Questions regarding SSRIs, discontinuation, Luvox/Fluvoxamine, and Bipolar

I'm 25, male, with Bipolar disorder and saw a new psychiatrist for the second time this month yesterday. I like her so much better than my old one.

2 weeks ago I was prescribed Buspar 10mg trying to control my anxiety induced possible depression. I called this past Monday because I concluded I really was depressed. A frustrated, self-defeating depressed (unlike the lethargic woe-is-me depressions I've had before. I was truly getting worried because my symptoms were getting worse and out of control.

We stopped Buspar and now I'm taking 50mg Fluvoxamine (generic Luvox) at bed.

She decided on the Luvox because taking my history she noticed a pattern of intrusive thoughts when I get depressed which then start to control my behaviors and compulsions start to take over. First person who's mentioned a connection so we'll see!

This is my first go with a SSRI in general. The only other time I was medicated for depression I took Wellbutrin 2.5 years ago and it made me severely manic. I was not on a mood stabilizer then. I'm on 350mg Lamictal now so hopefully that will prevent any onset of mania.

I'm curious though:
1) Has anyone else every had a similar scenario in which they were prescribed this?
2) I read something I'd never seen before. People were talking about when they discontinued a SSRI, it took several weeks or even several months for them to feel "like themselves" again. Isn't the point of such a medication to make you a better self? The talk wasn't related to a discontinuation syndrome. They didn't talk about side-effects of it at all. I'm confused.
3) Last night was the first time I took it. I woke up so nauseous in the middle of the night and have barely eaten all day. I know nausea is a major side-effect but is it possible for that to happen already? I'm practically non-functional I'm so tired today. But I've been having restless sleeps for weeks now. It could all be catching up to me.
4) If you're male, did you experience any sexual side-effects? I've read that this med is the least likely to produce any. In fact, the pamphlet says you may get a 4 hour erection. How contrasting LOL! If you did experience any, about how long did it take before you noticed them. I'd like to be on the lookout for it so I can mention something before it's really bad.
5) Oh, and what's your experience with alcohol?

Greetings wills11,

I was on lamictal 3-months until a serious deep blood-red rash developed. Neurologist discontinued it immediately b/c of the rash. Although I initially started lamictal for fibromyalgia pain, it had a benefit on seizures and the afterwards depression. It took me about a month to feel better and two more weeks after to feel like myself again. I was so disappointed about the rash, would have stayed on that med otherwise.

Many friends of mine took wellbutrin to stop smoking and they spoke also of the mania and aggressiveness in their conversations. All (5 in total) were so surprised how aggressive and "rant-ish" they had become. End result? ...3 stopped smoking, 5 months total on med and are fine. ...2 stopped taking it due to the manic episodes, currently still smoking. I never took wellbutrin, but mentioned these friends' experience hoping it might help.

SSRIs and SNRIs are very familiar to me due to my seizures AND everyday, all day pain from fibromyalgia. Feel free to write me if you every have a question or comment, or just to chat about them.

Good luck! Sending support and good thoughts your way.

Lamia

Thanks for the response!

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience on Lamictal. Fortunately for me I never had problems that didn't resolve within 1-2 weeks after dosage changes. I've been on it 2.5 years and it's the only med I haven't had to quit yet. *knocks on wood*

50mg of FLUVOXATINE seem high for a first dose, 20mg is a normal starter

50 mg is the normal starting dosage. I take 75 mg since years and it's seen as low. It really helps me it is the perfect med for me.

We're all different and we all have meds we can and can't take.

It made me slightly sleepy at first why I chose to take it at night and still do. Sleepiness went away. Didn't have much of side effects even if I normally have tons of them.

What is hard is it is a short acting med and if I miss 2-3 days I feel like hell. I don't normally miss but it has happened that my doc forgot to write my refills and stuff.

sorry I was thinking fluoxetine generic Prozac not luvox

Yeah. Fluoxetine is generic Prozac. Fluvoxamine is generic Luvox.

I have reactions to meds like it's my job LOL. So we always start a pediatric doses practically. That, and this being an antidepressant and my having Bipolar, we want to be cautious.

She told me to take it at night anyway, so I am. When I took Wellbutrin before I could take it anytime. It didn't effect me like that. Then again, it also made me manic.

When I took Lithium last fall I was only on 300mg and like 2 hours after I'd take it I couldn't move. Walking up the stairs to bed felt like a running a marathon with glue on my shoes.

I only woke up once during sleep last night so that's better I guess. Still very tired today.

If you react like me, maybe you will be OK. I can't take several SSRIs because they cause manic like episodes. This one is fine for me. But yea... it made one of my friends kind of weird so... yea hope for the best.

From what I've read this seems to be one of the most tolerable for manic-prone individuals.

Out of curiosity, what sort of things did your friends experience?

He had a brief psychotic episode. But then he wasn't allowed to start low as is often done today, was started at a higher dosage.

Sounds like my Wellbutrin experience, even though I was at the low dose. Took me 3 months to recover *shudders*

How long have you been on it? Thoughts? Why were you initially prescribed, if I may ask?

For depression but it also helped OCD. I have been on it 10 years give or take.

Oh wow. Well I'll cross my fingers it works as well for me.