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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rollercoaster1121 on June 10, 2008, at 11:58:26
I have a question about Effexor and Bipolar. I believe I was misdiagnosed or possibly underdiagnosed with OCD. Are there any cases of Bipolar being concurrent with OCD? I ask, because I was placed on Effexor for the OCD, and after the worst withdrawal imaginable, I sort of "came to my senses" 2000 miles away after impulsively moving from Colorado to Florida. I have never acted this way before except one other time when i was placed on Wellbutrin to help me stop smoking. (I ended up in New Orleans from St. Louis) I have never been diagnosed with bipolar. I think this is extremely disruptive. I often feel as if my emotions are pulled by invisible strings. Often, they go opposite to my intentions and I am accused of being a drama queen which i understand, because i look like one, but my intentions are simply to contain runaway emotion. I feel like a marrionette. I have gone to doctor after doctor and they tell me that "women are emotional", that there is nothing wrong with me. I know there is something wrong. It feels like my life is being lived by someone else! I am somewhere in my head going along for the ride. It is no fun. I can see it bothers people, sometimes hurts them. Every time I ask for help I am told I am playing games, and I am not! I am desperately seeking help! I think I have Cyclothymia/Bipolar II. I don't know how to articulate these symptoms or something because people keep saying I am fine, I'm just a jerk, except for my roomate who agrees I do not mean to be dramatic, I just seem out of control of my emotional level. I can't stop it! Lately I have been having a depressive episode that looks like agoraphobia. But it's not that I am afraid to leave the house as much as I am afraid of who I will run into and how I will react. I can't keep a job because of emotional outbursts, that I agree, are over the top. Later, on reflection I am ashamed and embarrassed that I have acted in such a way. I have to get a grip on this! Does anyone have any advice or feedback? I don't even know how to start. I have no insurance, and just found out that unless I have a child with me I do not qualify for medicaid. Does this mean that there is no help available? Please help me with information if you can.
Posted by B2chica on June 10, 2008, at 15:10:56
In reply to Effexor and Bipolar, posted by Rollercoaster1121 on June 10, 2008, at 11:58:26
first, ocd concurrent with bipolor absolutely.
second i can't say i've heard of effexor being Rx just for OCD, was your doc not telling you something? any depressive symptoms you told doc about? because usually effexor is for depression or for bipolar disorder. (please correct me anyone if i'm mistaken)secondly, Effexor was one of the first meds they put me on (i have BP2) and i Rapid Cycled SO badly on that one. it can be bad for some with bipolar because it is an SSRI. so it would not surprise me that you did not fair well on this one if you feel you may have bipolar disorder.
also having bipolar is NOT something you WANT to have so if you think you have it i would certainly mention it to your TRUSTED doc...i emphasize 'trusted' cuz there are a few docs out there that think we are all hypochondriacs...
but show him the facts. you have times of depression, you have times of highs...sleeplessness, if you have energy bursts, anger, etc.(what ever pertains to you) also show how you reacted when on Effexor depression or hypomania worsened or came more quickly(if it did).
again to a TRUSTED doc. if you don't feel comfortable with this doc...this is the PERFECT time to search for a new pdoc. and it may take a few to feel comfortable with so dont settle. remember this is your health. figure out if you want to do meds, or alternative, or a combination. do some research. ask friends, colleagues, family or whomever you trust or if you have a GP that you trust, have him recommend a practice or a specific pdoc (psychiatrist) to you.after you find a doc, remember, if you have bipolar, you may find a great drug right away or it may take many tries. or combinations. but there IS treatment out there.
you WONT feel like this forever.best wishes
b2c.
Posted by blueboy on June 12, 2008, at 9:28:50
In reply to Effexor and Bipolar, posted by Rollercoaster1121 on June 10, 2008, at 11:58:26
> I have a question about Effexor and Bipolar. I believe I was misdiagnosed or possibly underdiagnosed with OCD. Are there any cases of Bipolar being concurrent with OCD? I ask, because I was placed on Effexor for the OCD, and after the worst withdrawal imaginable, I sort of "came to my senses" 2000 miles away after impulsively moving from Colorado to Florida.
OCD and Bipolar are often roommates. The DSM IV will usually label one as primary and the other secondary. As far as I can tell, at this point, my proper diagnosis would be Bipolar II with secondary OCD, agoraphobia, anxiety, and a lot of other stuff.
