New and want to share

Hi, I'm new here. I have bipolar 2, with lots of mixed episodes. I guess I have the rapid cycling also. I used to b on Paxil 20mg, then added lamictal 200mg. The lamictal worked like magic to make mind behave in a way I had long forgotten. I thought after a while that maybe I only neede the lamictal so I tapered off Paxil. That was a year ago. 4 months of anxiety later I was prescribed Prozac which I took for a few months. Then I tried again to quit. From thanksgiving through February I was depressed. I finally third zoloft(no good) and now I am trying effexor. This time I'm going to stay on antidepressants. This time I got so agitated that I lost control of my words and thoughts. Nearly quit my job. Flipped out on my boss. Stormed out of a bingo in front of my daughter. You get the point.
I needed to get that off my chest
I need to know that I'm not alone and not the only one to behave like that

Thanks for listening

You sure aren't alone.

Have you tried taking antipsychotics? You seem to use just mostly antidepressive meds. APs would be more antimanic, other mood stabilisers would be as well.

You definitely are not alone. I feel your pain and have been in similar situations. I hope you are able to find relief soon. Please take care.

I've tried antipsychotics in the past and they made me soooo tired. Using Paxil with lamictal worked well in the past but I got the idea that maybe I didn't need it so I stopped. Everything after that has kinda been a blur. It's unsettling how easy it is to lose track of things. Anyway, the side effects from Paxil were too much this time so I switched to Effexor. It's definitely taken the edge off but I'm still agitated and irritable. And obsessive. I'm still working on finding the right dosage. Maybe I need to up the lamictal as well but I want to hold off. I really hope it doesn't lose its effectiveness. That drug has changed my life profoundly.
Thanks for the welcome, encouragement and support! It was exactly what I need

Thank you so much!

When I was on effexor, I had to get the dosage reduced initially because I had such a strong reaction to it- I couldn't sleep at all. It really took about four weeks before the medicine started to help me feel less depressed. It really helped with my anxiety symptoms as well- so i hope it brings you some relief once your body gets used to it.

Not all antipsychotics are equally sedating, so you might try another one. But maybe just an antidepressive together with (also) a mood stabilising med work best for you. Personally, I would never use an antidepressant (longterm). Atypical antipsychotics are antidepressive enough for me (and arguably should be for everyone).

I'd suggest you make sure the cause of your anxiety/agitation is not something antidepressants might make worse. If you are less in touch with your emotions, bad as they may be, this might cause more/also anxiety/agitation.

Good luck finding the best treatment, one that still allows you to reach a stage and solution for your problems, where meds are not needed as much or at all. You don't want increasing dependence, I'd say.

you're never alone here, I also get mixed states and rapid cycle. it's a rough life, but the community here is nice to be a part of. it's a circle of people who only understand and want the best for you, it's a good place to be .