[pat86]

Has anyone found medications helpful with obsessiveness / having past events replay in your head over and over again. Many times its things that you are angry about but not all the time. Sometimes its just past social situations that will replay in my mind over and over again along with racing thoughts.

I have read people say depakote helped them with these issues.

Can anyone share what meds have helped them with these issues?

[TicTacGo]

I understand why they may have said that Depakote may help, but I’m not sure that is the answer.

Something that does help (in conjunction with medication) is therapy.

In terms of medications, I really think that it depends. A doctor will be able to understand a more detailed explanation. Are the thoughts intrusive? (come from nothing or a trigger and are distressing)

[pat86]

Originally Posted by TicTacGo

I understand why they may have said that Depakote may help, but I’m not sure that is the answer.

Something that does help (in conjunction with medication) is therapy.

In terms of medications, I really think that it depends. A doctor will be able to understand a more detailed explanation. Are the thoughts intrusive? (come from nothing or a trigger and are distressing)

They kind of come out of no where. Like racing thoughts.

[*Laurie*]

Do you have a diagnosis?

[pat86]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Do you have a diagnosis?

Yes Bipolar, ADHD,

[88Butterfly88]

For obsessive thoughts an OCD med could help, such as Prozac or Luvox. Though given you are Bipolar maybe they could be stemming from mania and in that case a mood stabilizer may be better. You've got ADHD too, hmm. I don't have ADHD but they once tried Guanfacine for me because I couldn't focus due to intrusive thoughts. Guanfacine ended up making me hyper so I had to go off it but it likely wouldn't do that to someone with ADHD. Hard to say what the best thing to try first would be but I think you have options. Like TicTacGo said therapy may be helpful too. Also, you said past events. Are they traumatic events? If so you may want to try some PTSD treatment, whether it be therapy or meds.

[dsmith]

Originally Posted by pat86

Has anyone found medications helpful with obsessiveness / having past events replay in your head over and over again. Many times its things that you are angry about but not all the time. Sometimes its just past social situations that will replay in my mind over and over again along with racing thoughts.

I have read people say depakote helped them with these issues.

Can anyone share what meds have helped them with these issues?

I don't think there is any medication that would treat this per se, but rather cognitive behavioral therapy. I pulled up a bunch of articles on this topic - available here.

This is something I struggle with daily. I am constantly seized with guilt, regret, and shame about all the relationships I've ruined, jobs I've lost, and other embarrassing events. My therapist has provided me with a few tools for managing the problem. Chief among these is an "I Know That…" journal.

Basically, whenever I get stressed out I write down 5 things that I know are true (e.g., "I cooked breakfast this morning" or "I paid the bills this afternoon"). It helps me stay grounded, and adopt a clearer picture of what is taking place in the present.

There's also a technique called "mindfulness," in which we strive to remain in the present. Easier said than done for most of us. I've tried meditation, but it just doesn't work for me.

Hang in there - these are struggles that many of us face, and need to keep our heads high and continue trying to surmount.

[pat86]

Originally Posted by 88Butterfly88

For obsessive thoughts an OCD med could help, such as Prozac or Luvox. Though given you are Bipolar maybe they could be stemming from mania and in that case a mood stabilizer may be better. You've got ADHD too, hmm. I don't have ADHD but they once tried Guanfacine for me because I couldn't focus due to intrusive thoughts. Guanfacine ended up making me hyper so I had to go off it but it likely wouldn't do that to someone with ADHD. Hard to say what the best thing to try first would be but I think you have options. Like TicTacGo said therapy may be helpful too. Also, you said past events. Are they traumatic events? If so you may want to try some PTSD treatment, whether it be therapy or meds.

I think you are right a mood stabilizer would be helpful in addressing the racing thoughts and repetitive thoughts/obsessive thoughts.

[pat86]

Originally Posted by 88Butterfly88

For obsessive thoughts an OCD med could help, such as Prozac or Luvox. Though given you are Bipolar maybe they could be stemming from mania and in that case a mood stabilizer may be better. You've got ADHD too, hmm. I don't have ADHD but they once tried Guanfacine for me because I couldn't focus due to intrusive thoughts. Guanfacine ended up making me hyper so I had to go off it but it likely wouldn't do that to someone with ADHD. Hard to say what the best thing to try first would be but I think you have options. Like TicTacGo said therapy may be helpful too. Also, you said past events. Are they traumatic events? If so you may want to try some PTSD treatment, whether it be therapy or meds.

Originally Posted by dsmith

I don't think there is any medication that would treat this per se, but rather cognitive behavioral therapy. I pulled up a bunch of articles on this topic - available here.

This is something I struggle with daily. I am constantly seized with guilt, regret, and shame about all the relationships I've ruined, jobs I've lost, and other embarrassing events. My therapist has provided me with a few tools for managing the problem. Chief among these is an "I Know That…" journal.

Basically, whenever I get stressed out I write down 5 things that I know are true (e.g., "I cooked breakfast this morning" or "I paid the bills this afternoon"). It helps me stay grounded, and adopt a clearer picture of what is taking place in the present.

