What med? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

ginger3130 · 06-28-2009, 08:49 AM

I have been taking seroquel and klonopin and doing pretty well. The thing is, I am fairly irritable. I have a hard time taking the SSRIs or the SNRIs due to the urinary retention, frequency, and bladder pain. Does anyone know why I get so irritable? Am I missing a chemical my brain needs? Am I missing serotonin?

Anyone have any ideas of a drug I can add that may help my irritability?

I tried taking lexapro and loved it, but again, it bothered my bladder.

I'm not sure what to do anymore.

Bunnylover · 06-28-2009, 10:53 AM

Could you be manic/hypo-manic or in a mixed state? I get incredibly irritable in those cases, or are you like this all the time?

Seroquel might help--anxiety really feeds my irritability and seroquel works well on anxiety.

ginger3130 · 06-28-2009, 01:01 PM

How much seroquel do you take? I am actually dealing with a lot of anxiety and stress right now. I could up my seroquel. Right now I only take about 25mg at night, but have enough to take about 100mg a night. If I take 50mg I sleep for 12 hours! I'm sure if I just upped my dose and got more sleep, after a while I would get used to the higher dose and I wouldn't be as sleepy.

I notice that I do experience more hypo-manic states during the spring and summer months. Plus, throw in the added stressors I know I need more meds. I just hate the drugged up feeling I get from the higher doses. And
I know these are baby doses compared to what some people take.

Llama · 06-28-2009, 03:34 PM

When I was on seroquel I was taking 600mg. The sleepiness did go away for me. I hope it does for you too if your pdoc decides to raise the dose.

I'm not trying to sound harsh here, but do not mess around with the doses of your meds unless you have your pdoc's permission. I have done this many times in the past and it has never ended well. It usually lands me in the hospital. I don't want to see that happen to you.

Bunnylover · 06-28-2009, 04:22 PM

I take 200mg/day at night, but Llama's right, don't play with your medications without discussing it with your psychiatrist. Also, the key is to adjust the seroquel dose slowly, that helps avoid daytime sleepiness and ensures you take the minimal effective dose.