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From: Mas on 16 Jun 2006 00:20
Hi, everyone -

I am reading your posts and thinking as I sit here at midnight, typing
away.

I have been treated with several antidepressants over the last ten
years (I'm 29) and have had mixed results with them. With some, I've
gone "flat" after some time with treatment. With others, I've been
extremely sensative to the dose (Prozac and Effexor) and fluctuations
have caused me to feel like I'm crawling out of my skin (feel like
tears clotting in my throat while raving, unable to concentrate, unable
to sleep. After being treated with Effexor for a few weeks, my former
doctor gave me a prescription for Ambien and sent me on my way - she
didn't seem to get that concentration was impossible, that I feel like
crying or raging at strange points, that I felt like my mind had become
a stranger to me. This all culminated in a trip to the psych ER one
Sunday. As a result of that, I have started seeing a psychiatrist who
has indicated that I have some markers of BP disorder and that he
thinks I should start taking Depakote. Has anyone taken Depakote? How
hard is the adjustment?

I don't know what to think - some of the questions the psychiatrist
asked were hard for me to understand - such as have you ever felt
manic? Wouldn't that have different meanings for all of us?

Anyway, much of it is a mystery to me at this point - but thank you all
for giving me courage to post.


From: KMP on 16 Jun 2006 15:03
Mas wrote:
> Hi, everyone -
>
> I am reading your posts and thinking as I sit here at midnight, typing
> away.
>
> I have been treated with several antidepressants over the last ten
> years (I'm 29) and have had mixed results with them. With some, I've
> gone "flat" after some time with treatment. With others, I've been
> extremely sensative to the dose (Prozac and Effexor) and fluctuations
> have caused me to feel like I'm crawling out of my skin (feel like
> tears clotting in my throat while raving, unable to concentrate, unable
> to sleep. After being treated with Effexor for a few weeks, my former
> doctor gave me a prescription for Ambien and sent me on my way - she
> didn't seem to get that concentration was impossible, that I feel like
> crying or raging at strange points, that I felt like my mind had become
> a stranger to me. This all culminated in a trip to the psych ER one
> Sunday. As a result of that, I have started seeing a psychiatrist who
> has indicated that I have some markers of BP disorder and that he
> thinks I should start taking Depakote. Has anyone taken Depakote? How
> hard is the adjustment?
>
> I don't know what to think - some of the questions the psychiatrist
> asked were hard for me to understand - such as have you ever felt
> manic? Wouldn't that have different meanings for all of us?
>
> Anyway, much of it is a mystery to me at this point - but thank you all
> for giving me courage to post.
>
>
I took Depakote for a while - it made me very manic - I was very
careless, had awful mood swings and did things that I should not have
done and probably would not have done if I had not been on the Depakote.
But that's just me maybe....

From: Snell on 17 Jun 2006 00:44
Welcome. I'm new here, but I've found this an understanding,
knowledgeable, and kind group of people.

"Manic" is more ineffable than "depressed"--and I think most people
agree. It took me a long time just to learn what it felt like.
Yelling back at my boss finally! (Whoops.) Or I'm in this great
bookstore, one of the best for hundreds of miles, and when else am I
going to get a chance to buy these books? (But the books are $800 --
much more than I can afford.) Or when *I* think that I'm just having
dinner with X and Y but in fact I spent the whole time
talking--narrating my cognitions to them--and silencing them? It's
very hard. You don' t want to ask the people close to you--"How am I?
Am I acting manic?" I have tried to learn to recognize the usually
very hurt expression in people's eyes, when I'm manic. I'm very
happy--but all the people I love (and like) look miserable. That's a
(very painful) tip-off.

I like Lamictal better than Depakote!

Snell


From: Nom dePlume on 17 Jun 2006 01:06

"KMP" <kathybear(a)comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ZLGdnWv545JanQ7ZnZ2dnUVZ_vydnZ2d(a)comcast.com...
> Mas wrote:
This all culminated in a trip to the psych ER one
>> Sunday. As a result of that, I have started seeing a psychiatrist
>> who
>> has indicated that I have some markers of BP disorder and that he
>> thinks I should start taking Depakote.

I'm encouraged that you have a psychiatrist who is taking you
seriously. That's a good step.

> >Has anyone taken Depakote? How
>> hard is the adjustment?

I did, although not for bipolar disorder. I had no side effects, and
found it a pleasantly calming medication. Results vary, though, and no
one can predict your experience.


--
Nom dePlume, Ph.D.
Why, yes, in fact, I am a rocket scientist.

Guide to Medications for Mental Illness:
http://www.geocities.com/nomdeplume1000/

=====



From: Maggie on 17 Jun 2006 18:41

Mas wrote:

>
> I don't know what to think - some of the questions the psychiatrist
> asked were hard for me to understand - such as have you ever felt
> manic? Wouldn't that have different meanings for all of us?
>

You might want to check out this quick and dirty quiz....the Goldberg
Mania Test, His depression test is also on the link.

http://psychcentral.com/maniaquiz.htm

it will give you some insight into what mania actually consists of.
it's not quite what the common image....euphoria ....is.

Also, try looking into Hypomania on the internet. You sound like a
suspect for BiPolar II. History of depressive episodes with at least
one period o hypomania.....often mistaken as Just you when you aren't
depressed.

RE Depokate:

My sister took it and gained 50 lbs in less than a year with no history
of weight problems in her life prior to taking the med. Ask your
doctor about the mood stablizer Lamictal......especially because you
have concerns about the weight gain associated with these medications.
lamictal is said to be weight neutral and that has been my eperince in
the 4 years I've been on it.

Try a mood stablizer. IME, if it results in far better stability than
you've had before you are most likely BiPolar.

BTW: I've been on the mood stablizer Lamictal and the antidepressant
Lexapro for 4 years wityh no noticible side effects (including the lack
of labido that is often such a problem with ADs. it seems to be the
correct combo for me and my situation seems to me to be very much like
yours.

Good luck and welcome.

Maggie


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