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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by daveuproar on January 27, 2008, at 15:12:52
Also, here's my problem.
I've been on Effexor XR since 2001, and within the past year I seriously have been having issues. Honestly the only reason I take it is to keep from having those HORRID withdrawal symptoms.
In the past year since I have become a nurse, I have been having problems with racing thoughts, mood swings (not major-- just quick bouts with the blues followed by an extreme high with mind racing thoughts). I talked to my mother about it and it turns out that bipolar disorders run in our family.
I always thought that bipolar disorder was ALWAYS extreme highs (mania, grandiosity) to extreme lows-- never mild like mine. Has anyone been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and not had the typical extremes with mood swings?
Let me know, please!Feel free to email me, or post on here (daveuproar@yahoo.com)
Thanks!
Posted by tecknohed on January 27, 2008, at 17:10:35
In reply to Which meds?, posted by daveuproar on January 27, 2008, at 15:12:52
Sorry, no answers to your bipolar question.
But if you want to come off your dreaded Efexor then you can actually start Prozac when you start to taper, which should help with the brain zaps etc. Then when you've been off Efexor for a week or 2 then just stop the Prozac which itself has such a long halflife that theres rarely any need to taper from it, unless you've used it long term which you wouldn't have in your case.
Ask your doc about this when you see him/her next.teck
Posted by Racer on January 27, 2008, at 17:37:08
In reply to Which meds?, posted by daveuproar on January 27, 2008, at 15:12:52
Bipolar disorder has been extended from the "classic" form, Bipolar I, with it's full blown manias, to a spectrum that includes milder forms involving hypomanias. There's even a classification of bipolar which involves mania or hypomania which is only apparent on certain medications -- primarily antidepressants.
It's very possible what you're experiencing is somewhere on the bipolar spectrum, and it's probably in your best interest to discuss it with a good, knowledgeable psychiatrist. Of course, it's easy to find a psychiatrist who sees bipolar in the woodwork these days, so trust your gut: if you feel as though the "highs" are beyond your normal functioning range, and the doctor says it's a mild form of bipolar, that makes sense. If you think that you're just a particularly happy, energetic person AND you aren't getting any information to refute that from anyone at all other than the psychiatrist, then it's worth getting a second opinion. If your second opinion also says bipolar, it might be worth listening...
Here's the bottom line: it doesn't matter what your diagnosis is, except as it applies to treatment. (I've heard it said this way: it doesn't hurt a kangaroo to call it a cat, unless it's expected to chase mice.) If the addition of a mood stabilizer improves your response to anti depressants -- and sometimes it does, even for unipolar depression -- then you've gotten a benefit, even if the diagnosis is iffy. If it just leads to further adventures on the Medication Go Round, then it's not helpful.
Tecknohed's right about the withdrawal from Effexor: if it's no longer working for you, there are a number of things you can do to minimize the discomfort of discontinuation. The Withdrawals board here has a lot of suggestions, from people who have done it. I did it -- after several years on Effexor, more than a year of it not working, I stopped it by tapering slowly. It can be done, and it might be especially useful, because it might help clarify the diagnostic questions.
I wish you the very best luck with this.
Posted by bleauberry on January 27, 2008, at 19:05:50
In reply to Which meds?, posted by daveuproar on January 27, 2008, at 15:12:52
Check out www.psycheducation.org. There is tons of information there are on the many faces of bipolar. There is also a condensed version to print out for your doctor. In any case, you will probably discover a lot about bipolar and some of it may fit you or at least help you determine whether you fit in some bipolar spectrum or not.
Posted by Phillipa on January 27, 2008, at 21:39:58
In reply to Re: Which meds?, posted by bleauberry on January 27, 2008, at 19:05:50
A mood stabalizer will probably be suggested maybe trileptal, lamictal, topamax, depakote. Good luck. Phillipa
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