Gategirl!

I'm {{{{waving}}}} at you cuz you're only the third person with Bipolar II (other than myself ) that I've ever "met." I've had a lot of the same experiences as you, and I'm really glad to hear you were diagnosed relatively young-ish. I was 28 when they finally figured me out and I often think about what a waste all those years were. I'm thrilled things are going so well for you now!!!!

Ammi, thanks for starting this thread! It's really been interesting reading what everyone else's experiences have been . By the way, I wore my "Wales" t-shirt today. It has a little red dragon on it and everything!

I am just glad that medical technology has come so far these days!! Otherwise how would we ever know about any of this stuff!! LOL

I'm not on anything anymore, but I used to be on Zoloft. I was so spaced out and didn't care about anything. Every time I told my dr. it wasn't working, he just upped the dose. I gave up on meds, and I've actually done OK over the past three years. I've had panic attacks and severe crying spells, but not in a few months. I am trying to control my depression with my willpower. Now if only I could do that with my weight....

I am so pleased to have had so many replies to this post, and I am glad that it has been interesting to read to others as well.

Kate - glad you wore your Wales t-shirt, hope it brought back lots of happy memories for you.

Manicbelle - you are amazing dropping your meds and trying to deal with your depression on your own. I hope you win the battle. good luck and big hugs to you.

Hugs and thanks to all that have replied to my post, I really appreciate it.

Ammi

Hi LovesBassets, couldn't help but comment on your post. I'm Bipolar 2 as well and was surprised when you said you knew very few people with the illness. Unfortunately for me, my mom, my sister, my brother, my husband and my brother in law are all bipolar. Can you imagine the various moods when we all get together Anyway, now you can say you know four people.

As for meds-
Wellbutrin--worked at first then caused a major depression.
Paxil--more depression
Zoloft--again...more depression
After being diagnosed-
Lamictal-worked absolutely awesome at first but is now causing some serious (to me) issues. Seeing psych about it today.
Trazadone--antidepressant commonly used for sleep issues. I take it when only when I can't go to sleep no matter how hard I try as it leaves me pretty lethargic for most of the next day.

Hiya scrunchkin ,

I'm adopted, so that's part of the "problem." I've actually found both of my birthparents and honestly they're both slightly...ah...unpredictable and not necessarily completely stable. I do suspect they BOTH have some form of mood disorder. In fact, my birthmother was diagnose Bipolar I after I found her and she learned that I was Bipolar II. I suspect she's II though based on what her brother/my uncle tells me about her history. So you're right, I know more people with Bipolar II than I thought I did . My birthfather is another story altogether...he has alot of issues related to 3 tours in Vietnam, so I don't really know what's up with him -- chemically, at least .

Firstly for Ammi : I notice you wrote about Americans and Australians getting prescribed different meds to us. Mostly they dont get different meds, but the names are different. So my drug is called Cipramil/Citalopram to me and my doctor, but the Americans call it Celexa. Same thing, different name. NO idea why though!

Me:
1990- first diagnosed w/ depression - was prescribed various try-cyclics. They did nothing except make me sleep
Lithium - nothing except give me the jitters
Seroxat - this literally did save my life back in 1992 - BUT it had a price. The side effects were intolerable.

I started Celexa in 1998. (Cipramil or Citalopram). It makes me feel happier, more confident, more capable and much less overwhelmed. I feel like a "normal" person who can cope with life when I'm on it.

But it makes me gain weight like crazy - I get overwhelming food cravings. My doctors dont believe me when I say the drug definitely makes my weight problem worse. It is so frustrating, I'm an intelligent woman, I own my weight problems when I need to but I do know that when I'm on this med it makes me crave food.

I'm hoping to persuade my doctor to let me try something different.

Hello Artemis - thanks for your reply, I know that sometimes the meds are called different things in different countries, but when I did a check on my meds and all the names it can be called, I still can't find anybody, anywhere who takes the same thing as me. I am sorry that the meds that do you the most good are also the ones that make you crave food. I am sure mine have made me put on weight, I gained 28 lbs in six weeks straight after I started taking them. I am dieting now, and hope that after a month I will see a decent loss so I know that these meds aren't stopping me from losing the weight too.

Thank you again for writing,

Hugs,

Ammi

New around this board, but I have been reading for a couple of weeks now. The doctor just put me on zoloft, she said that it would help me on my weight lose, but from reading you're responses Im thinking she was wrong! ?? I real;ly like them, I have notice a HUGE differnce in the past week and a half! I like them, but Im drowsy, and the sexual side effects.. sorry if TMI, the drive is there, but not the... ummm... same enjoyment?? anyone haveing or had the same problems?

Hi JustForUs

The problems you're experiencing sexually appear to be quite common with most of the SSRI's. Celexa certainly has the same affect on me as you describe. You may find that the situation resolves itself after a while - its true that most side effects do disappear or at least lessen after a few weeks on the meds.

As for the weight gain - it seems like its the luck of the draw. Some lose weight on some meds, others gain on the same. Keep in close contact with your doctor and dont be shy to talk about the sexual side effects with her if things dont improve.

Good luck and I'm glad you're feeling better despite the drowsiness and other problem !!


Ammi - I've been on anti-depressants for 15 years and I have to admit I'd never heard of your tablets either! Is it a new one?

Hey everyone!

I was first diagnosed as depressed at the age of 5. I was on Paxil from 13-22 and hated it. During this time I was also bipolar II but I wasn't diagnosed until my twenties. I then went on Effexor. I tried to go med free for 2 years (that didn't work). I got back on Effexor and it made me incredibly nauseous. In the past year I've become Bipolar I which is odd. I'm now maxed out on Zoloft (200mg) and an on Seroquel. For some reason throughout all of this my OCD is making another appearance so I might have to add Wellbutrin to the mix since the Z is maxed out. Oh the joys of medication.

I didn't gain weight w/ Zoloft. I definately gained a lot of weight w/Paxil (size 6-12 in 4 months). I'm worried about the Seroquel, it raises blood sugar and in some cases has caused diabetes. YIKES!!!!

Has anyone else had Seroquel?

Jill

I honestly don't think I would function without an antidepressant. I've been on one (well, two different ones, but only one at a time) for years now and I really depend on it. At some point I'd like to wean myself off it but now is just not the time.

Hi NolezGirl,
It's not uncommon to begin with a diagnosis of bipolar 2 and later change to bipolar 1 or rapid cycling. Diagnosing bipolar is difficult on many levels as other illnesses intefere with it. I also have OCD and social anxiety and for a few years my depression was attached to my social anxiety. Unfortunately with every anti-depressant I was put on, my depression became a little worse which is common in people with bipolar.
I have heard them use Wellbutrin in bipolar treatment, I was just curious as to why they don't have you on a mood stabilizer considering the diagnosis. Are you seeing a psychiatrist or a general practitioner?
Seroquel has helped a couple people I know but a couple others gained weight. As with any med, it's hard to say whether you will have the same side effects. Look at me for example, I always have side effects that aren't listed or aren't very common. The biggest weight gainers when treating bipolar are Lithium and Depakote. Other than that I think the rest are sort of case by case.
I don't know the rules about posting links. I joined a really informative MSN group about bipolar and it has special sections for meds and their side effects. If you want to check it out, pm me.

Mirtazapine was horrible for me. It made me sick to my stomache and very sluggish-feeling. Prozac was so-so. So far lexapro is working really well now that they have upped the dosage.