Posted by med_empowered on September 25, 2008, at 16:12:16
In reply to mania, posted by sam K on September 25, 2008, at 15:35:40
There's a big difference between mania--which is severe and I think has to last at least 1 week and/or result in hospitalization--and drug-induced stimulation, which is what you're experiencing.
Its possible that your brain is more bipolar-ish so you react to stimulants differently, but...I don't think that's really a good "test" for bipolarity. You're Bipolar I if you end up significantly impaired and/or hospitalized b/c of mania (and also have depressive spells); you're bipolar II if you have significant depression with oocasional bouts of hypomania.
What you're having is a drug reaction. People react differently to psych meds. People without a personal or family history of mania/psychosis can go psychotic/manic on antidepressants, stimulants, and (less commonly) other meds, such as anticonvulsants or even antipsyhotics. Having an unsual or undesired reaction to a psychiatric med doesn't indicate bipolarity; it probably just means you should watch out for the drug in question and drugs with similar mechanisms of action (which in your case I guess would mean avoid provigil and be careful with stimulating antidepressants).
Are you still seeing the doctor who thinks you have (prodromal) Schizophrenia? How's your life going overall? What's the Provigil for?
Have a good day.
poster:med_empowered
thread:854050
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080915/msgs/854057.html