[tigersassy]

Just tring to figure out if meds can cause mixed or rapid cycling episodes? I have been mixed for the past 3 days and I just had a med change last week.

Tig

Yep. Meds can do all sorts of crazy things. And the worst bit is, everyone reacts differently, so you never know what they will do to you personally until you try.

On high doses of antidepressants I rapid cycled. I have never been a rapid cycler in any sense of the word so it was highly unusual for me. Almost got my bipolar diagnosis thrown out as I was cycling within the day so they were searching for a new one that fit when the meds changed and I leveled out in a matter of weeks. I was on an active mood stabiliser at the time too. The only thing that changed was the dosage level of the antidepressant and I got back to "normal" (depressed) within a few weeks. Should have been my first warning sign that the pdoc was more nuts than me!

[tigersassy]

How long would it take for something like that to happen? I mean I've been mixed almost since I started taking zyprexa last monday. Should I call my gp since shes the prescriber and I'm still waiting on pdoc appt next month (new patient).

Tig

[Nightside of Eden]

Yeah, my meds caused me to be in mixed states for quite a while. I'm not sure how much of this was direct mood-related side-effects and how much was because they lifted my depression and so mixed was what I was left with, though. Changing meds a little did seem to help the problem, though.

[r010159]

I remember my recent mixed episode to be one of the most emotionally painful experiences that I have had in a long time. Perhaps it was an extreme version of mixed. It was a real nightmare. And I am normally very tolerant of emotional and physical pain. I almost lost it by checking myself into a psych hospital three days into the episode. So if this is what you are experiencing, I would have the doctor change your script ASAP, like yesterday. I think mixed episodes have the highest rate of suicide for this reason.

I do believe that meds can cause unpleasantly elevated or rapid changes in mood. For instance, I think antidepressant are known to cause this in some people. This experience is what is happening to me on Lamictal. I am finding to my surprise that Lamictal appears to be activating. But the alternative is a more difficult to deal with bipolar depression. I am finding that a dose of a fast acting AP taken PRN makes a big difference, when taken before things get out of hand.

Hang on there! I wish you well!

[wildflowerchild25]

Celexa and Prozac both caused severe mixed episodes for me. Now that I know this I have to wonder if all the ADs I took in 05-06 made everything worse for me. I will not take an AD now unless I run out of options.

[r010159]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

Celexa and Prozac both caused severe mixed episodes for me. Now that I know this I have to wonder if all the ADs I took in 05-06 made everything worse for me. I will not take an AD now unless I run out of options.

This is why I am titrating myself down on my Prozac. I do not think being on two activating medications is helping me, Prozac and Lamictal. If this works, I will talk to my pdoc about making the change permanent. I am also thinking that I do not want to be on ADs unless there is no other option.

[tigersassy]

Thanks everyone for the replies. After I get off work I'll call my dr and tell her whats happening. I'm waiting to hear back from my psych nurse to see what his suggestion is. I'm scared of being in a mixed episode.

Tig