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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Mixed Episodes... and medication
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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Mixed Episodes... and medication
by sinnequan, Jan 22, 2002 12:00AM
after taking paxil, i experienced my first mixed episode (which including massive amounts of energy, hallucinations, and coginitve problems). i am in the midst of another one--- not sure why (racing racing thoughts about terrible things and risk taking behavior)--- i am on lithium (900 mg) and tegretol (40 Mg) and they are not helping me. i cannot take anti-psychotics-- they cause a type of "explosion" inside my head. i am still having memory/cognitive trouble and TERRIBLE DREAMS FOR MONTHS... (4 now-- every night.) is there something to help me besides lithium or tegretol? can you go higher than 900 mg of lithium? thank you.
fairydust
fairydust
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 24, 2002 12:00AM
, Jan 24, 2002 12:00AM
You should ask your doctor about possibly switching you to Depokote. It can replace both lithium( you are not at highest dose) and tegretol, and have a stronger therapeutic effect.
Member Comments (1)
by lowdownandup, Feb 02, 2002 12:00AM
There are several mood stablizers. I have been on three different ones. Depecote totally wiped me out. I was virtually paralized. Now I'm on Lamictal. It is nothing like the depacote. You just have to spin that wheel with your Doctor. I know how distressed you can be, just don't give up. There is a drug or combination that will help you.
by spiral red, Apr 13, 2002 12:00AM
Console yourself. There are also treatments that might help along with medication. I am completing my nursing degree and have recently been diagnosed as Bipolar. It's in the family. I am also on 900mg Lithium, 20mg Paxil and prn Clonazepam. I too, don't feel that the medications help as often or as much as I'd like. I experience rapid cycling manic phases and thus far we are still attempting to find solutions. Talk to your MD about cognitive behavioural therpay. It's supposed to be good.
by bipolarbear, May 19, 2002 12:00AM
I am so tired of this crazy illness that I am dealing with. All I can think of is killing myself but I know that I won't actually do it. I live in a world somewhere between life and death and I am scared of both. I am on 900 mg of lithium and they just took me off celexa because they think it was speeding me up. I am currentlytaking lorazepam to calm me down but all I can think of is slicing open my wrist and watching it bleed. My friends know what is going on but they just don't realize how far it's gone. I can't stand the thought of getting up each morning and I can't imagine how I am ever going to find a happynormal life ever again. I am 21 years old and I have dropped out of school. How will I ever find a job that I like that I can be good at when I am so unreliable. How will I ever find someone that I can love that can deal with all of this. I feel like my friends are beginning to tire of it all. I have tried so manythings to get better and I am at my ropes end. Is this the bipolar life?? I feel edgy all the time antsy and unable to concentrate. I can't sleep but when I do fall asleep I can't wake up. Could someone tell me what a mixed episode is and if I am having one?
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