[CycloMary]

I have been on Lithium 750 mg for a few months.
At first, it was a miracle. I was the happiest & most stable I'd been ever.
Then, a few weeks ago I started having anxiety, panic attacks, sadness...(mixed episode?) that lasted over a week straight. It was AWFUL.
Now I am depressed with suicidal ideation again.

I'm so sad b/c I thought I'd found a way to live a somewhat normal life.

I increased to 900mg a week ago & it doesn't seem to help.
From what I've researched, rapid cycling BP 2 with anxiety is one of the more difficult to treat with meds.
The ones that do cause major weight gain & I am TERRIFIED of weight gain.

I hate this disease, I hate that I have this. I'm tired of fighting this.

Sorry to unload but I know that you all get it. You feel my pain. You know the frustration. The hopelessness.
What to do next?

[Row Jimmy]

For what it is worth, I am rapid cycle BP2 on 1200 lithium, doing well overall with no weight gain. I also take 1500 Depakote. Certainly, these interact differently with different people but I am surviving it well.

What to do next? Talk to your doc about dosage or perhaps switching medication. Don't forget - the dosage is the "sweet spot" for efficacy. It could be higher or lower.....we don't always know until we test it out.

Or perhaps you might need a bit more time on 900 to see if it helps.

Another consideration - look at things like diet, exercise, sleep, and other things that can help. BP will always be with us and we can't always rely on medication. Despite my medication, I still have my moments and I'm dropping more tablets than they did at Woodstock.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by CycloMary

I have been on Lithium 750 mg for a few months.

At first, it was a miracle. I was the happiest & most stable I'd been ever.

Then, a few weeks ago I started having anxiety, panic attacks, sadness...(mixed episode?) that lasted over a week straight. It was AWFUL.

Now I am depressed with suicidal ideation again.


I'm so sad b/c I thought I'd found a way to live a somewhat normal life.


I increased to 900mg a week ago & it doesn't seem to help.

From what I've researched, rapid cycling BP 2 with anxiety is one of the more difficult to treat with meds.

The ones that do cause major weight gain & I am TERRIFIED of weight gain.


I hate this disease, I hate that I have this. I'm tired of fighting this.


Sorry to unload but I know that you all get it. You feel my pain. You know the frustration. The hopelessness.

What to do next?

I THINK your lithium has some room to be bumped up for sure. And I understand your frustration completely. My most recent thread on here is what I'm dealing with tonight and I feel like throwing in the towel! Can you make a pdoc appt and let them know what's going on so they can quickly get you in? Even if it's to see a nurse to up your dosage?

About the weight... Can you see my meds in my sig? My pdoc always says how she can't believe I'm not gaining with the meds I'm on. And recently I was prescribed wellbutrin for a bit of energy in the mornings and I noticed it suppressed my appetite big time. Actually made me quite nauseous. I've also read that metformin is often prescribed to combat weight gain from psych meds. Agh one of the many side effects we have to put up with for the sake of sanity right?

Do you have any PRN benzos you can take to help calm you right now? Take it easy. Take a nap if you can. But first call your pdoc!

Trileptal 600mg BID
Buspar 45mg
Seroquel 150-300mg for sleep
Ativan 1mg PRN
Vyvanse 70mg
Risperdal 4-6mg PRN

I don't get msgs unless the other person using tapatalk app!

[Pastel Kitten]

I share your pain, Mary. I no longer feel stable on my meds either. I didn't know bipolar II with rapid cycling and anxiety is harder to treat. I have the same thing, so maybe that's why..? My lithium's been decreased from 900mg to 600mg now, but mostly because my pdoc thinks it's worsening my BPD..which I don't fully understand. I hope things look up for you soon. It sucks to feel stable and then return to feeling horrible....

[Wanderlust90]

Bipolar II rapid cycling with anxiety, this is me too.

Can I ask if either of you have dysphoric hypomanias? I do get the euphoria but mainly dysphoria.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by Wanderlust90

Bipolar II rapid cycling with anxiety, this is me too.

Can I ask if either of you have dysphoric hypomanias? I do get the euphoria but mainly dysphoria.

I get dysphoric in mixed episodes. It really feels horrible!

Trileptal 600mg BID
Buspar 45mg
Seroquel 150-300mg for sleep
Ativan 1mg PRN
Vyvanse 70mg
Risperdal 4-6mg PRN

I don't get msgs unless the other person using tapatalk app!