BiPolar~ Because we need our own thread~

[rimom1969]

Hi everyone. I am not bipo, I don't think, even though sometimes I wonder. I was diagnosed w/major depression and anxiety issues about 6 years ago after almost overdosing on my anxiety drugs.

I have been on Cymbalta since then at the same does, not currently seeing a pdoc b/c of insurance issues (high deductible and high copayments). I don't have the $ to get even 10 pills at this point ($ 40).

Does anyone know of supplements or anything to counteract the withdrawl from Cymbalta. My last pill was on Monday and I am just starting to get the fog brain and dizziness/vertigo. I would rather go off the meds at this point and see if I can get my sxs under control through strict LC, exercise, etc.

Any advice? I really don't want to become the screaming banshiee woman I was before I was on the meds, cycling with depression so bad I didn't get out of bed.

TIA.
Amy

[CurveControl]

5HTP has helped some people.

I have not tried it, But if you do a search of it on LCF you will see who is on it and PM them.

and Please, come in here and let us know how you are. I didn't mean for the thread to be exclusive to Bi Po, we welcome all Folks with MI!!!

[rimom1969]

Thanks Molly. I figured you all over here would be the most knowlegable. I will be back....off to seach, if I can keep my head on straight.

[CurveControl]

Actually, I thin Rachel in this thread is using just supplements~ She would be a good person to ask!

[Houston Heather]

It's official. I saw my pdoc today. I'm down to 3 lithium, 1/2 lexapro, and 1/2 risperdal. Yay.

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

It's official. I saw my pdoc today. I'm down to 3 lithium, 1/2 lexapro, and 1/2 risperdal. Yay.

Is the biotin helping with the hair Loss?

[cenicienta]

Originally Posted by rimom1969

Hi everyone. I am not bipo, I don't think, even though sometimes I wonder. I was diagnosed w/major depression and anxiety issues about 6 years ago after almost overdosing on my anxiety drugs.

I have been on Cymbalta since then at the same does, not currently seeing a pdoc b/c of insurance issues (high deductible and high copayments). I don't have the $ to get even 10 pills at this point ($ 40).

Does anyone know of supplements or anything to counteract the withdrawl from Cymbalta. My last pill was on Monday and I am just starting to get the fog brain and dizziness/vertigo. I would rather go off the meds at this point and see if I can get my sxs under control through strict LC, exercise, etc.

Any advice? I really don't want to become the screaming banshiee woman I was before I was on the meds, cycling with depression so bad I didn't get out of bed.

TIA.
Amy

Amy,

When I went off my Zoloft the first time (and the last time I will ever go off of it), I tapered down, but still got the dizziness that you describe going off your Cymbalta cold turkey. What helped me with the dizziness/vertigo feeling was Dramamine (or any other motion sickness medication). It made me feel really sleepy, but the dizziness went away. Keep pushing fluids into yourself - especially water. It helps with withdrawl.

Hope this helps! I know how hard it is to come off some of these drugs.

[rimom1969]

Well, my brain is in a fog, but the dizziness seems to have abated for now. I was really lazy last night with no energy to do anything but lay on my bed and watch TV. Will try to increase the water today and hit CVS tonight for some supplements - Fish oil, B6, B12, etc.

I am just really worried about turning into the screaming banshee woman again. Its been a while since she popped out, but she scares me as I can't control my actions or what I say.

[Houston Heather]

I think it's down to "normal" levels. I have very thick hair and everything I see in the mirror seems to be the existing levels of thin.

I'm taking 2 biotin every day, they're sure not hurting, so I'm going to keep taking them. I think the combo of low carb and lithium was a little bit of a shock to my poor scalp.

I've got my energy back, I'm working out again. This morning I ran in the rain.. very nice.

[JoLi]

Hey. I just discovered this thread and wanted to share my story.

