel well balanced. From the literature, 2 mood stabalizers seem to be a new 'gold' standard, and the atypical a.p.'s as a 'backup'.
Again, it was my old doctor that prevented that from continuing.

I am going to keep posting, as I will be an outpatient. My Dad is driving me there and back..for a few weeks, and once they get the assesment and prescriptions going, my primary care doc will be using their (the hospitals) advice until I get into one of the best psychopharmacologists in Ontario. There are a number I have suggested to me, and am lucky to have a choice. I am even going to try and do a 'preliminary consultation'...if it is possible. So, my primary doc will look after the meds for a month or so until I get to see the 'expert' psychopharm.

I am also lucky too, because my primary doc has a lot of faith in trying as many options as possible, responsibly of course. But, I had to not only search him down, I have also researched to get into the hospital I am going to, and the pdoc(s) I will eventually get. There are doctors just an office down from him who would never try half the things we have.

I will keep things updated..and I hope it maybe can help others in giving them ideas, or even just the courage to 'break out' of a non-working doctor relationship, and find some better care. We all deserve it, and think if say we broke our back in a car accident, we DESERVE the same quality and open care...as this illness is JUST as deadly and horrific. If I can retain some of the hope I have into my second decade of treatment, I have faith we all can too.

OK..sorry for rambling..and thanks for your thoughts!

Talk to you soon...
Jay

 

Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!

Posted by Nala on January 6, 2003, at 16:37:11

In reply to BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!, posted by jay on January 5, 2003, at 13:01:01

Jay,
Recently diagnosed BPAD III. Like you I was also misdiagnosed with unipolar depression. Years ago I was put on Zoloft for social anxiety; tapered and was left with my 1st major depressive episode. Next, I was put on Remeron. Started at 15mg then up to 60mg. I've never been so pissed off in my life! I ended up feeling hatred, and other negative feelings toward anyone around me. Now, I'm on eskalith and klonopin only I feel much better. Still have a little problem with sleep, though. I'd like to try an atypical AP like yourself.
Nala

 

Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!

Posted by Creaky_Neurons on January 7, 2003, at 12:51:37

In reply to BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!, posted by jay on January 5, 2003, at 13:01:01

i've had very good luck with low-dose seroquel for mania. i can't stay on it long because of stiff neck, lip twitching. but it does work for crack-out mania pretty well.

 

Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!

Posted by vagen on January 14, 2003, at 5:30:54

In reply to Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!, posted by Creaky_Neurons on January 7, 2003, at 12:51:37

So, then do ya'll recommend using the Atypical AP's while cycling and not for maintenance?
Do any of you have those weird twitches?
ANd, do they go away?

 

Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!

Posted by Jet Meck on January 14, 2003, at 19:20:16

In reply to BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!, posted by jay on January 5, 2003, at 13:01:01

I have recently accepted the diagnosis of biplor. My life has been a roller coaster with much anger and mania. This mania and I suppose depression has led me to drugs. I have been through treatment 4 TIMES! I am fortunate to have a good job today. I have always been a go getter and highly motivated (mania I suppose) I had to visit a doctor in May of 2002 due to an addiction to GBL (GHB analog). He put me on Effexor with the idea that depression led to this addiction and Zyprexa for sleep. I have always had a MAJOR problem with sleep. This led to my GBL addiction. GBL, if not familiar is a chemical which knocks you out for 2 to 3 hours waking up feeling very rested. It also cause euphoria leading up to this sleep. Anyway I have noticed the Effexor and Zyprexa have helped me greatly, which led me to believe this diagnosis of bipolar (through out my drug addiction treatments and visits to pdocs) may be right on the money.

 

Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's -.Jet Meck

Posted by denise528 on January 18, 2003, at 5:03:42

In reply to Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's and benzos...relief!, posted by Jet Meck on January 14, 2003, at 19:20:16

Jet Meck,

How do you know that both drugs are helping you and not just one of them?

I often wonder when people are on more than one drug, how do they know which drug is doing what.

Denise

 

Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's -.Jet Meck

Posted by Jet Meck on January 18, 2003, at 11:35:29

In reply to Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's -.Jet Meck, posted by denise528 on January 18, 2003, at 5:03:42

> Jet Meck,
>
> How do you know that both drugs are helping you and not just one of them?
>
> I often wonder when people are on more than one drug, how do they know which drug is doing what.
>
> Denise

Hi Denise,

That's a very good question. I never really accepted the diagnosis if bipolar until my doctor (GP) put me on Effexor XR and Zyprexa. I have always been the type to fly off the handle for the smallest things. Also, sleep has ALWAYS been a problem for me. Since taking these medications I am much more on an even keel. I too have wondered if it was both medications together or just one that I benefit from. My only complaint is it is now very hard to arise in the mornings and I sleep too much now, and I have overall less motivation. I have thought about stopping the Zyprexa to see what difference that will make. The only reason I haven't because I feel it is the Zyprexa which helps me sleep. Good question.

 

Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's -.Jet Meck » Jet Meck

Posted by justyourlaugh on January 18, 2003, at 17:21:20

In reply to Re: BP 2 +3...Using Atypical AP's -.Jet Meck, posted by Jet Meck on January 18, 2003, at 11:35:29

good question!
i am terrified to tell my pdoc how much of a mess i am.
the wellbutrin keeps me on my feet-yet i feel as dangerous as ever.
i take seoquel at night.(only sometimes-cant get up !)
trading motivation for sanity?
j


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.