Advice/Support Needed

This is a long and detailed post; but, I figured the more info the better. I have minor ocd, panic, ptsd, schizo-affective disorder: bipolar type (mix of symptoms from schizophrenia and bipolar), and borderline personality disorder. The only psych meds I'm on are: lamictal (300 mg total), and cymbalta (60 mg); other than that, I am on a few others: birth control, heart burn, and for heart issues due to a previous allergic reaction to clozaril. I have noticed a large increase in sex drive. Varying sleep patterns, decreased appetite. I have a lot of great advice, humor, compassion, and am helping others in general in absolutely anything possible but mostly in support and something summed up the best as something similar to counseling. I don't think the last thing is at all a bad part and I've always wanted to help others period. I am puting a lot of my ideas and what not into action and accomplishing quite a bit. I feel like I have a purpose in life and am finally working on gathering things up and writing things down to incorporate in a book which I intend to publish when I get done with it; which is a long ways away and intended to write and publish a book since I was very young; so, that is not a big change. I am not delusional or psychotic at all (a good thing). I am finally really accomplishing things a lot and feel very productive and like I'm really helping people deal with their problems. The sexual promiscuity may at some point become a bit risky as far as contracting something or being vulnerable to attack as I live alone.

My questions:
1. Is an increased sex drive ever a side effect of psych meds?

2. Does it sound like I am manic and if so, is this a big problem?
My pdoc has done a lot of work with me over the years starting with work with him in the hospital and got into his private practice and have been there for several years now. He said he was prescribing to me an antidepressant because I was severely, severely depressed for so very long. (I underwent numerous treatments including quite a few antidepressants, antipsychotics, a few anxiety meds, and ECT). He put me on an antidepressant saying that he would rather see me a bit manic than being extremely suicidal constantly. I do smoke pot ocassionally and in small amounts. It helps me relax enough that I am able to take the edge off the incredible amount of pain I've been dealing with the past few weeks. I've been having debilitating headaches which the doc says is due to tension and stress. She said I have arthiritis; but, has not done any tests for it. I have a lot of muscle spasms but she's not willing to prescribe a muscle relaxer she told me because of potential fatigue (I feel she won't for fear of being liable if I were to self injure for whatever reason). Nor am I on any meds for anxiety or depression. Although I am told that THC (by my eye doc) is good for your eyes by lowering the pressure, as I have retina-opathy (increasing retina detachment- which in my case will most likely cause blindness eventually).

3. Having read the above statement: which is the lesser of the two evils? Meaning is it better to be manic than being non-responsive to treatment for extreme depression?

4. Are there any "safe" ways to treat panic attacks or anxiety? Are there any "safe" treatments or meds like some sort of minor sedative/tranquilizer or muscle relaxers? I feel miserable often, physcially. Please note: I experience panic attacks of varying intensity.

** Any support or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone!
--Danielle

Hi double! I will address #4 if that's ok.

In the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder forum there is a sticky post on "grounding." I think you will find many "safe" ways to lessen the effects of a panic attack. Don't rush it though, it will work with time.

Hi evildouble102, I doubt the increased sex drive is a side effect of the meds. Maybe you are just feeling better. I can't really comment on too much of the other stuff. I don't deal with mania...I am not saying you are manic. I am just not familiar with those issues. Maybe some others can help you out more.

The increased sex drive is a classic symptom of mania & since you have the insight to realize it may lead to risky, irresponsible or dangerous behavior I think you should talk to your doc & "nip it in the bud" before it leaves to some behavior that you regret.

A "little" mania certainly is preferable to the crushing depression that leads to suicide attempts (have had way too much of that myself). BUT I didn't realize (& think your doc might need to re-evaluate this if you are having other symptoms such as not sleeping, racing thoughts, reckless spending of money, etc.--just look up the symptoms of mania & see if you have them, maybe not "full blown" as in hypo mania) even hypo mania (a "little" mania) can be dangerous.

I went 5 mos. of sleeping only a couple hours a night, had incredible energy, felt GREAT (after so long with low self-worth this was such a welcome relief), spending money on things like an $800 vacuum cleaner, gold-plated tweezers (surely a necessity!), hundreds of dollars in a matter of hours in a discount store, etc.

So I had been stable for 5 years previously (bipolar 1) & was only going to see my doc every 8-12 mos. due to doing so well. I didn't report the hypo mania. I just enjoyed it. Then SUDDENLY I crashed & overdosed (hadn't done that in years & thought I would never do such a thing again), ended up in the ER, etc.

It's been 1 1/2 years since the OD & I'm still trying to recover. Meds being adjusted. Therapy started up again. Now I have to report if I go 3 nights without at least 6 hours of sleep (take meds to knock me out as I do not sleep very easily now).

I'm seeing my doc every 2-4 weeks as meds are being worked on. Right now on my ins. form she puts my dx as mixed--moderate which is right on the money. I'm still having symptoms of mania but can cry easily & feel very shaky as far as self-esteem.

I guess I'm just trying to say a "little" mania in my case turned out to be very dangerous as it led to a sudden crash & OD.

Talk to your doc & continue to educate yourself. You have good insight & that is more than half the battle as far as I am concerned.--Suzy