Bipolar II or Abilify Induced Mania?

Hi Everyone ~ this is my first post so I will give you a short background on me and hope you all can give me your thoughts. I have been on all kinds of antidepressants for the past 18 years. I was originally started after the birth of my first child for the baby blues on Prozac. Year after year I would change meds because they would wear off and I would say to my doc "but I'm not depressed anymore, I just go into fits of rage without them!" She finally said I can't help you go to a psychiatrist.

I did and after awhile he diagnosed me as OCDish, little eating disorder and depression. I started Luvox and topamax. Around fall of last year fell into a depression like I never had been... Sleeping all day, eating my emotions, hating everyone, yada yada so he added Abilify. Within three or so days instant manic... Higher than a kite, loving life, whole new shoe collection, 45 straight every day sex with husband, up all night, no eating, lost weight! Life was great! Talked to doc and ran through life history again and he mentioned possible Bipolar II. Went on lithium and mellowed down.

So then I was over whelmed, after awhile stopped the lithium and blood tests. I had that "I'm fine!" attitude and stopped seeing my doc for a long time. I had enough scripts for the Luvox and topamax to last awhile so I just took those and as I got low cut back on the dose till I started going all anger nuts again and started my deep depression again. Which happened to be this fall! Again! And we tried Abilify! Again! And its been a month and once again I'm manic as all get up, rockin the shoe collection, lovin life , up all night, losing weight, ...

So my question: does Abilify cause this kind of reaction in someone who is bipolar? Can I maybe not be bipolar? Thanks in advance for any help and I apologize for the long post and the rambling
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Well, "I just go into fits of rage" was uttered way before Abilify was tried.

It sounds like you are bipolar and that Abilify is not right for you.

I would track moods and see the dr regularly. Do not do Abilify again, but maybe go back on Lithium.

Oh I think on the basis of everything you have said in regards to thoughts, feelings, energy and emotions it certainly sounds to me like you have experienced mania. This only happens if you are bipolar.

You need to work closely with your pdoc.

You need to find the right meds that work for you.

I too, sometime after I was initially diagnosed thought the pdoc had it ALL wrong and there was no way I had bipolar.

So I did not take meds.

It didn't end very well for me.

Thanks for your replies! I guess I am just afraid to hear an "official" diagnosis of bipolar but if I replay my life's story it sure makes sense! But I do want to know what my deal is because at this point I have a 13yo daughter on meds for the second time for anxiety. She also see's a psychiatrist every other week. I need to know my history for her future.

I also don't want to go off the Abilify right now bc I am so happy to be out of that deep depression and I love my higher than life manic state. I'm not hurting anyone (accept family feels I'm a loon!) but I love the ride! Could it escalate and get worse? I'm only on 2mg dose. I go back to doc on 12/18 so we will see what he says.

Thank you so much for replying. I hope to get to meet you all and have a great Thanksgiving!

That is a very interesting rxn on Abilify. What dosage? Why did you stop the lithium?

Right now my meds are Luvox 300mg, Topamax 200mg, and I started the Abilify beginning of November and it's just 2mg at night. Honestly, by probably day 3 I was a 100% turn around new person just like last time I went on it. Last time, after doc saw how manic I got was when Bipolar II first came up and we started lithium. After a couple weeks of that and the blood tests is when I had my "I'm fine and tired of this crap" moment so just stopped seeing my doc and taking the lithium and Abilify. I think I just got overwhelmed and scared about the whole bipolar thing!

Manic can flip from WOOOHOOO this is great to a cash and burn train wreck with in minutes.. Is always a risk chasing to keep the high.

Stay safe .

Welcome to PC

I Mkrooks-- I understand your hesitancy about an official diagnosis of bipolar, but once you get it you may find it's actually a relief. It sure was for me, because it explained so much of my past. I had a similar experience to your current situation when I had been misdiagnosed MDD and was given Cymbalta alone. The hypomania that ensued cost me my job and my home. And at first it was a great ride. So to answer your question yes, it can get worse. I'm on Abilify now along w/two other meds. I haven't had any problems w/it. And 2 mg is the lowest possible dose, as you probably know. Bottom line-- tell your doc everything. Your manic episode definitely can escalate, and the consequences can be very bad.

10 to 15 mg is the standard dose of Abilify for bipolar. Although everyone is different.
Have you wondered if 2 mg isn't high enough to control your mania?

I think you are in danger because between now and 12/18 the whole season is basically "manic" - shopping, rushing, crowds everywhere. Since you appear high already, if you go through the pre-Christmas rush on your own, you might become so high that a hospitalization would be required.

I know an owner of a small ethnic food store. He told me that he is making losses throughout the year but the Dec sales are so high that overall the business is going fine and is reasonably profitable. Overall we know that the USPS is going to be clogged due to gift parcels being sent everywhere - it happens every year - and the whole country would be shop shop shop. Manic country. I do not know if your personal "profile" of elevated moods involves shopping, but for a great many bipolar people it sure does, which is why I am raising the possibility that your high would escalate when fueled by manic shopping all around you, and thus, it would be prudent to call the pdoc right now and talk. Also, Lithium takes several weeks before it kicks in. If you get seriously high, it may be better to take Zyprexa for a few nights PRN (=as needed) to bring you down and then go on Lithium as a maintenance drug, since it helped you in the past.

Ok, reread the OP. "whole new shoe collection" answers my question about whether shopping is in your personal profile of elevated moods

Again, a thank you for your replies! As far as shopping, lol, yes... I just came in from Black Friday shopping and it was mostly for myself! 😳 So I am going to call my doctor and see if I can get in before the 18th I suppose. Someone mentioned that the Abilify dose for bipolar is like 15mg? So does that mean at a higher dose I wouldn't be manic? I'm confused! If I wasn't manic at this 2mg dose would that mean I wasn't bipolar, just depressed? I'm sorry for all the questions... I just don't understand and I know you all aren't doctors and he will explain when I go back to him but it is so confusing!

I really appreciate all the comments as I feel my way through this! Thanks again everyone!

Your doctor would be the best person to ask. I know you're just trying to get help before then.
The paperwork that came with my Abilify specifically says it's for people with Bipolar 1 and helps with mixed episodes.

I honestly didn't know they gave Abilify to people with Bipolar II, but obviously they do.

Most people with Bipolar are on 15-20 mg, but I am calm just on 5-10 mg. 2mg didn't do anything for me.

Everyone is different and they react differently to meds. I would just talk to your pdoc and let him/her know that what you're taking now isn't working.