Spring BiPo Thread~

[CurveControl]

I hope it is too, DJ.

I am actually a little depressed. Have been for a week or so. Not terribly, or unmanageably. I perk up some after a workout so that is good.
I don't see the doc for a few weeks but might move it up. Not sleeping well, even with the meds.
I would rather be depressed than mixed though, That's for sure.

[Allieglover]

Hi everyone. This is my first post in this section. I posted in the main lobby about gaining weight on Trileptal and found out about this section.

I'm taking Trileptal 600 mg per day for BPII and Klonopin 1 mg as needed when I have panic attacks and sometimes 50 mg of Seroquel as needed when I'm desperate for sleep.

I've had a really rough couple of months. I lost my cat, my job and my dad all within one month. Now my husband I have to take care of my mom financially who has no income and no job.

Needless to say I'm freaking out. I feel like my mood is starting to shift again. I feel like the natural mourning process is turning into another deep depression. I see my doctor next week, so I'll see what else I can do to help my mood. I don't think the Trileptal is doing anything.

I go from really depressed and wanting to ball my eyes out, to feeling like I want to explode with rage.

I start a new job tomorrow and I'm so depressed today when I should be happy. I can't even fit into any of my work clothes since I've gained weight and that is not helping my mood.

Thanks for listening. I'm glad I was told about this section.

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by Allieglover

Hi everyone. This is my first post in this section. I posted in the main lobby about gaining weight on Trileptal and found out about this section.

I'm taking Trileptal 600 mg per day for BPII and Klonopin 1 mg as needed when I have panic attacks and sometimes 50 mg of Seroquel as needed when I'm desperate for sleep.

I've had a really rough couple of months. I lost my cat, my job and my dad all within one month. Now my husband I have to take care of my mom financially who has no income and no job.

Needless to say I'm freaking out. I feel like my mood is starting to shift again. I feel like the natural mourning process is turning into another deep depression. I see my doctor next week, so I'll see what else I can do to help my mood. I don't think the Trileptal is doing anything.

I go from really depressed and wanting to ball my eyes out, to feeling like I want to explode with rage.

I start a new job tomorrow and I'm so depressed today when I should be happy. I can't even fit into any of my work clothes since I've gained weight and that is not helping my mood.

Thanks for listening. I'm glad I was told about this section.

Jeeze that is a LOT on you!
A new job and loss of a loved one are in the top of the top 10 stress list and the mood shift (for us) as you know is not always appropriate, or what one would expect.

I gained a crapload of weight on Seroquel. Metabolic issues as well as causing serious carb cravings. I was never a binger until seroquel, but since I have stopped it I am back to not having that urge anymore. And I have lost most of the weight I gained while on it.

and

[djalomo]

Allieglover

I gained about 10 lbs. almost overnight on Geodon. Oh lordy. I've NEVER had binge attacks like that before. It's like I'd get panic attacks that were only calmed by eating. And I'd get urges to eat the crappiest food.

Thankfully when it comes on fast like that it feels like it comes off pretty fast too once my body adjusts to something else.

Just know that it DOES get better. It will. A p-doc told me that last year and it was the most simple-sounding advice but I always come back to it.

[Houston Heather]

[Allieglover]

Oh I hope it comes off fast. I've upped my exercise and cut my calories some. I'm hoping that by doing more cardio I can get rid of some of the water weight. I wonder once my body adjusts to the trileptal I can lose the weight like you did. Oh I hope so.

I started eating more fruit too. For some reason lately I've been dying for fruit. Good thing it doesn't cause further craivings.

I had a horrible panic attack last night. I had to take a klonopin. I usually only take it once or twice a week. Then I had another panic attack this morning but I just had to suffer through since I started my new job this morning. My chest gets real heavy and I can't get air. Then I freak out.

I'm thinking about switching from the Trileptal but I don't know what else to try. Has anyone tried Topamax to help with the weight gain from the meds?

[djalomo]

Originally Posted by Allieglover

Oh I hope it comes off fast. I've upped my exercise and cut my calories some. I'm hoping that by doing more cardio I can get rid of some of the water weight. I wonder once my body adjusts to the trileptal I can lose the weight like you did. Oh I hope so.

