Posted by AMenz on August 10, 2001, at 23:54:13
In reply to Re: Anxiety, possible Bipolar - treatment options?, posted by beetle on August 9, 2001, at 19:58:25
Hang on, if the anxiety is part of the bipolar symptomatology it may very well subside once your moods are more stable. With me it took a while but the anxiety is better.
I am on a benzo which I can't kick and wouldn't recommend it except PRN. Thank goodness I only have the 1mg, but after a year on it I'm physically addicted and can't get off it. Actually I could but I'm afraid of withdrawal after feeling better only for the last couple of months.
I have come to the conclusion that these episodes do subside with time. I'm more afraid of the mismedication. Depakote should be good. I am on Lithium
> > > My doctor has diagnosed me in the past as having GAD + Depression, but on our last visit she thought that she felt I may be bipolar. I never thought I could be a "manic-depressive" until my symptoms seemed to lead in that direction. I've always had ups and downs, but the ups and downs have been getting higher and lower in the last couple of years. I was being given Neurontin (600mg 1x/day) and Celexa (20mg/day), but that mix of medications is not working like it used to. My doctor decided to switch me to Depakote(500mg/day) and stay with the Celexa at 20mg. I've been on the Depakote for a couple of weeks,and I seem more stable, but severe anxiety attacks are still happening, and my sleep patterns are terrible. I was using Doxepin 50mg at night for this, but it's not working anymore.
> > >
> > > Is there something I could add to fight the anxiety and insomnia? Is 500 mg of Depakote standard for bipolar?
> >
> > Beetle,
> >
> > I am so also BPII and I found that Celexa and other SSRi's make me real WIRED. You might ask your doc about dropping the Celexa from 20mg down to 10mg and see if that would help.
> >
> > Mitch
>
>
> Thanks for the info everyone. I'm afraid to ask my doctor for benzos for some reason, maybe i feel she'll think I'm some kind of junkie or something, or maybe I'm just afraid she'll say no. Anyway, I went in yesterday and she prescribed Remeron for my sleeplessness, and recommended 750mg/day of Depakote. The depakote has definitely leveled me out, but the anxiety attacks still surface.
>
> Again, thank you all.
poster:AMenz
thread:74055
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010809/msgs/74570.html