[Zarzoour]

Hi all ....

My name is mina : a male Egyptian

10 years ago i know something wrong went with my brain i had have OCD the pure type....it was annoying one but at the same time the anxiety was making me a very effective person ( i don't know how) i was very social because i was afraid to be alone......iwas only taking anafranil (self medication ) i was very smart in studing that i graduated with A, and i was preparing for CPA (a professional certeficate and i was the cleverest one in my class).....but it come to a time when i couldn't escape my thoughts.,,,they were really annoying me.....i started to feel strongly bad and alot of quilt .... that what i went to a psych and gave me favrin (fluvoxmine) and that when IT ALL STARTED four years ago

From the first pill the OCD Gone but i crushed into something bad.... i don't know what it was.... i felt like my mind is lost.....i am no longer that clever energetic effective person.....i also cruched into the worst depressive episode i have ever had (although the OCD is gone) i was completely transformed .... not that highly effective person that used to be...i TOOK anitdepressants but with little help

that when it came to a time when i took SNRI.... and i switched highly manic .... i started to laugh out of nothing .... that when i knew i have bipolar disorder

i was going to be hospitalized but i refused to.. because i was caring for my Job

I decided to take it on my own out of hospital to hold my Job and avoid the stigma

i was put on rispridone lithium and depakine thats when i started to feel better and stated to get my mind again about one and half year ago but the depression didn't went away

since october we started lamictal...i was very allergic to it that it took me all this period only to reach 100 MG (just last week) .... but i was feeling its effect from 12.5 mg..... no i can say i am no longer depressed (as a mood)

But i feel i can't study... something wrong went with my brain....i do my work and get barely (meet expectations thats enough for me holding my Job but as long as i couldn't study and get exceeded expectations...i can't get promoted)

Now.... what about this lazy mind how can i fix it......is there is a chance i have a mild form of ADD

thanks and regards

[sideblinded]

I cant' be sure on this as I am not a doctor. It is very possible that the medications that you are on could be contributing to this.

SNRI's can have a "switch" effect on some people. Other AD's can do this as well. It happened to me. I was put on AD's that pushed me over into a hypomanic state. I had more energy but it was not my norm. SNRI's have become part of the regimen of AD's for ADD. Maybe you are on to something or maybe you were a bit manic and had more productivity on the SNRI. You are either switching into more productive states on certain AD's or you may have a disorder that the doctors need to evaluate.

I hope my experience gave you some clues. Regards.

[Imah]

I too cannot answer your question, and most people probably feel the same. You are asking a medical question on peoples opinion of your diagnosis. I can only suggest you continue to learn as much as you can about ADD, ADHD, and the diagnosis you have already been given. I am so sorry I cannot be more help.

Best of luck to you.

[Crazy Hitch]

Hi Zazoour

I am very appreciative of how you have shared your story with us.

Thank you.

I am glad that you have posted here.

We are a very supportive community.

I also went manic when I too SNRI and sometimes my behaviour was not appropriate. I understand how this feels.

Sometimes we are able to function well and at other times we need a little bit more support with the help from our psychiatrists.

Medication can sometimes make me feel different.

I like to discuss this with my psychiatrist. My psychiatrist is the one who is giving me the medication and understands what symptoms it may give me and how it can make me feel and explain this to me so that I am aware.

I understand your concern about stigma. I worry about this too. Then sometimes I think I need to realise that my wellbeing, and me being healthy, is more important than other people who will maybe pass a judgment on me. I need to look after myself first and take care of myself.

Sometimes my brain feels lazy too. I like to talk to my psychiatrist about this so that it can be explained to me.

Have a chat with your psychiatrist if this is worrying you.

Maybe you can get a good explanation for this.

Look after yourself and thank you for your post.

[ScribblingScribe]

Hello!

I can relate to you in that I've experienced manic/hypomanic behavior and also have been diagnosed with ADD. I take meds for both conditions, as well as for other issues. (Sometimes I feel like a walking medicine cabinet! )

But despite the many meds I take, I feel fortunate because they now work well, overall. However it sure took some time before my pdoc (psychiatrist) and I were able to put together a good combination of meds to fit all of my needs. Right now, I think I'm doing quite well, the best that I've had been doing in a long time. I do still worry about stigma, and for that reason I don't share my private issues (like the fact that I take meds) with most people. But if people were to find out, I suppose it doesn't matter too much because after all im doing all right.

I want to put in a word about bipolar disorder and ADD. Many times doctors are hesitant to prescribe stimulants -- those are ADD types of meds -- because the stimulants may trigger mania. However, that hasn't happening my case. I feel blessed that my pdoc prescribes meds for my ADD because it helps so much with things like executive functioning, helping me get things started and done (so I don't feel or get stuck being "lazy," which I am not), and it also helps with things like making decisions and getting started with tasks in the first place. Both bipolar disorder and ADD share similarities in those types of issues. But in other ways, they are quite far apart because bp is a mood disorder and ADD is a neurological disorder.

Sooooo ... There's so much to look at when trying to find the right meds for you. I hope you have a good doctor to work with. I've been fortunate to have been with the same pdoc for almost 18 years, during which we've tried many med adjustments.

Anyways, best to you. And thanks for sharing your story.

ScribblingScribe =^..^=

[Nammu]

Like many others here a AD is what cause my switch into mania. This new stuff you are dealing with sounds like a medication problem, talk to your Pdoc about the side effects, like others I had to go though several med combinations to find the right cocktail.

Welcome to PC.