I started eating more fruit too. For some reason lately I've been dying for fruit. Good thing it doesn't cause further craivings.

I had a horrible panic attack last night. I had to take a klonopin. I usually only take it once or twice a week. Then I had another panic attack this morning but I just had to suffer through since I started my new job this morning. My chest gets real heavy and I can't get air.

OMG OMG I HATE that feeling!! I had that happen to me on Geodon and actually, it was *worsened* for me by Klonopin -- but it turns out my body just did not like the Klonopin. I had to go to the ER because i thought I was having a heart attack. They told me in the future to mention it when the ER asks me about any allergies to medication. They gave me Ativan and I was literally crying because i couldn't breathe until it kicked in. I thought I was dying and everyone was just watching me die. It was insane!!

The fruit cravings happened for me too -- I REALLY wanted those Odwalla shakes all the time and I never have cravings like that.

[djalomo]

Also, for me at least, it felt like no matter WHAT I did nothing would take the weight off until my body wanted it gone. I'd increase my cardio, cut my calories, etc. and it felt like I'd wake up another lb. heavier the next day. I've heard the Topomax solution works for some people, and I've also heard about somethine experimental where people of Seroquel had doctors prescribe antacids or something, I wanna say Pepecid?, and that counteracted some fo the weight gain effects for some reason. i don't remember details but i read it at crazyboards.

[Houston Heather]

Allie

Things have been pretty tame for us, swine flu excepted.

I met a guy at the bus stop yesterday, he's in a homeless shelter and a recovering alcoholic. He said he also had bipolar disorder (me too, I said).

He recited the chemical formula for lithium carbonate when I told him I took it. Huh. I hope he makes it, but I'm skeptical.

Alcohol and drugs are SO evil for us!

[CurveControl]

They are heather. They really are.
That said I still have my 2 drinks a day.

[Allieglover]

I haven't needed the Seroquel in about 5 months. Only when Im desperate for sleep I'll take it. The Trileptal helps me sleep really well. So unfortunately it has to be the Trilelptal causing the weight gain or water gain whatever it is.

Before the Trileptal I tried Zonegran, and I was losing weight even when I didn't need to. But it gave me the worst panic attacks ever. I would have them all day long for several days in a row.

On a positive note, I love my new job. I start off only 2 days a week but thats perfect for me right now. So If I do switch meds I can adjust to it on my days off. I will work up to 30 hours a week in a couple months, but I like my 2 days for now.

[CurveControl]

I am so glad you like your new job Allie!

[Allieglover]

I called my Doctors nurse today at Kaiser and she told him my side effects and he told me to stop the trileptal right away. No tapering, just don't take anymore. I had already taken my morning dose though. I hope I don't get weird effects from just stopping it right away. I suppose it's ok since I was on a relatively low dose.

That's even more good news.

[Houston Heather]

Saw my doc.

He is still talking about the afghan I made him 3 years ago! I'm glad he likes it.

He also told the resident (he teaches and I am fine with a student sitting in) "Heather has lost A TON OF WEIGHT". That was pretty awesome.

He got me some lithium 150's for those times when I need more lithium, but the 300's would make me too groggy. Awesome.

I'm glad they took you off the bad stuff, Allie!

[Allieglover]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

Saw my doc.

He is still talking about the afghan I made him 3 years ago! I'm glad he likes it.

He also told the resident (he teaches and I am fine with a student sitting in) "Heather has lost A TON OF WEIGHT". That was pretty awesome.

He got me some lithium 150's for those times when I need more lithium, but the 300's would make me too groggy. Awesome.

I'm glad they took you off the bad stuff, Allie!

That must have felt great to hear. Does the student ever chime in or just observe?

[Houston Heather]

They're pretty much just there to observe. He is an older doctor, very well respected in the community.

One of his projects is to deal with people like me with no insurance, but can pay SOME. I am charged $50 a visit.

