[cgen30]

I recently came out of a psych ward with a diagnosis of bipolar. Was put on cymbalta twice a day along with risperdone at night. I will give a little back story though on my past meds and situations. Growing up I had problems with getting in trouble etc etc. Checked for ADD, which came back negative. I do have depression/anxiety/social anxiety though. I didnt start trying out meds until I was 24.

Been on maybe 10 meds in my life ranging from SSRI/SNRI/NDRI/MAOI. The one thing I got out from taking anything with Serotonin was that it would give me a euphoric high, but always in a agitated state. Prozac I stayed on at 40mg for a good 5months and it wasn't fun.(didn't know any better I guess to come off)

So I had been on the cymbalta and risperdone for about 6 days and noticed my mood was improving. Felt like I could finally possibly work again,wanted to socialize a lot, just more comfortable around people. But then I start getting these bad heart palpitations and just feeling very very jumpy. Landed back in the ER and was told to go off the cymbalata. Now im back to not wanting to socialize more depression etc etc.

I have issues with the risperdone making me feel really tired and apathetic and just wanting to sleep. It did help to curb a lot of my anxiety and racing thoughts at first.

I'm just really confused on weither Im truly bipolar or not. I have heard of people taking SSRI meds and them having hypo manic issues. All I know is that I dont want to take anything with norepinephrene again cause thats to stimulating for me. Its been tough to find a PCP doc to treat me where I live.

I have always been treated for depression but this would be the 2nd time (through previous doctors) I might be bi-polar. I just feel like i fit into the full criteria of it. I tried lamictal at 300mg and it didnt do anything.(Maybe I needed to add an SSRI with it?)

When I get to see a doctor should i mention something about Lamictal or Depakote again and see if a SSRI will help? I just feel before I got off the cymbalta I had felt those euphoric 'surges' come in when I would yawn. (no clue why) It felt like it was starting to mellow down. This is just very frustrating and I want to feel good for once. So does this sound like bipolar to anyone even though I don't have the mania side of things, and its more just agitated depression/anxiety? ty

[Skeezyks]

Hello cgen30: I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral... from the Skeezyks! I hope you find the time you spend here to be of benefit.

I don't know enough about psychological diagnosis & psych med's to be able to advise you on any of this. When I was last hospitalized I was put on Abilify because the pdoc who was treating me there thought there might be a Bipolar component to my mental health concerns. I didn't stay on it long though because it made everything I ate taste metallic. It became difficult to eat anything.

Subsequently, I was on Cymbalta (& later on its generic equivalent) for a couple of years or so. For me, it was the best med I ever took. I'm no longer on any med's at all. I was also on Lamictal for a short period of time. I developed the Lamictal rash & had to be taken off of it right away.

[MistressStayc]

I 2nd the advice on talking to your doctor about abilify. I have been on it for years. My doctor prefers it to respiridone. Also, you could talk to your doc about Lexapro which is like the sister drug to Cymbalta. I am on that in combo with abilify and it has worked wonders for me....but that said, everyone is different and experiences meds differently unfortunately. It can be very frustrating trying to find the right combo for you. Hang in there and keep trying. Stability is obtainable.

[MistressStayc]

Originally Posted by MistressStayc

I 2nd the advice on talking to your doctor about abilify. I have been on it for years. My doctor prefers it to respiridone. Also, you could talk to your doc about Lexapro which is like the sister drug to Cymbalta. I am on that in combo with abilify and it has worked wonders for me....but that said, everyone is different and experiences meds differently unfortunately. It can be very frustrating trying to find the right combo for you. Hang in there and keep trying. Stability is obtainable.

Add: I wouldn't search too much for the answer of what is causing bipolar symptoms you or you. You may never really know if it was the drugs or if it was bound to happen anyway. Just try to treat your symptoms the best you can to give you the best chance of functioning with daily life.

[cgen30]

Thanks for all the replys.My actual first doctor appt isnt until june 30th so I got quite some time before I get to see him. I have been on abilify for a short time but I could definitely give it a try again. I think the first time around I didn't stick with it because I knew what seroquel felt like and didn't want to feel so sedated. Risperdone seems to do the same thing thats why Im going off of it. Lexapro is something I would consider trying as well. Its frustrating not knowing the cause of all this and whats going on.I still have hope things will get sorted out