Posted by colin wallace on March 3, 2003, at 4:50:27
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone, I get it now!, posted by David Smith on March 2, 2003, at 12:24:10
>
>
> You are right Colin. That condition is the worse experience I have ever felt. When I don't address my health needs it is the fear of returning to that state which motivates me to get help of some sort. Mood stablizers can diminish the extremes but for me the rapid cycling still occurs.
>
> It is a rough balance. I find that even exercise can send me spiraling in either direction. I think the trick is to make my pdoc earn his money by keeping him informed of what is happening.
> Yes the drugs are toxic (even fatal) but the alternative is frightening.
>
> Colin- I never experienced "mixed states" until well after I started treatment with ADs. Is it possible they were a contributing factor in my progression toward dysphoria?Dave,
Yes, AD's can (and often do) trigger this type of hypomania in susceptible individuals-like you and I.Trouble is, there's no way of screening somebody in advance prior to prescribing AD's(unless of course you've been manic/hypomanic without AD's in the past).
AD's triggered these bouts of (dysphoric)hypomania in my case.It's quite common, and recently some psychs. have started referring to it with yet another catchy bipolar term...bipolar-111 !!
Don't misunderstand me, I'm actually all in favour of antidepressants.But signs of hypomania are very often(almost always!) missed by GP's- if I or my GP had recognized my obvious hypomanic responses to Effexor Prozac and a tricyclic two years ago, I might not have triggered this bipolar condition which will now be with me for life.Col.
ps.come to think of it, Prozac made me high as a kite,and I thought it was great at the time!!
poster:colin wallace
thread:204540
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030301/msgs/205455.html