The student basically watches us interact, as I discuss things like side effects and such. This time, for instance, I told him that Black Cohosh supplement worked great on the "sexual side effects" stemming from the Lexapro. A little odd to talk about my sex life in front of 2 guys I'm not married to, with my husband right there, but important.

The Lexapro works, and now I don't have to give up anything to enjoy the benefits.

He has different students - not every time, but maybe a few times a year. He knows I am "cool" with him discussing my symptoms and all with another doc. How else am I going to get a good doc if he retires? I also want the students to see that people with bipolar can be and are very responsible, motivated, and committed to taking their medication and living happy, productive lives.

I even told the student how Ron wanted to check himself into a nursing home because he couldn't abide living with "Heather the Hatchet".

I am very open about my illness so it's no biggie, but he says some patients don't want an observer. I'm just glad that what I have has a treatment.

For years I thought I would just have to suffer my whole life. My mother, diagnosed in her 40's, was absolutely convinced I had bipolar disorder. She was right. She was also right about my neice.

[Houston Heather]

Last night I had a nightmare. I was having psychotic symptoms and couldn't find my pills.

When I describe my psychotic "features" to your average layperson, they use the word "Crazy". True enough.

It was horrible, I could literally feel my mind dissolving as I had a total psychotic break. I was never so happy to hear the alarm in my life, and Ron telling me I had 10 more minutes.

I stared at the ceiling, not daring to close my eyes. Eeek.

[Lurchy]

Can I jump in?

Are most of the medications that you all take contraindicated in pregnancy? I could look them up, but figured you guys prolly know.

I have a daughter (20 yrs) who was diagnosed ADD, dyslexic, etc in 6th grade. By 9th grade she was diagnosed with depression and started on Celexa then changed to Wellbutrin. She quit taking her meds in high school.

She began to realize about a year ago that she was having manic episodes along with the depression and pretty much self medicated with caffeine (Starbucks, Rockstars). They made her feel better for a couple hours, then she would crash. She started smoking about this time too.

Finally convinced her to see someone and she was diagnosed as bipolar and started on Geodon. She felt horrible and too sleepy all the time so she quit taking it after 3 weeks.

Fast forward to 2 months ago. She met a boy (25 yrs) and its obvious that she is overboard sexually with him. (bragging, type of clothing, scratching him, hickeys) He adores her. (whatever, little does he know) But anyways, she now believes that she is pregnant.

Would pregnancy hormones make her moods, etc even "worse"? Is it worth waiting until after the pregnancy to get her more "stable"? Risk of the medications not worth it right now?

All I can do is encourage her in the right direction anyways. But she is aware of her moods and behaviors.

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by Lurchy

Can I jump in?

Are most of the medications that you all take contraindicated in pregnancy? I could look them up, but figured you guys prolly know.

I have a daughter (20 yrs) who was diagnosed ADD, dyslexic, etc in 6th grade. By 9th grade she was diagnosed with depression and started on Celexa then changed to Wellbutrin. She quit taking her meds in high school.

She began to realize about a year ago that she was having manic episodes along with the depression and pretty much self medicated with caffeine (Starbucks, Rockstars). They made her feel better for a couple hours, then she would crash. She started smoking about this time too.

Finally convinced her to see someone and she was diagnosed as bipolar and started on Geodon. She felt horrible and too sleepy all the time so she quit taking it after 3 weeks.

Fast forward to 2 months ago. She met a boy (25 yrs) and its obvious that she is overboard sexually with him. (bragging, type of clothing, scratching him, hickeys) He adores her. (whatever, little does he know) But anyways, she now believes that she is pregnant.

Would pregnancy hormones make her moods, etc even "worse"? Is it worth waiting until after the pregnancy to get her more "stable"? Risk of the medications not worth it right now?

All I can do is encourage her in the right direction anyways. But she is aware of her moods and behaviors.

DD2 has ADD and she stopped her med (Adderoll) drives me nuts sometimes, LOL Between the ADD and pregnancy air head brain

I also suspect she is BiPo, But a very mild bi po with very rare Hypomaic episodes.

