Posted by BetterDays on November 8, 2007, at 8:26:30
In reply to What best med to take for 'soft' BiPolar II?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 8, 2007, at 2:13:50
I too was diagnosed with Soft BiPolar II with the same symptoms you are describing - with some addiction issues. I had never been diagnosed as BiPolar II up until now, but was willing to sit with the possibility.
After years of trying SSRI's / SNRI's with no positive results, my PDoc recently prescribed Lithium (300mg 2x day) and Seroquel (150mg at night).
These meds have helped a lot (racing thoughts, irritability, compulsive behavior). The negative is that I have increased anxiety / panic attacks, which I am hoping is just a matter of tweaking the doses. I was always afraid of Lithium, no logical reason why, but am glad I tried it as it has been the most effective med I've been on.
Possibly worth a discussion with your Doctor?
Take Care.
> I came across the website which talks about "soft" Bipolar II and it sounds like me more than anything else I've ever read. For 10 years, I have been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder with underlying depression, but none of the SSRIs ever worked on me.
>
> I had my first breakthrough on Seroquel two years ago, but when I had some life stressors hit me, the pdoc added EMSAM, along with keeping me on Seroquel (100mg) and Klonopin (3-4mg). Hearing Nardil was better for anxiety, I tried that this summer and had a great two months, feeling the best since all this started. I made the mistake of dropping from 15 to 45mg of Nardil in June, and when some life stressors hit me in August, I had a relapse and am still there. I had to move back in with my parents. I went back to 45mg Nardil for five weeks and now am on my third week of 60, for a total of eight weeks. Im not feeling anything yet, not like before. It took 9-10 weeks last time on Nardil, well my first time on Nardil.
>
> But now after reading this website I am beginning to think I have been Bipolar II all along, and thats why no AD really worked, and Nardil still hasn't kicked in after eight weeks. When you read this, I am thinking more ppl might be like me. What would you do? Drop the Nardil and go back to Seroquel only? Go 2-3 more weeks on Nardil? Right now, its 60mg Nardil, 300mg Seroquel and 3-4mg Klonopin. Thanks, Michael
>
> http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/frameset.html
poster:BetterDays
thread:793878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071104/msgs/793906.html