[expressiveone]

So i'm diagnosed with bpII rapid cycling, but my pdoc has me on 1.5 risperdal and 225 mg effexor. I cycled last week, went into full blown mania with hypersexuality and cheated on my husband, immediately turned into a mixed episode and I still have racing thoughts, anxiety which i take 2 ativan for and lets just say i'm not functioning very well. I called her and she told me to take 2 mg risperdal and call her in a week if i'm not feeling better. I'm concerned that I will be feeling better in a week but this will happen again because i am not on an actual mood stabilizer. Do antipsychotics prevent manic episodes as well as treat them? I basically am looking for advice for how to advocate myself. I receive treatment and my pdoc is through the county I live in because I dont have insurance and I'm not working right now. If anyone has any suggestions on what I can do to help myself I would love any helpful tips I can get. thank you!

[manicminer]

Taking your risperdal regularly will help prevent them. I take risperdal but just in the case of an episode because I don't like the feeling of being blah all the time. If I took it daily, the chance of me having an episode would be greatly decreased

[espritlibre]

Hi expressiveone,

Do any of your friends/family know about your diagnosis? If so, perhaps they could be looking out for you if/when an episode occurs. Mixed episodes are horrible, aren't they - maybe they could help you come up with a 'crisis plan' for when things get really bad? And so (i know this doesn't sound appealing) there is someone who can step in if you're not really in a state to be making decisions or might be putting yourself at risk?

I hope you find answers/support here - I know this site has helped me a lot!

[hamster-bamster]

Like manicminer, I felt blah on Risperdal (taking it continuously) and it also gave me terrible acne. Truly terrible. But I did not have one manic episode in 6 months, which is a lot for me. I think of this medication (sorry, forgot to say that I took 6 mg to make it effective, I still was hypomanic at small doses) as a fall-back if everything else fails. And, I also took Lithium, which I think is always a good idea.

Best.

[SunAngel]

Yes, antipsychotics are used as mood stablizers now.

I am on Abilify and Seroquel to stablize my mood. I am not on any anti-convulsant.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by expressiveone

So i'm diagnosed with bpII rapid cycling, but my pdoc has me on 1.5 risperdal and 225 mg effexor. I cycled last week, went into full blown mania with hypersexuality and cheated on my husband

For one, theoretically at least, you may have the dx of BP I, not II. For another, does your husband know you cheated on him?

[expressiveone]

thank you for your responses guys, it must just be the dose I have been on which allowed the breakthrough episode[quote=Natalya;2079692]For one, theoretically at least, you may have the dx of BP I, not II. For another, does your husband know you cheated on him?[/q
Hmmm, maybe I do have BPI. All I know is I hate losing control. And yes, my husband does know. I told him right away. He has forgiven me and we are in agreement that I remain on my meds (which is fine with me!). I was just curious if I should be asking for another mood stabilizer to ensure the lack of cycling as it disrupts my whole entire life and my family as well. I haven't been properly medicated up until this past year. I have been going through this my whole life. I had a taste of balance since i was put on 1.5 mg risperdal up until the past 3 weeks. We have been under alot of stress financially and the pressures of school along with lack of finances I guess triggered an episode. I love my husband so much and I do feel very guilty about my infidelity. This is the second time this happened. Of which I know may sound very bad. But I swear the last time I was manic too(before I went on the risperdal). Its like I am scared of myself and what I do when I am not in my right mind. It terrifies me actually.

[expressiveone]

Originally Posted by espritlibre

Hi expressiveone,

Do any of your friends/family know about your diagnosis? If so, perhaps they could be looking out for you if/when an episode occurs. Mixed episodes are horrible, aren't they - maybe they could help you come up with a 'crisis plan' for when things get really bad? And so (i know this doesn't sound appealing) there is someone who can step in if you're not really in a state to be making decisions or might be putting yourself at risk?

I hope you find answers/support here - I know this site has helped me a lot!

Hi espritlibre,
Yes, my husband is my main support as the rest of my family support lives an hour away. We have discussed what the plan of action is if this happens again (of which I can only hope and dream that i stay balanced forever...lol) Basically, he knows which signs to look out for and will be vigilant for me and for us. I don't know what I would do with out him. I also know that when I get that giddy feeling I need to tell him and make him monitor me so I don't get out of control and contact my doctor if necessary. This disease is pretty heavy stuff.