Many of the meds for BiPo are 'unknown' as no testing is ever done on pregnant women. On Crazy med boards there are several people who are or have been pregnant on meds.
For me, I was not Diagnosed until after I had my kids, But I can tell you that pregnancy and nursing were possibly the calmest times of my life. (after those first 3 months of crazy hormonal shifts that nearly all pregnant women have)
I suspect that her Pdoc will discuss the risk/benefit options with her. She needs to call her pdoc as soon as she has a positive result on the pee stick. I think I would call my Pdoc before my OB as the OB will probably not want to see her until she is 10 weeks or so, But the Pdoc will want to observe her closely.

I wish her the best of luck!
It is a hard road and nearly ALL the meds will make you very very tired at first. I was a zombie for at least a month and even after that I was hazy for another month. It takes a long time to get to a therapeutic level and become accustomed to the meds. Unlike depression meds Mood Stabilizers (a whole different class of drug) are very hard at first. Many people go untreated or Medication jump because of the side effects. My Pdoc says that unless there are serious complications (palpatations, things like that) the meds need at least a month if possible before a decision is made to switch.

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

Last night I had a nightmare. I was having psychotic symptoms and couldn't find my pills.

When I describe my psychotic "features" to your average layperson, they use the word "Crazy". True enough.

It was horrible, I could literally feel my mind dissolving as I had a total psychotic break. I was never so happy to hear the alarm in my life, and Ron telling me I had 10 more minutes.

I stared at the ceiling, not daring to close my eyes. Eeek.

Yikes!When I took that stop smoking med (Can't think of the name, The new one ) I had very vivid dreams. I likes them. But the nightmares wore fully odd!

[Lurchy]

Originally Posted by CurveControl

For me, I was not Diagnosed until after I had my kids, But I can tell you that pregnancy and nursing were possibly the calmest times of my life. (after those first 3 months of crazy hormonal shifts that nearly all pregnant women have).

I'm a nurse, but not a psych nurse. I do know that Geodon is contraindicated in pregnancy for sure. But thanks for the insight about pregnancy being a calmer time in your life, that helps a lot. I won't push getting her on meds for now.

[CurveControl]

I think that most Pdocs would rather try to transition to lithium or some first generation that have been around long enough that many women have used it w/o significant complication. Sadly the changes should be made before conception if the BiPo woman knows she will be staying on meds and wants to TTC. Lots of (unmedicated) BoPo momma's didn't actually mean to become mommas when they did.

I think many of the newer meds have not been around long enough to have enough data to make an informed decision, though there are a few that are getting attention because they HAVE shown a bad trend already. Geodon is definitely on that list!

Some (like seroquel) are also class C, But since they are known to mess with blood sugar anyway I think the concern then leans towards gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain, rather than fetal malformation.

I would doubt that they would start her on anything if she is pregnant unless she became a danger, KWIM?

[Houston Heather]

Lithium messes with heart and thyroid in some babies... so they would probably go Depakote.

I have a family history of bp so lithium is better indicated. It's worked well enough that it's the only mood stabilizer I ever took.

I just looked up Depakote, big time birth defects. I have fetal alcohol so I will say, as a sufferer, if she has been drinking at all she may want to consider ending it.

I tend to have very vivid dreams all the time, worse when I am manic.

I'm manic enough that I'm getting on my own nerves, and upped my lithium.

[Lurchy]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

I have fetal alcohol so I will say, as a sufferer, if she has been drinking at all she may want to consider ending it.

She is 20 and has an alcoholic father, she doesn't touch the stuff to my knowlege.

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

I'm manic enough that I'm getting on my own nerves, and upped my lithium.

I can't imagine.

[Houston Heather]

Oh, good, I'm glad to see you won't have an FAS grandkid. It's pretty raw for everyone, the child and the family. A pretty high sucide rate for the sufferers.

I was telling my husband, manias are a lot like someone carjacks your brain, takes it on high-speed chases, runs it into a ditch, and YOU'RE left by the side of the road with your wrecked brain and the cops approaching. You can say "It wasn't me!" all you want but people see you, not the illness, and you're judged accordingly.

Increasing my lithium worked but I'm pretty groggy and queasy today - better than being manic.

