Mood stabilizers or Anti-Depressants Posted: 01-21-08 20:55pm
Hello. Sorry if this is too lengthy but I
am looking for a little advice. Here it
goes,
I am a college student and was diagnosed
with bipolar at a young age. I have
basically never been on medication and it
has worked out OK. Lately though things
have been more difficult. I recently
started taking Adderall to help me focus.
It has been working very well, however; I
notice when taking Adderall it seems like
the biggest factor in helping me focus is
the 'high' it gives me. I feel more
confident, more social, more motivated,
more outgoing, more understanding and just
overall happier when I am under it's
effects. However Adderall is only a
stimulant and when it wears off (in about
4-5 hours), I go back to feeling normal
again.
Normal for me is characterized as mostly a
lower mood. Most of the time I feel social
anxiety, unmotivated, stressed out, and
slightly depressed. Rarely, I have
hypnomanic moodswings, but this is never a
problem for me. I have never done anything
irrational in a hypnomanic mood and its
more a feeling of talking alot / having a
'flight of ideas'. Infact it is safe to
say I really enjoy these moods because I
enjoy the feeling of having creative
energy. So this is to say that I really
have no problems with any sort of
dangerous or undesirable "up" mood.
Sometimes, though; I have manic symptoms
while I am depressed. This feels much
different than hypnomania and often
results in racing of thoughts (in a bad
way, for instance negative thoughts while
trying to sleep), extremely frequent mood
swings, acting irrationally without
thinking first, looking at the world in a
negative way. I have had only 1 major
depressive episode (contemplation of
suicide, but not an attempt) in my life
and even this episode was brought on by
events that any normal person would
consider depressing, however; the constant
(seemingly unending) day-to-day downs that
I have, can be really exhausting and are
starting to have a small impact on my
relationships and school. If it weren't
for adderall (the ability to pull myself
out from these moods for short periods of
time to get work done) I would probably be
alot worse off. I realize this is NOT what
adderall is for and it is not healthy to
self-medicate in this way.
Therefore I am trying to figure out what
kind of long term medication I should get
on, if any. I have never been a fan of
mood stabilizers because they seem to be
for people who have mostly mania, which is
not me. I also fear that I will lose my
hypnomania if I take something like
lithium. Anti-depressants seem to be the
more appropriate option but the risks
associated with them are scary to me. I
also am not sure how common it is for
someone with bipolar disorder to be on
anti-depressants or if it is normally
appropriate. If there are any other
options then I am unaware of them. I would
appreciate any advice. Again, sorry if
this was rather lengthy.
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ladylee70
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1912 Location: Boise, Idaho,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-21-08 21:58pm
Definitely mood stabilizers!! A mood
stabilizer such as lamictal is wonderful
for bipolar II's (people who don't really
have the mania but experience hypomania
that may manifest itself in severe
anxiety). Antidepressants often don't work
with people with bipolar. Lithium and
trileptal is usually used for individuals
who are more of the manic Bipolar I.
I would get on a mood stabilizer ASAP.
The biggest thing for you to figure out is
if you are truly ADHD or if the bipolar
symptoms make you seem adhd. Sometimes you
won't really know until you are on a mood
stabilizer.
I am going to PM you
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stimbry
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 5
Posted: 01-21-08 23:10pm
Hey ladylee thanks for the quick response
and useful information.
I guess my main problem is the idea of
'parting' with my hypomania. I really
enjoy the creative bursts mixed with
productivity. My doctor actually suggested
I take lamictal and even wrote me a
prescription for it at one point, but I
never took it. Mostly because I have a
certain skepticism when it comes to mood
stabilizers and am somewhat afraid of the
medication changing me into something I'm
not. Does that make sense? I do not think
that this is all that irrational, seeing
as how the chemicals that dictate my brain
function would be changed long term,
therefore my behavior, the choices that I
make, the way that I think (all of the
things that define a person essentially)
would change as well. This isn't something
I feel comfortable with. Maybe this is why
anti-depressants appeal to me much more,
because it's simply serotonin being
increased and thus resulting in a more
elevated mood. I appreciate your advice,
though; and will certainly do some more
thinking about this.
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antigone
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 965 Location: IL
Thanks: 48
Thanked:18
Mood stabilizers vs antidepressents Posted: 01-27-08 22:48pm
Lamictal is a good choice for bipolar ll,
as ladylee70 said. Antidepressants are
usually not used in bipolar disorder
because they can cause a manic shift.
I know many people enjoy the hypomanic
rush they have and the creativity that is
a result. It sounds like you are having
mixed states or rapid cycling from what
you wrote about the racing thoughts,
irrational behavior, impulsive behavior,
depression, and mood swings. Adderall is
generally not used for bipolar disorder
unless stability is achieved and that may
not be the drug of choice if you are
bipolar with comorbid ADHD. Talk to a
doctor.
You are creative because that is who you
are. Taking meds will get your thoughts
even and straight. Your moods will level
out. You will not be less creative. Many
people with bipolar disorder are creative
but take meds to keep on track with life.
Try it. The first med may not be the right
one. Persevere through it and try another.
You will find the right one and the
negative stuff will ease away. The right
med combination will make you feel better
not change who you are. Best of luck.
