Posted by zinya on July 14, 2003, at 0:28:04
In reply to Re: Effexor and smoking, posted by pasdenom on July 13, 2003, at 9:44:37
Salut pasdenom,
Are you French? (if you don't mind my asking)
I can't address your smoking Q (I quit smoking 19 years ago) but i'm writing out of curiosity. I am probably way out in left field but is the person that prescribed Effexor or Lexapro for you the same person diagnosing you as bipolar ? I'm not sure what distinguishes bipolar II but I had two different doctors over the past 15 years think i was dealing with bipolar instead of depression per se, and I tried both lithium and depakote at different times, to no avail. But from the little I know, I'm surprised that either Effexor or Lexapro are prescribed for bipolar. Maybe somebody here knows better than me, but given your concern about impulsivity, it would seem to add to wondering if these are really right for you.
Impulsive over-purchasing is frequently a manic sign, and it seems like it could be getting aggravated by something that (at least to my understanding) is more for depression per se than for bipolar. I hesitate to say this cuz it's probably just my lack of knowledge of other diagnoses Effexor or Lexapro can treat. But I would definitely mention this 'impulsivity' to your doctor.
I am curious if you've ever been put on something like Lithium -- or is Bipolar II a lot different from regular bipolar??I've never heard of lamictal.
I do share your experience at having drug reactions that go against the norm. And one thing to know about these ADs -- seems like all of them -- that we discover here over and over again is how each individual reacts differently, with different side effects. Same drug makes one sleep all the time, the next one becomes an insomniac, etc etc...
You're not nuts. Or else, as i actually prefer to think, we're all nuts, all weird, by which i mean all of us, everyone... So welcome! and wishing you comfort.
zinya
> Hey, has anyone started smoking after taking effexor xr? I had quit for 15 years but am now smoking again. I have not been able to quit? Does anyone think that effexor increases impulsivity? I have bipolar II and effexor put me into mod-hi hypomania. Bought a beautiful new comfortable living room set that I couldn't afford. I am now on three meds: effexor, lamictal, and lexapro. each time a med is added I keep thinking this one will help me quit smoking. no such luck. this is my first message ever on this board. am I nuts? am I alone in this? I do experience strange side-effects to drugs, often the opposite of the listed side-effects. Please respond to this any other weirdos like me.
poster:zinya
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030708/msgs/241619.html