Medication--what if it's wrong? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

glamdais · 05-21-2004, 09:06 AM

I've posted on here before as to having a manic type reaction after taking Effexor. My doctor has had be on valium, but each time we take down the dosage the symtoms come back. He's been discussing bi-polar meds with me. My main concern is this---since there's no real test to see if someone is bi-polar what if you go on medication and that's not what's going on. Could going on a bi-polar med mess you up even worse if you're not bi-polar? I'm scared to death to take any other kind of psych medicine since that's what got me into this mess in the first place. Has anyone had a bi-polar med make manic symptoms worse?

Polaris · 05-21-2004, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glamdais

I've posted on here before as to having a manic type reaction after taking Effexor. My doctor has had be on valium, but each time we take down the dosage the symtoms come back. He's been discussing bi-polar meds with me. My main concern is this---since there's no real test to see if someone is bi-polar what if you go on medication and that's not what's going on. Could going on a bi-polar med mess you up even worse if you're not bi-polar? I'm scared to death to take any other kind of psych medicine since that's what got me into this mess in the first place. Has anyone had a bi-polar med make manic symptoms worse?

Glamdais,

I am not sure whether Effexor is an SSRI (someone help me on this one), but I do know that there are SSRI medications, which are prescribed for depression, can cause a person to go into manic episodes. For instance, I was being treated for depression for a couple of years, before I was properly diagnosed with bipolar II illness. The SSRI medications that I was prescribed (zoloft, serzone and paxil) all made my manic and depressive symptoms worse. I am currently taking Depakote ER for the bipolar illness and Ativan for anxiety. I am having no troubles with these medications.

To clarify, it wasn't the psych medicines that got you into this mess. Apparently you already were suffering from a chemical imbalance in your brain.

You were right, there are no tests that can be given to a person to find out if they are bipolar, but most psych doctors don't have a problem with prescribing SSRI medication to people who are displaying symptoms of bipolar to see if it will trigger a manic episode (a clear indication of bipolar illness).

I hope that this helped some.

Good luck!
P

glamdais · 05-21-2004, 12:23 PM

Is that conclusive--that if you take a SSRI (which Effexor is) and you experience a manic reaction then it's a clear indicator of a bi-polar disorder? Can valium hold it down just enough to make you functional if it is bi-polar?

Polaris · 05-21-2004, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glamdais

Is that conclusive--that if you take a SSRI (which Effexor is) and you experience a manic reaction then it's a clear indicator of a bi-polar disorder? Can valium hold it down just enough to make you functional if it is bi-polar?

I am not sure that it is conclusive evidence, however, I have read a great deal and done quite a bit of research on this illness and manic episodes from taking SSRI is a clear indicator.

I don't think that taking valium alone will help the bipolar symptoms. I take Ativan, it's not as strong as Valium, but I do know that I could not survive taking that alone.

Maybe someone else here might have some more advice. There are so many wise people here, most probably wiser than some doctors. Keep your eyes open for other responses.

P

HopelssNYer · 05-21-2004, 01:57 PM

Yup Yup Effexor is and SSRI... same thing happened with me I was on Effexor and I had hardcore manic eps. because what happens is with a chemical embalnce is we have too much saratonan when we are manic and most are Rx an SSRI for depression to increase the Saratonan levels to bring our moods up .. but as BP we have too much Sara. at times which cause our manic eps. SO the SSRIs which increase that level is not good for BP.. does that makes sense????
UNT.
L