[xRavenx]

Lately, I'm curious which meds others find help them with ruminating and/or racing thoughts. My current meds may create a little bit of a calmer effect physically, but emotionally, I don't feel very stable, because I get stuck on a thought, and it leads to more and more intrusive thoughts....such as being paranoid about others, getting stuck on daydreaming about things that are upsetting that circle around and around.

This is getting in the way of my life. I'm so tired of this. I feel I live in the past or the future, because of my deep imagination that takes me out of reality and Bipolar/anxiety symptoms. Even benzos do not help with the thoughts, although it slows down my body physically. The problem is causing issues with self-esteem too, although I know therapy can help with that piece.

What meds have made a difference in preventing intrusive thoughts from taking over and controlling you? I want to come back down to Earth, but my mind is not allowing me to do that, no matter how hard I try.

I cannot take SSRI antidepressants by any means. I've had manic episodes with psychosis induced by those. I am interested in hearing experiences as far as meds that have helped you with your train of thought.

[still_crazy]

maybe supplements? The old school core Orthomolecular routine--high dose C, B3, b-complex--has helped me, over time.

[samj40]

I'm not bipolar, but I do have similar reactions to most benzos and SSRIs.

Have you tried oxazepam? I've tried a lot of benzos over the years with little luck, but this one puts the pause button on my ruminating and lets me function a lot more normally for a few hours. It also helps boost my mood a little, too. I also don't find it as sedating as a lot of the others. Not even 30mg makes me groggy, really.

I know we're all different, but it's something that's really helped me.

Hopefully you find something that helps, I can relate to what you're going through and it's awful. Best of luck!

[TicTacGo]

Those two things alone (three including paranoia) can not constitute for a manic episode, though I would watch it very closely as we all have things that make imaginary alarm bells ring.

Sounds more like an obsessive/intrusive thoughts kind of situation. Therapy is an option for something like that.

In terms of medication, Seroquel can help with that mental unease. I have the same problem with SSRIs. Oxazepam may work for you, though I found it to be very physically sedating alone, which leaves you with these thoughts ruminating and a body that won't let you express it.

[splitimage]

For ruminating, obsessive thoughts, I know a lot of Dr's prescribe low dose risperidone.

splitimage

[CobolCapsule]

I agree with splitimage. Risperidone has eliminated any racing thoughts i use to have. Just keep the dose low.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Ativan helps me prn

[xRavenx]

Thanks everyone. I never tried oxazepam. I'm wondering if it's similar to Xanax? I can get some relief from Xanax, but it is so short acting, that it's really something I can't depend on (plus a lot of doctors in my area do not like to prescribe it). Ativan helped me a little bit, but again, it's so short-acting. Either way, I'm curious if oxazepam is something that would help, but I never heard pdocs around here mention it.

Perhaps I should try some supplements. My thoughts are getting more out of control though....I don't want to trigger. Today, it was especially bad. It didn't help that I only got about 3 hours sleep though.

My pdoc did mention Risperdal at one point as a possibility, but we both decided trying high dose Seroquel, which I'm on now. I kind of thought the Seroquel and other sedating meds, plus high dose Lamictal combined would help. For a brief period of time, they did. It brought me out of an episode, but only briefly. Things are getting worse again though. So maybe it is time to bring up Risperdal to my pdoc again? She'll probably bring it up either way. I hate med changes, but I'm tired of feeling this way.

Low dose sulpiride (50mg to 200mg) helped me with racing thoughts and obsessing

[*Laurie*]

Everyone is different, but for me Seroquel never did anything except help me sleep. I think talking with your pdoc about Risperdal is a good idea.

High-dose Depakote. I experienced a significant difference between 1500 and 2000 mg. The thoughts may still come but you might not care anymore. Talk to yer doc. FDA black box warning: may kill you.