There's also a technique called "mindfulness," in which we strive to remain in the present. Easier said than done for most of us. I've tried meditation, but it just doesn't work for me.

Hang in there - these are struggles that many of us face, and need to keep our heads high and continue trying to surmount.

I think its more of a chemical imbalance issue due to my bipolar and not really a cognitive behavioral issue.

plus I am not good with the whole journaling thing

[still_crazy]

ssri, ssnri, and some tca drugs can help with ocd and ruminations. that may or may not be a good idea for you, that's really up to your shrink. im in a similar situation...i get the sense some luvox may be in my future. ugh.

[pat86]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

ssri, ssnri, and some tca drugs can help with ocd and ruminations. that may or may not be a good idea for you, that's really up to your shrink. im in a similar situation...i get the sense some luvox may be in my future. ugh.

I have tried SSRI's and SSNRIs and they just increase my mania or make my racing thoughts worse.

I am already on seroquel and it helps my mood, sleep and other things as well.

So the only thing left to try would be a mood stabilizer or anti convulsant

[cool09]

The hospital put me on Saphris (I don't know why) - it is suppose to be for obsessions.

[pat86]

Originally Posted by cool09

The hospital put me on Saphris (I don't know why) - it is suppose to be for obsessions.

thanks looks like its an atypical antiphycotic

[nataliepatricia6183]

I had the same problem. Take zoloft and abilify and don't have them anymore.

[pat86]

Originally Posted by nataliepatricia6183

I had the same problem. Take zoloft and abilify and don't have them anymore.

Thanks I can't take SSRI's because they make my mania worse.

Abilify is an antiphychotic I am already on Seroquel which is an anitphychotic don't know if my doctor will prescribe both at the same time.

Were you ever on Depakote? did you ever discuss it with your doctor?

[pat86]

bump hoping to get more input

[pat86]

Just to be clear:

-Can't take SSRI's,SNRIs, or anti depressants because they make my mania worse

-Already on lithium (mood stabilizer) and seroquel (atypical anti psychotic)

looking for something that will quite my mind and bring a stillness to it with no racing thoughts. I seem to get them every day and am getting tired of them.

[Mnby123]

have you herd of limictal? l i cant post the link but google limictal for adhd

[AspiringAuthor]

Originally Posted by pat86

I think its more of a chemical imbalance issue due to my bipolar and not really a cognitive behavioral issue.

plus I am not good with the whole journaling thing

A tiny dose of Topamax worked like magic for this. For me it is also a chemical issue and I am also not into CBT or journalling.

12.5 of Topamax (which I started taking to ameliorate weight gain from Zyprexa, my main bipolar med) softened these thoughts a lot.

25 mg of Topamax erased them altogether.

And come to think about it, it makes sense - if a common side effect of Topamax is that it slows down thoughts, causes an occasional word recall problem, then it would only be logical that it would stop racing thoughts. If my problem is thinking that is too fast, I need a medication that slows it down.

I did not expect this effect - it was sudden and welcome. I also started losing some of the weight I had gained on Zyprexa.

Stillness and calm, yay.

Originally Topamax is an anticonvulsant, so you do not have any counter-indications for it.

My only regret is that I had not started it years ago.

[pat86]

Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor

A tiny dose of Topamax worked like magic for this. For me it is also a chemical issue and I am also not into CBT or journalling.

12.5 of Topamax (which I started taking to ameliorate weight gain from Zyprexa, my main bipolar med) softened these thoughts a lot.

25 mg of Topamax erased them altogether.

And come to think about it, it makes sense - if a common side effect of Topamax is that it slows down thoughts, causes an occasional word recall problem, then it would only be logical that it would stop racing thoughts. If my problem is thinking that is too fast, I need a medication that slows it down.

I did not expect this effect - it was sudden and welcome. I also started losing some of the weight I had gained on Zyprexa.

Stillness and calm, yay.

Originally Topamax is an anticonvulsant, so you do not have any counter-indications for it.

My only regret is that I had not started it years ago.

I have thought about this medication to counter the weight gain I got from Seroquel.

I will ask my doctor about it perhaps I can kill two birds with one stone.

Only issue is I saw some people claiming it cause them to not be able to formulate their thoughts into words. Kind of made them stupid with mental slowness.

[pat86]

@Aspiring Author did it help with angry thoughts at all?

[AspiringAuthor]

Originally Posted by pat86

I have thought about this medication to counter the weight gain I got from Seroquel.

I will ask my doctor about it perhaps I can kill two birds with one stone.

Only issue is I saw some people claiming it cause them to not be able to formulate their thoughts into words. Kind of made them stupid with mental slowness.

Try starting with a slow dose and you may find a sweet spot where you have a positive effect without turning stupid. I would at times forget my train of thought but recover it within a minute, so it still does not make it stupid, but I am on a low dose - currently 27.5 mg.

It comes in tabs of 25 mg which you can halve.

