[4aminsomniac]

Bit of a long read, sorry, dumping my history and looking for some input and thoughts or anybody that has a situation like this.

So, we have family history of hypomania. Not a big deal, it is great being energized all the time, my job requires my quick problem solving/thinking and is part of my success, functional, very highly of course. No big deal.

So, about 4 months ago, I started getting itching randomly in the evenings for a few hours (was really stressed with work/holidays etc), then it would go away. In a week, it turned into random itchy all over my body during the daytime/evening. Then sensitivity in various places, like inside my bicep, upper back, back of neck, face/neck. Flusing/burning sensation in face/neck, with some blotching. Scalp itching. You get the idea.

Also, it gets so bad, that my ears/sinuses start to swell up/fullness. Throat gets sore also. Kind of how it progresses, the random itching/sensitivity of skin, worsening face flushing/blotching/bumps on forehead/oily forehead, then throat/ear fullness etc and I'm in full rage/anxiety mode due to crazy symptoms that aren't "painful" but annoying as all heck.

I also take HRT (testosterone) have for 7yrs. No issues whatsoever with that, normally injections I take. But switched to topical gel to figure out what is causing this issue above and if related to hypomania/bipolar. Didn't really help the gel, we've kind of ruled that out with several doctors, and also did more allergy testing, nothing I describe/lab work/testing show this is allergy issues. Which I only have a few of those.

The testosterone aggravates the issue, the more I take (normal dosage), the worse symptoms I have mentioned above. But, stopping it altogether, doesn't solve the problem either. So ruled out that Testosterone isn't really the issue. I didn't magically become allergic to it. It just makes it worse/more extreme.

Anyway, the only thing I've been taking was xanax initially, then I went to a psyche doctor and he put me on klonopin. Taking about 1/2mg/day of that, 1/4mg 2x/day basically. It stops the symptoms/controls them to make them tolerable to where I can start taking smaller doses of my TRT that is also crucial to my health.

Then Dr. wanted me to try lamictal/depakote due to manic/mania and thinks my hypomania and excitatory outside introduction of testosterone was the cause. So I chose depakote due to short ramp up time compared to lamictal, seemed to initially work, but after trying to go up above 250mg, had all sorts of side effects, worse than the problems I have. So stopped that and now just back to klonopin.

Dr. wanted me to try lamictal initially. But, I'm hypomanic/anxious person. And I've function fine and like that feeling. Plus, the time to ramp up on that meds takes a long time, plus most say for the depressive side, it works better. I don't really ever get depressed BTW. I'm not a depressed person.

I'm not bipolar up/down high/depressed. I'm just a hyponamic all the time pretty much, sometimes higher energy, sometimes lower, but never depressed.
I know there is technically no DSM for that and proper way to treat it except throw the normal meds at it and hope something sticks.

Anytime I've had this in the past, only 2-3 times, after a short time, it resolves itself and back to normal.

I'm kind of at a loss because my symptoms all point to my system is just wound up so highly/overdrive mode and setting off these crazy physical reactions. Seems like mood stabilizers aren't really the best solution. Seems like my problems/symptoms are more related to some type of neuropathy/neuralgia type situation with the sensitive skin, flushing, burning feeling at times, and anxiety as well, but most of my anxiety is due to these crazy physical symptoms I've having.

Not sure, because searching the forums, it is hard to find somebody with these physical syptoms, hyponamic, not depressed really ever and what the resolution/treatment is??

I've never been on a benzo this long, only a few short times in the past for mild anxiety. And I was able to just stop cold turkey, no issues. Never taken more than 1/2mg of any of these during the day. Benn about 3 months now taking benzos.

Another note, these symptoms have always started during the fall/winter and usually clear up/go away by spring, the time change/daylight savings. So my hypomania/physical symptoms now, are exaggerated during winter months, opposite of people with SAD. This is really only the 3rd time maybe, and by far the worse due to the crazy physical symptoms I'm having during this go around. But, it hasn't happened every year, just a few times, and the timing has been such.

Kind of stumped right now which way to go, medicine to try, or wait out the season soon and see if any improvement of symptoms.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[wildflowerchild25]

I don't know much about your situation with the itching, but since you say it usually goes away in the spring, maybe you could wait it out and see if it improves before looking for a new med. I'm not sure which med would be best for that, except maybe an ap to put a lid on the hypomania. But if you don't run into too much trouble I wouldn't take an ap.

I dunno. I hope you find some relief.

[4aminsomniac]

Thanks for reading, know it was long. Yes, basically what you said is what I'm thinking. The only thing that helps with the physical symptoms so far is benzos.

Tried depakote, too many side effects going above 250mg. Just trying lamictal now, 12.5mg daily. Even at that low dose, getting blurred vision.

These AED and APs seem overkill for my situation. I'm not a depressed person. Just hypomanic, but that is awesome honestly, and I've done fine for all these years that way. That isn't the issue primarily for me, the physical symptoms I've had is though.

My Testosterone therapy exaggerates the situation. So the flushing/sensitivity/itchy back of scalp and skin, neck/face when I raise Test or lower klonopin, the symptoms come right back.

I'm thinking something more mild myself, maybe try buspar, or Beta Blocker at low dosages since their side effect profiles are way less than the AEDs I've tried. The AEDs help to a point initially, then the side effects kick in...back to klonopin regular dosage and next thing I guess. Around and around we go. So ridiculous this entire situation I've been dealing with for over 4 months now.

The waiting game as you suggest is another thought of mine also. Just stick with the klonopin, get by and see if I can eventually wean off the benzo and things are fine over the next month or two.

The game continues I guess.

I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but the dry winter causes my skin to itch all over, especially my sides. It's always in the same place. I can't do much for it except ride it out to spring when the itch fades away. I'll put lotion on it but it's real sensitive to the blouse I'm wearing or touch. I hope yours get better.