I started having major depression after the birth of my second child back in Feb of 93. It was November before I saw anyone about it. I started out on Prozac, then imimprimine, no real changes noted. After moving away from that Psych doc. I saw another and was diagnosed as bipolar (going between major depressive episodes and as someone else said "wild banshee woman".
I took lithium for a while and got off due to the shakes (I'm a nurse)...
It took awhile to find a good combination. Right now I take:
wellbutrin 200mgs twice a day
lamictal 100mgs in the am, and 150mg in the pm
geodon 40mgs in the pm
lunesta 2mgs in the pm.
I tried respiradol and zyprexa, but when I heard of the weight gain side effects I said no way. Geodon has worked much better anyway as a mood stabilizer. It did make me sleepy so the dose was cut and I take it at night.
I took topomax, lost 20 pds without a whole lot of effort, but had memory problems and became "word stupid". Couldn't think of the word I wanted to say. Felt stupid!
I've been on the same cocktail of meds for about 6 years now. The only change was increasing the pm dose of lamictal because I was afarid I was "too chatty" at work sometimes and would miss things on my paper work (moving too fast). I have taken something for sleep (trazadone for a long time) for almost the whole time. I just couldn't shut down my head to sleep.
I'm doing pretty well. I only tried to come off my meds once during that time and things got pretty bad so for the sake of my children and my dh I stay on them.
During the past 6 years I have had two major episodes of "losing weight" The first time I lost 80 pds doing ATkins, walking and the gym. I also went through massage therapy school and was doing 5-8 massages a week, lots of calories burned there. (the school was my jump off point place for losing weight. I was the biggest person in the room and was embarassed. By the we were finished I had lost about 65pds.) (in 2003). By 2005 I had gained about 30 pds of it back (long story, too many excuses) I started dieting again, this time doing SBD, walking and Curves. I liked SBD much better and lost about 50pds in 2006 this time. I do feel much better when I'm eating well and not so much crap.
So with all the medications I take I have been able to lose weight. Being stable helps to make it easier to eat right.
So thats my story. If anyone has questions they would like to ask, fire away.

[Houston Heather]

Great story JoLi!

My hands still shake a little but not too bad. Because I have a strong family history, Mom did well on Lithium when she didn't drink, and I am scared of "new drug" side effects I told my Doc I wanted lithium.

I've never gone off my meds, just reduced them when my doc told me to. My symptoms were so horrible "Psychotic Features, Delusions, Paranoia, Mixed epsisodes" that I would die rather than go off my pills, ever. It is horrible at times to really think I'm just a couple of missed pills away from absolute, scary, insanity.

Lot of fatigue, but some of that may be due to hellish heat, active job, and working out. I just take a nap every day. My husband runs a vending business and I help - we work part time. Oh, yeah, and the thirst. Lots of thirst, but that's not bad on low-carb.

Today I was whining because I started my period. No big deal before, I'd just take my Aleve. I can't take Aleve now, it raises my lithium levels. Same with ibuprofen and tylenol. I asked my pharmacist and she said Asprin.

It works, eventually, but hours of crappy pain first. UGH. Like I told DH, everyone I met today thinks I'm a nice person. That's worth it.

I'm losing at a decent clip, too, so I know I'm doing it right. I was so afraid I wouldn't lose the weight, even on low-carb, with my medication. I give low-carb credit first, then the weights, then running 3 x a week.

Thank God I finally got diagnosed. I made life hell for everyone who loved me. I'm glad I have people who do.

I'm truly amazed I'm still married.

[CurveControl]

went to Pdoc today.

Trying trazodone in place of seroquel.

that I sleep and the side effects are minimal
AND
That I do not go manic. (Ok, a touch of Hypomania might get my ass off the couch......)

[Houston Heather]

Hypo was always good for getting me into new hobbies, exercising again, etc.

It's not all bad. That's the problem!

[CurveControl]

I know.

I am reading a book called Bi Po II, and he thinks there should be a sub class Diagnosis of BiPo IIB as in beneficial, because so darn many BiPo I people do so very much in between the depressed bits. There are TONS of very successful people who are BiPo and ride on Hypomania to great successes.
I am liking this guy!

He lists a bunch of famous people, actors, successful business people who are treated for bi po, but the docs do not try to treat the creativity and personality out of them, just bring them to a stable hypo state.

My doc says much the same thing, he dosn't want to medicate the ME outta me.

[Houston Heather]

Even Hitler wouldn't kill us, we contribute so much to society. I got that out of Touched with Fire by Kay Redfield Jamison.

I feel like I'm me at this level. I don't mind saying I hope I can reduce my lithium by one more tablet a day as I lose more weight, but I'm happy where I am right now.

No scary manias, no Ron telling me to "SHUT UP!" because of the yakking, I have money left from my old check when I get paid again, no depressions, no freaky dreams if I don't oversleep, life is good. I'm used to my fatigue, which isn't too bad considering.

I just thank God I'm me now and not a couple hundred years ago. Oh! How did they do it?

Off I go to drink more water, the thirst is also a constant companion.