It also comes in sprinkle caps of 15 mg which you open and sprinkle onto one tablespoon of applesauce and eat right away. So by combining them you can titrate up slowly and incrementally:

12.5 mg
15 mg
25 mg
27.5 mg
30 mg
37.5 mg
40 mg
45 mg
50 mg

Research shows that 50 mg was as effective at weight control as higher doses, so my hope is just to slowly climb to 50 mg and stay there.

Angry thoughts - I was wronged (subjectively) in the past by family members and people who claimed that they cared for me. Topamax made thoughts about how these people had wronged me pretty much disappear into the background.

Of course this does not mean that it would do the same for you, but it is worth trying. I deeply regret not trying Topamax earlier.

[still_crazy]

hi. i've recently been prescribed a low dose of gabapentin for this sorts of 'issues,' and...it helps. i might end up being prescribed a higher dose as an add-on 'mood stabilizer,' since im apparently "too prone to mania" for an antidepressant Rx.

lyrica is the new(er), more potent drug that's a lot like gabapentin, but its Schedule V controlled substance (to put this in perspective, amphetamines are Schedule II, Klonopin and friends are Schedule IV), its pricey, not generic, and...it can be dosed 2x per day, while gabapentin often requires 3x daily dosing.

there's also good ole benzodiazepines. I had a friendly acquaintance who was prescribed Klonopin to help simmer down, tame the OC-disease. He'd talk with me about it...he seemed kinda sedated and such at 3mgs/day, but then the shrink put him on something ridiculous...like 5 or 6mgs/day, and...

not so much. he's since tapered off, I think he does cbt. a friend's father has bipolar i, and his psych doc prescribes valium at a low dose for agitation and obsessions, and as needed restoril for night time use. klonopin seems more popular than valium, but valium is easier to taper. its also more sedating and i think it doesnt cause depression as often as Klonopin, but I could be wrong.

if its horribly awful and intolerable, maybe a low dose of an as-needed neuroleptic/antipsychotic? when i was not doing well, i had the option of taking a little bit of risperidone, at night, on top of my usual stuff. not ideal, but when i needed it, it did get the job done.

[pat86]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

hi. i've recently been prescribed a low dose of gabapentin for this sorts of 'issues,' and...it helps. i might end up being prescribed a higher dose as an add-on 'mood stabilizer,' since im apparently "too prone to mania" for an antidepressant Rx.

lyrica is the new(er), more potent drug that's a lot like gabapentin, but its Schedule V controlled substance (to put this in perspective, amphetamines are Schedule II, Klonopin and friends are Schedule IV), its pricey, not generic, and...it can be dosed 2x per day, while gabapentin often requires 3x daily dosing.

there's also good ole benzodiazepines. I had a friendly acquaintance who was prescribed Klonopin to help simmer down, tame the OC-disease. He'd talk with me about it...he seemed kinda sedated and such at 3mgs/day, but then the shrink put him on something ridiculous...like 5 or 6mgs/day, and...

not so much. he's since tapered off, I think he does cbt. a friend's father has bipolar i, and his psych doc prescribes valium at a low dose for agitation and obsessions, and as needed restoril for night time use. klonopin seems more popular than valium, but valium is easier to taper. its also more sedating and i think it doesnt cause depression as often as Klonopin, but I could be wrong.

if its horribly awful and intolerable, maybe a low dose of an as-needed neuroleptic/antipsychotic? when i was not doing well, i had the option of taking a little bit of risperidone, at night, on top of my usual stuff. not ideal, but when i needed it, it did get the job done.

I have been on risperidone can't take it anymore because it might cause man boobs. This showed up in a blood test.

I think the only medications left to take for racing thoughts/weight loss from APs would be an anti convolsant which would compliment the other two medications I am taking ( lithium and seroquel)

I want to stay away from anything that could be a controlled substance as I will be traveling internationally soon and some of those drugs can be illegal in other countries even though they are legal here.

[pat86]

Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor

Try starting with a slow dose and you may find a sweet spot where you have a positive effect without turning stupid. I would at times forget my train of thought but recover it within a minute, so it still does not make it stupid, but I am on a low dose - currently 27.5 mg.

It comes in tabs of 25 mg which you can halve.

It also comes in sprinkle caps of 15 mg which you open and sprinkle onto one tablespoon of applesauce and eat right away. So by combining them you can titrate up slowly and incrementally:

12.5 mg
15 mg
25 mg
27.5 mg
30 mg
37.5 mg
40 mg
45 mg
50 mg

Research shows that 50 mg was as effective at weight control as higher doses, so my hope is just to slowly climb to 50 mg and stay there.

Angry thoughts - I was wronged (subjectively) in the past by family members and people who claimed that they cared for me. Topamax made thoughts about how these people had wronged me pretty much disappear into the background.

Of course this does not mean that it would do the same for you, but it is worth trying. I deeply regret not trying Topamax earlier.

thanks I will ask my doctor about this. Sprinkle caps and titrate up