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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JonW on June 28, 2002, at 14:28:12
Hi Kate,
I've been working with Dr. Liebowitz and he hasn't diagnosed me with anything, he's just treating me as someone with a unique brain chemistry. Anyway, my last 2 pdocs have diagnosed me with bipolar II. I think I may be ADD rather than bipolar. I've been reading up more extensively on both... anyway I have a question. Do you (or anyone else) know if people with ADD experience agitation or irritability when introduced to an anti-depressant? I know bipolars do and was wondering if this could also be explained by add. The only *predictable* "cycle" that I have is elevated mood, more energy at night and then horrible zombie like mornings. The rest of the day is kind of instable and that could be my labile mood. I suppose I could have a little of both. I definitely identify with more of the classic symptoms of add than those of bipolar, but I know that I diagnose myself as having whatever I'm reading. Seriously, I think I am more likely add than bipolar but I am not a pdoc. With all the controversy surrounding the definitions of bipolar disorder and add it seems very difficult to determine what one suffers from and this can be significant as it influences treatment.
Thanks,
Jon
Posted by IsoM on June 28, 2002, at 15:43:38
In reply to KATEKITE, ADDers, posted by JonW on June 28, 2002, at 14:28:12
Jon, one thing that's convinced me that I'm ADHD & not bipolar or feeling hypomanic, is I can ALWAYS turn off my "mania" when it's needed to be. If I'm feeling hyper & euphoric & someone comes along & tells me that my friend was in an accident, or even something like watching something that I consider horrific on the news, my mood will immediately drop. My giddy happy mood will become serious right away. It's not something I have no control over.
I also don't feel giddy & light-hearted for long periods of time. I'll become tired later in the day & it never stops me from sleeping. There's no cycles for me (other than what yours sounds like). There's many small things that influence me - I know much of what delights me is external in nature, while I think a true bipolar is influenced more internally & can still feel manic despite external circumstances.
ADs don't all make me feel calmer, some have definitely made me feel more irritable. How many different ADS have you tried?
Posted by katekite on June 28, 2002, at 18:27:35
In reply to Re: KATEKITE, ADDers » JonW, posted by IsoM on June 28, 2002, at 15:43:38
First of all yes antidepressants can make anyone agitated. I got agitated from wellbutrin.
Unlike IsoM some of my moods last a long time (a morbid depressed mood where I feel like crying could last 2 or 3 days although during that it will change in character). Giddy moods seldom last more than an hour or two. At some times in the past I've been down at some point during the day, for months, with no giddiness (ie mild depression). But like IsoM, I can turn it off if I absoulutely have to. If someone died I can always keep a straight face to their family, for example. Sometimes, its true, I care about it more than other times. (I hate to admit that: if I'm in a really great mood I think, oh well, who cares, he was old.). I do get depressed enough to be unable to step 'up' to some challenges, but not too 'up' to step down to reality if I have to.
I think the big deal for me differentiating ADD from my possible bipolarness was in actually taking stimulants and seeing the effect. A big dose of ritalin makes me feel flat, the way I imagine too much lithium takes the joy from life for someone manic. (so I take a little dose, so I can still enjoy things but feel calm). I responded a bit to one of the mood stabilizers (out of the 4 I tried), but it wasn't calming to me like stimulants are. I respond best to stimulants.
It makes sense if diagnosis is in question to try mood stabilizers first, because the risk of going suicidal or manic from stimulants if someone is truly bipolar, is very real. If you've tried a handful of mood stabilizers and there's still a question, it's worth it to work towards trying a stimulant just to see, probably ritalin first as its supposed to be the most calming.
kate
Posted by rainbowlight on June 29, 2002, at 1:28:17
In reply to KATEKITE, ADDers, posted by JonW on June 28, 2002, at 14:28:12
Hi Jon. You and I are going through the exact same thing. I was recently diagnosed as having ADD in addition to Bipolar II. It is really hard to tell which is which as they have alot of the same symptoms. I also become agitated with most of the anti-depressants. I am beginning to try stimulants in addition to my Lamictal, Remeron, Risperdal and Zoloft. Tried Adderal a week ago. It didn't go well, really sent me into a depression for the past week. My next med trial is Ritalin. It's hard to treat both, as the stimulants can really make you manic. Boy! This is a toughie! And I am sure it is going to be hard to treat in my case. Hope yours goes a bit smoother!
Posted by JonW on July 1, 2002, at 8:21:40
In reply to Re: KATEKITE, ADDers, posted by rainbowlight on June 29, 2002, at 1:28:17
Posted by JonW on July 1, 2002, at 8:51:05
In reply to Re: KATEKITE, ADDers, posted by rainbowlight on June 29, 2002, at 1:28:17
This is the end of the thread.
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