N&P Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Hello all! Some may remember me, some may not. Thought I'd re-intro myself. I'm a BPII Psych Nurse. I'm just getting over a luuuuuuurvely 9 month long mixed manic episode partially caused by Cymbalta. Let me tell you....MIXED EPISODES EXIST!!! I had the energy of a manic but the mood of a depressive. I was impulsive, dysphoric (not euphoric), angry, sad and on the edge. What do you do with depression symptoms? Increase the antidepressant!!! ( I switched to Cymbalta in an effort to control Fibro symptoms). With each increase, I'd improve then become dramatically worse. Once we figured out the Cymbalta piece, my oh-so-smart dermatologist wanted me off of Lamictal as I was just titrating onto Effexor because she thought I was suffering a fixed drug reaction (it as nasty and painful, I promise). SWitching to Topamax while battling for the right dose of Effexor that won't make me suicidal was nearly the end of me and lead to....ABILIFY! Which has been a god send. I'm leveling out now but in the past 9 months, I ended a 10 year marriage, declare bankruptcy and lost one of 2 jobs. So I'm back here with the only people that can truly understand what I've been through,....Missed you nuts!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petry Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Howdy N&P, I am very familar with the drug Effexor. I felt both suicidal and had homisidal thoughts coming off of it. I decieded to stop because it wasn't helping me. My doctor said, "you shouldn't have any withdrawal" ! I had also been on vicoden at that time for around 6 years for joint pain as the result of my hep C. The pharmacist honestly did say, "you shouldn't have much withdrawal". OMG I did of course. My drug history (perscription from only one doctor at a time , not a doctor shopper. dont have bad thought about those who are either. is long. I was on many I can't spell and dont care to go through the trouble of looking them up on PDR or whatever. But you can get the idea of what they are I will resemble the spelling. Melaril, elavil, stellazine, thorizine (for sleep) prozac, ambien (wow what a trip) cymbalta, effexor, desoxyn (really clean house) and now addrall 60 mgs per day and trazadone. It does help some but the side effects are pulling my hair our and my tourettes syndrome is sometimes public in unconvient places. I have looked over the brink many times. I do not feel suicidal or homisidal anymore. but do spend quite a bit of time in the OCD mode advocating for causes that I'm not that talented in. I do take a retreat for myself once or twice a month and spend a overnight alone camping and looking at the beautiful park nearby our home. I'm grateful that I want to live my life and seldom cry (well comparativly to where I was). Honestly I do have many fears though. Like the saying in AA "there are those too who suffer from emotional and mental disorders but many of them do recover if they have the c to be honest with themselves and others." My question or comment is. Do I have the copasity(?) to be honest with myself? How would I know if I didn't . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddog Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 hey, welcome back! i wondered where you were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I had mixed episodes on Cymbalta, then I totally freaked out with agitation, anxiety and practically paranoia. SNRI's and I don't get along, SImilar thing happened with Pristiq even though 12 years ago I was on effexor xr for a long time (withdrawal sucked!) So my pdoc has figured out I need to stay away from SNRI's and TCA's. I think it is so cool that you are a nurse. I know about losing jobs during an episode, happened to me too. More than once. I would say welcome back, but I'm brand new here. So I'll just say glad to meet you! I'm BPII also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&P Posted October 4, 2010 Author Share Posted October 4, 2010 Thanks, Guys! Oh yeah...Cymbalta was a trip. I'm still not sure about Effexor Before Abilify, I was still pretty agitated and hypomanic. I'd prefer to get rid of Effexor and try something else because I'm still pretty shaky mood-wise but I want to be on a steady dose of Topamax and Abilify before switching ADs. Can't up the Effexor without getting an increase in mixed symptoms. I might even try going without an AD for awhile after reading a few BPII studies that advocated staying away from ADs. Topamax has been much better than Lamictal for stabilization for me, though. Thank goodness we got something right this past year. Nice to be back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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