> I have never acted this way before except one other time when i was placed on Wellbutrin to help me stop smoking. (I ended up in New Orleans from St. Louis)
I had terrible experiences with Wellbutrin and Effexor. Really some of the worst days of my life.
> I have never been diagnosed with bipolar.
Let me ask you this: Have you ever gone to a reputable psychiatrist and asked him to make a diagnosis. It helped me to write down both my history and my symptoms, on paper (well, on the computer). One organized by time, one organized by problems.
Just off the bat, as a totally unqualified layman, Bipolar would be my first suspicion for anyone who uses the pseudonym "Rollercoaster".
> I have gone to doctor after doctor and they tell me that "women are emotional", that there is nothing wrong with me. I know there is something wrong. It feels like my life is being lived by someone else!
My advice? Earn, save, borrow or beg enough money to visit a top notch diagnostician at a major clinic, preferably one that does research, or is attached to a national-level medical clinic and/or a university.
Then find a treating psychiatrist in your area who isn't a nut case. This isn't easy to do. IMHO, there are a lot of very poor doctors out there who call themselves psychiatrists (although there are some very good ones, also -- it's a difficult specialty). From my experience, I would avoid anyone with a sole practice and be wary of anyone who isn't affiliated with a large organization.
I haven't had experience with doctors in private psychiatric groups. I have seen at least four psychiatrists in sole practices and they ranged from terrible to inadequate. I have seen only two who helped me, one in a large university clinic at a teaching hospital, and the other one in a major diagnostic/research organization (also affiliated with the university, in my case Emory in Atlanta).
> I don't even know how to start. I have no insurance, and just found out that unless I have a child with me I do not qualify for medicaid.
Be happy if you don't have a child at this point.
> Does this mean that there is no help available? Please help me with information if you can.
I hate to quote Bill Clinton, but I feel your pain. You have a lot going for you, however. You are apparently single with no children, which is good news. You are aware of your problem. Even better, you seem determined to get good treatment.
My advice is written above. For me, it cost me $400 to get a diagnosis from a specialist associated with the Fuqua Center, which is loosely allied with Emory University. I have a decent treating psychiatrist who charges me $100 (actually it has dropped to $75 since I am a cash patient). I see him about once every six weeks.
He is good at finding free samples of meds. Most of the meds I have tried are within the range of realism. Generic Klonopin (clonozapan? something like that) costs about $18 for 30. I need generic Ambien (don't know the chemical name) to combat insomnia if it's really bad. I think it's maybe $40 for 30. I'm currently trying generic Lamictal (lamotrigine) which costs less than $100 a month, although that may go up some if and when my dosage is increased.
Not cheap, but considering it simply as an economic matter, any successful treatment would seem like an excellent investment as it would allow you to get better and/or more stable employment. Plus maybe it would prevent rash and even ridiculous spending, a common problem for bipolar patients.
It takes time and determination. Hang in there!
Posted by B2chica on June 12, 2008, at 9:57:30
In reply to Re: Effexor and Bipolar, posted by blueboy on June 12, 2008, at 9:28:50
agree so much with blueboy. i am VERY lucky in that i have found two very good pdoc's.
my first one..not so much. he was big into selling whatever the pharm companies were pushing that month. and he WOULD NOT listen to me and change my meds when i needed, thus my first visit to the hospital.
i was in there two weeks (because they still wouldn't change my meds) when FINALLY, i got to see a new doc (my now current doc) whom i told i WNATED to change meds, he switched me and three days later i was out!now i ended up not staying on that drug set but i did stay on the AD for several years. it was great for me.
anyway long story short, there are a LOT of crack pots out there!
its NOT you.
keep searching rollercoaster.b2c.
Posted by Mindy b on June 19, 2008, at 22:36:23
In reply to Effexor and Bipolar, posted by Rollercoaster1121 on June 10, 2008, at 11:58:26
Effexor is horrible! I was on it for several years and if I did not have money for my refill I would have nasty withdrawls! If I regularly would take it at 8:00am by 8:15am I would be into withdrawls, usually suicidal and cutting/burning myself, non-stop crying. I am now on wellbutrin and numerous others drugs that don't have such a bad withdrawl. But latley I have been having a hard time with these symptoms while on diff. medication. I go to a discounted clinic for mental health and they are not really too interested about your well being, so it seems. Due to my mental diagnosis, I have been on SSdisability for 2yrs. now.
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