[CurveControl]

I am hoping for less tiredness and better sleep with the new meds. and No More drug induced carb craving!!!
My Pdoc said that compulsive eating, especially since I had never had compulsions before, are an uncommon, but not unusual side effect of Seroquel, so I guess I was in the lucky %.

Eating is not the only compulsion it can start so I might just BE very lucky!!

[Houston Heather]

Eeek!

I had to cancel half my workout today. I got overheated in the garage and started to develop a horrible headache. I think the combo of hot garage + not much to eat + iced tea + diet Dr pepper + deadlifts (arguably one of the most strenous weightlifting moves) = headache.

I lost 2 pounds this morning, and may lose a few today, so I'm motivated to get back out there and hit it.

[CurveControl]

YIKES!

and I think Richard Simmons in my air conditioned/ceiling fan Living Room is tough!

[Houston Heather]

I'm a metalhead.

You should have seen me lifting out there when we had WASPS! I tell ya, Molly, riding the paratransit is VERY motivating!

I stuffed plastic bags into the cracks of the garage door and that keeps out the wasps now.

[CurveControl]

Dang!

I am looking at 'Shapely Secrets' but decided that I Need to tone, But I also NEED the cardio and strict LC to get the fat off so one can SEE the muscle tone!


Ok.

1st day Trazadone update~
Meh, I took one, got tired but not tired enough, so I took andothe 1/2 and went to bed. Started sneezing, remembered I hadn't taken my allergy sinus meds (I take 4) OR mt Xanax, so went back down and took them, laid on the couch with the tv on (STUPID!) and didn't fall asleep till 5am.

slept till noon, which was actually how late I was sleeping with the seroquel going to bed at 11pm.

Felt kinda dopy/stoned~ Sort of how people describe feeling with vicoden or opiates, and muscle relaxers, I never have that reaction to those drugs (vicoden is like speed to me) But that seems the best way to describe how I felt today. Kinda dreamy.
Starting to feel more normal, and less blah.

I plan to just take 2 tonight and see how it goes, maybe drop to 1 1/2 tomorrow, see how little I can get by with.

ETA~ No cravings and not much appetite today.

[Houston Heather]

I had wierd green nipple discharge in my bra from the Risperdal. That's happened about once a year. GROSS! If anyone but me saw my bra I'd throw it out. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

Risperdal raises prolactin levels, which can make me "lactate" rarely. And I'm on a very low dose!

YUCK!

Other than that, and the tropical storm coming in tomorrow, and the fact that we're working during the storm, things are great.

[CurveControl]

Yikes, That would freak me out!
My mom is on risperdal.

she has not mentioned any odd discharge.

STAY SAFE!!!

[Houston Heather]

Well, I'm in the fertile age group... it can play havoc with female hormones. My sister turned into Bessie the cow, she was constantly oozing milk 24/7 before they took her off the pills.

I don't know how to delicately phrase the other risperdal side effect. Let's just say I could use a tampon for a week or so when I'm ovulating, due to the "other" discharge (clear). At least it's obvious when I'm ovulating now. I know to expect the PMS shortly.

I can live with that, I just wish the "chest" discharge was more predictable. I don't want to buy any nice bras as long as I have it, because I can't get out the stains. Ew.

I started getting a little depressed today, but I whacked it with a diet Mountain Dew. I'm sure the artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives did a number on my brain. But it worked. I'll remember that.

[CurveControl]

Heather, you can buy breast pads to help with the discharge.
When I nursed I always just used a pantiliner or cut in half (cut side up) to absorb leaks.

[Racquel]

Hey ladies! Just checking in quick. I turned my internet off last week because the price just got to be too much so am using my ex's computer once in a while to check emails. I'm starting to go through withdrawal without my net though. Will have it back once I've got the money to bundle it with Dish but that might not be for a while.

So far so good. Things are going well. Supps seem to be working nicely. I've put on about 7 pounds in the past couple weeks though and the only thing I can come up with is that it's the Depo. So today I went to the store and got fresh veggies to start having salads for lunch and dinner again. It's frustrating but not the end of the world. They'll come off ... it'll just take some time.

Rimom -- the only thing I can suggest is to read, read and then read some more. I had to experiment to see what helped me the most but now have a cocktail of about 6 pills I take. You might want to do some research on fish oils and B12. If you have trouble concentrating you should look into yerba mate -- it worked wonders for my son. When I went back on the supps I loaded up on them for about the first 3 days to get them into my system then backed off to the normal dose. Feel free to PM me if you want.