[djalomo]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

Oh, good, I'm glad to see you won't have an FAS grandkid. It's pretty raw for everyone, the child and the family. A pretty high sucide rate for the sufferers.

I was telling my husband, manias are a lot like someone carjacks your brain, takes it on high-speed chases, runs it into a ditch, and YOU'RE left by the side of the road with your wrecked brain and the cops approaching. You can say "It wasn't me!" all you want but people see you, not the illness, and you're judged accordingly.

Increasing my lithium worked but I'm pretty groggy and queasy today - better than being manic.

WOW. That's a REALLY good analogy.

[Houston Heather]

Thanks!

[djalomo]

Originally Posted by Allieglover

Oh I hope it comes off fast. I've upped my exercise and cut my calories some. I'm hoping that by doing more cardio I can get rid of some of the water weight. I wonder once my body adjusts to the trileptal I can lose the weight like you did. Oh I hope so.

I started eating more fruit too. For some reason lately I've been dying for fruit. Good thing it doesn't cause further craivings.

I had a horrible panic attack last night. I had to take a klonopin. I usually only take it once or twice a week. Then I had another panic attack this morning but I just had to suffer through since I started my new job this morning. My chest gets real heavy and I can't get air. Then I freak out.

I'm thinking about switching from the Trileptal but I don't know what else to try. Has anyone tried Topamax to help with the weight gain from the meds?

Hey Allie! How did stopping the Trileptal work? Are you feeling any better? I thought of you last night because I was looking through my computer bag and found my Zicam nasal inhalent thingy. LOL. When I was having those panic attacks I didn't know what was happening and I couldn't breathe through my nose and thought I had some massive sinus problem. LOL. Between the chest weight feeling and the inability to breathe through my nose I thought I was having some major respiratory issue and having a heart attack. How weird, the things that panic can do. I'd never really experienced the physical symptoms before. I didn't feel "panicky" necessarily, but sure enough when I finally went to the ER for it they pumped me full of Ativan I was fine.

[Allieglover]

Originally Posted by djalomo

Hey Allie! How did stopping the Trileptal work? Are you feeling any better? I thought of you last night because I was looking through my computer bag and found my Zicam nasal inhalent thingy. LOL. When I was having those panic attacks I didn't know what was happening and I couldn't breathe through my nose and thought I had some massive sinus problem. LOL. Between the chest weight feeling and the inability to breathe through my nose I thought I was having some major respiratory issue and having a heart attack. How weird, the things that panic can do. I'd never really experienced the physical symptoms before. I didn't feel "panicky" necessarily, but sure enough when I finally went to the ER for it they pumped me full of Ativan I was fine.

I'm doing really good so far. The bloating in my face was gone the next morning. Actually, my panic attacks are far less also. Which is strange because I never thought it was the Trileptal making my panic attacks worse. I don't have that real heavy feeling on my chest so that nice. I can actually get a full breath. Thats a huge relief.

But I feel like I may be getting depressed. I see my doctor on Wednesday so hopefully it won't get really bad before then. I work tomorrow too, so it will be nice to get out of the house.

[djalomo]

Originally Posted by Allieglover

I'm doing really good so far. The bloating in my face was gone the next morning. Actually, my panic attacks are far less also. Which is strange because I never thought it was the Trileptal making my panic attacks worse. I don't have that real heavy feeling on my chest so that nice. I can actually get a full breath. Thats a huge relief.

But I feel like I may be getting depressed. I see my doctor on Wednesday so hopefully it won't get really bad before then. I work tomorrow too, so it will be nice to get out of the house.

Awesome! I'm glad your bloating went away quickly and that awful heavy feeling went away. Gaaaaaah that feeling is awful.

I weaned off my benzos and Paxil and I feel like I'm deflating! I still hate exercise but I actually have the energy to do it, lol, so I guess that's ok.

My only complaint is that my sleep's a little jacked up, I do get some mild anxious feelings here and there, but thankfully NO physical panic weirdness. Just anxious feelings randomly, will occasionally feel "nervous" and not be able to eat, etc., but they're usually not too bad and have gotten better the longer I'm on Pristiq.