[Guest]

Okay, you can read my reaction to this Lexapro in my last post (SSRI's making me worse).

I am THOROUGHLY convinced these meds are making feel crazy. I never felt this way before-- EVER. I had a few panic attacks (but my word, I have an autistic son and my father is dying).

My doctor puts me on Lexapro and within a month, I am convinced I am going insane.

So I call her today to tell her how awful I am feeling-- experiencing dp/dr (which I only felt another time on an anti nausea med that flipped me out), I almost feel as if my brain is in a coma. I am going from an almost euphoric feeling to utter depression.

So my doctor says, " Okay, it sounds like you are bipolar. Do you have a family history of this?"

My father is indeed bi polar, as was his mother (she committed suicide).

BUT I have had NOOO bipolar symptoms EVER until I was put on these meds. Could it be the medication just creating these symptoms?

Or have I been a totally normal, functioning bipolar person who is suddenly having symptoms?

I am so confused.

They are wanting me to see a psychiatrist tomorrow morn who will likely want to put me on who knows what.

I'm just praying God give me some answers quickly.

I am tapering off my Lexapro (doing it slowly),.. and here my doctor wanted to up my dosage to 20 mg's (I'm on 5 mg's).

If 5 mg's is making me feel nuts, what int he world would she want to give me 20 mg's for????

I think my doctor is the nutcase.

 

[Guest]

I think this is one of those times that you should trust your gut instinct, spriggy.

I certainly don't want to tell you what to do. Do what you feel is right in your heart.

I'll tell you my story. Maybe it'll help in some way. If not you, maybe me. hehe.

The funny thing is that the decision to go on meds was mine and mine alone. I went to the doc myself and asked him not to tell my parents. In addition, the choice to go OFF meds was mine and only mine. I was the one who decided to taper myself off them one day. Against the advice of my shrink. I was the one who suggested that I take Paxil to one of my psychiatrists. Not him. Isn't that funny how much power you have over this? Finding the right med becomes an obsession, when maybe all along you don't need them at all. It was one of the best decisions i've ever made in my life. I feel most proud because I did it all on my own. I trusted myself and my better instinct. I can't say i'm all better or all where I want to be, but I don't feel like i'm being controlled anymore. Life is about facing your demons head on, not taking a pill to disguise the nature of your soul. I can think so much more clearly now that i'm off that stuff, let me tell you.

The best thing is that I don't feel like i'm going to die from fever/aneurysm/head-imploding if I don't take effexor for a few days. Paxil left me with limp penis and just completely sucked the joy out of my life. Left me in a haze.

 

[Dreamer]

spriggy,
You might want to get another opinion, see another psychiatrist.

It could be the psychiatrist misdiagnosed you. If you ARE bipolar you can have a bad reaction to an SRI. SRIs shouldn't be prescribed to someone who is bipolar. A psychiatrist who has done a lengthy evaluation of you should know better.

It sounds if you DO have bipolar, and I'm not saying you do as I don't know you, it is possible the SRI "set it off" -- i.e. you already HAVE bipolar, it didn't CAUSE the bipolar.

Definitely get a second opinion and a better more complete evaluation from another psychiatrist, or two.

Best,
D

 

[Dreamer]

PS - family history is important in bipolar. It seems to have a greater genetic component than some of the other mental illnesses.

Please note I am not saying you are bipolar, but giving an SRI to someone who IS bipolar can bring on mania if I'm not mistaken.

I can't diagnose anyone over the internet. But the doctor may be attributing your negative reaction to this possible prescription error. It doesn't mean you are bipolar. You could simply be having a bad reaction to the SRI.

 

[dakotajo]

I dont even know if bipolar exists but if it does I dont think you have it. It sounds more to me like you are having a bad reaction to the drug. Keep in mind that psychiatry is not a science and the drugs they use have no proven mechanism of action. When these "doctors" prescribe drugs like this they are simply taking a shot in the dark and in alot of cases they make the situation much worse. Its pretty sad when you think they are gambling with the most important organ of your body. If I were you Id taper off the drug and if your doctor is disappointed, Id tell him to shove his pills up his pimply a-hole.

Joe

 

[terri*]

Spriggy...I could never go over 5 mgs of lexapro. Everytime I tried, I would feel like you...10 times worse. That is what happened on every one of the other meds I tried. They either made my symptoms worse, made me extremely, extremely sick or gave me horrendous headache.

They are passing these things out like m&m's nowadays...i believe SleepingBeauty said that. So what? You had some panic attacks and now you are here? I'm sorry I am not familiar with your story.

You are your own best advocate. But, I hear what Dreamer is saying, so maybe a second opinion is warranted. If you truly do not feel like you need this medication then taper now while the tapering is good. It would be hard for people to believe you would have to taper off of what is not even considered a clinical dose, but I did. Meds work differently on everyone as we all know.

Taper if that is your decision.

Wishing you the best.
terri