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lynn09 · Oct 23, 2010, 11:20 AM

Hi, again, Lonely in Va. Just want to encourage you to make a note of how you feel before you take your meds, and about 30-45 minutes and at varying intervals after you take your medications. Do you have a history of hypersensitivity to any medications, such as pseudoephedrine in common OTC allergy and cold medicines, or allergic reactions or unusual side-effects to pain meds or other chemical or environmental substances?

I don't want to increase your anxiety, but much of what you say sounds very familiar. Not everyone reacts to medications the same way, and your doctor needs to be notified of any "odd" effects you are experiencing. I had adverse reactions to Effexor and Welbutrin, plus Prozac, Paxil, Elavil, lithium, Xanax, Depakote, and every other psych med they tried. Allergic reactions and hypersensitivities to medications and other substances do not always manifest as rashes or difficulty breathing - sometimes they manifest as odd and intense physical and psychological effects opposite to what the med is intended to produce.

Effexor, Welbutrin, and the other meds I mentioned actually induced "manic" episodes in me, plus insomnia, mental confusion, extreme anxiety, anger, restlessness, headaches, joint pain, fever and chills, nausea, stomach and digestive tract problems, blurred vision, tremors, ringing in the ears, dizziness, difficulty speaking, loss of coordination, etc., long before hives and skin lesions eventually manifested - I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin or explode. Each time, I informed my doctors of what was happening and they determined that I was indeed having allergic reactions, immediately removed me from those meds, and treated me with the standard antihistamine and corticosteroid regimens for allergic reactions.

Although you may already be predisposed to "negativity" or melancholy due to your depression, you should be aware that adverse reactions to medications and other substances can actually magnify those and other depression symptoms, and can magnify or even create false BPD symptoms, as well. It is very important that you communicate clearly with your doctor and the hospital staff if you feel you need to seek treatment at the ER. Giving them a log detailing your symptoms before and after you take your meds can help them pinpoint the problem rather than them just trying to figure out how to treat what they are witnessing at the moment, especially since you may have difficulty communicating with them clearly at that point.

Please take good care of yourself and do NOT ignore what you may feel to be an impending "crisis" - seek immediate treatment at the ER and take your log with you to help the medical staff see the bigger picture. lynn09