Bi-Polar and Affective Disorder

Recently my T and I have been looking at the posibility of a new treatment goal. My question is can you have both Bi-Polar and Affective Disorder I currently take 900mg..of Lithium Clolzapan 0.5mg.3x daily and 100mg.of Seroquil at night. In looking at some lit. I display 95 % of the symptoms. of Affective Disorder. What will this mean for my recovery. I feel like this new information explains why I have continued to struggle and why it's so hard for me to stay stable.I cried my eyes out today as I was reading because it was meall over the place Part of me is elated to have this info the other part is terrified So anyone with this experience  or something simmular Please  get back to me...Thanks   ..Freebird

[monkeyc]

Ok now worries.

What does your psychiatrist say as per the diagnosis?  Do they think this is Affective Disorder or not?

Thats a good first question - I admit to knowing nothing about Affective Disorder so I will go and read something ok and see if anything makes sense.

[monkeyc]

Umm which affective disorder sorry?  Bipolar is a form of affective disorder under DSM-IV criteria..

[dippy1]

My undertanding is that "Affective disorders" is the umbrella term , means "mood disorders" ie BP , depression, and all those in between. Thus BP is an affective disorder, but not all affective disorders are BP.

[freebird227]

I realized after reading some more that Bi-Polar is  Yes an affective Disorder. What we're looking at would be in the arena of  of  major depressive disorder W/ Bi-Polar Does that help

[monkeyc]

Major Depressive Disorder and BP could co-exist but as the symptoms of both overlap its hard to say, this is the problem in that there are so many things out there on the web which can flat out contradict.

Major Depressive disorder or as we might call it unipolar depression is a discrete diagnosis different from bipolar.  If you look however at the symptoms of both there are large areas of overlap and in fact many many bipolars are first diagnosed as unipolar if presenting in a down state - I was diagnosed as such and given Prozac for my depression which was very bad idea.

Its entirely possible to be Bipolar and fit all of the symptoms of unipolar depression and more so if depression is your most common state - major depressive episodes happen to many many bipolar's during their lives - my last one lasted nearly 3 years for example.

Now I am not a doctor ok but your medications are interesting to me.

You take Lithium which is a mood stabiliser and its effective on both phases; you take Seroquel which is another mood stabiliser - is this for sleep? Whats the other one?  Colazapine? Colazapan?  

I just do not see an anti depressant in your mix and if you are in a major depression place thats the first step from my mind.

[therese83]

Hello

I wish you the best.  You do sound depressed.  I think if you are crying your eyes out over something then you need to go back to your doctor.  

also the treatment you are on is not working for you and you are not happy as you are still looking for answers.

You deserve to feel OK at least.
Best wishes

[therese83]

Hello

I wish you the best.  You do sound depressed.  I think if you are crying your eyes out over something then you need to go back to your doctor.  

also the treatment you are on is not working for you and you are not happy as you are still looking for answers.

You deserve to feel OK at least.
Best wishes

[LeftCoastChick]

For either disorders, I don't think you are adequately medicated, just from my personal experiences. If you have anxiety and/or hypomania in any of it's forms, taking only 100mgs a day of Seroquel wouldn't suffice, as well, higher doses may allow you to drop the Clonazepam, the Clolzapan was probably a typo, but the med dose for Clonazepam sounds about right.  Lithium is a good MS, but if you have active depression it usually isn't enough and another MS is added. In my own opinion, I don't think there is a need to suffer to the great lengths that it seems you are. See your pdoc asap, and keep in touch.

[cowgirlnerd]

I have bipolar 1 with major depressive and psychotic episodes.  Maybe freebird is having mixed episodes with major depression being the main trigger.

This month, I have to go back to the pdoc for a meds check and I think he will be putting me on another dosage of some sorts to deal with my depression.  He is adamant that the Lamictal will level me out - but the depression gets rough.  LCC and I have talked about the Seroquel, and he and I will be talking about that and to see what we have going on with depression.  It (depression) can be a big booger and, honestly, it's always scary to me.

Freebird - what's going on to make you think you have additional issues? - not doubting you - just wondering.  Sometimes a little insight like experiences, episodes, etc., can help us (especially monkeyc, bulldozer and LCC) give some insight on what's going on and might give you a little more concrete avenues to research.  Trust me - there's isn't anything that can shock us - what's going on?

Rach

[freebird227]

Please excuse my grammer I speak better than I can spell. To:Cowgirlnerd Your first paragraph is who I am.Recently during the month of Nov. and Dec. I was in an elevated state mood wise. My grandson had brain surgery. ( All is well ) I was his care giver for two weeks and when he went home right b-fore Christmas I noticed my mood was slowing down. I finished out the holidays in my confort zone. But it didn't stop there  I got sick went to the emergancy room and now we have a six thousand dollar  bill to pay. Well I dropped lower,,feeling guilty and like a burden. Now I don't want to be here  being here hurts to much.The pain goes so deep into my soul that I am all consumed not being able to see a way out of this horror. These feelings are not new to me I've known them most of my adult life.   I tale Seroquil mainly for sleep but I do benifit from it the next day, At least I thought I did. I don't believe anyone should feel as bad as I do with being on meds for 7 years. I don't drink or do dope and I am very med compliant My home life is rather stable.I'm married to an Italian so sometimes we get in a P----match but not often. We attend church.Good family relationships. It's me  something is terribly wrong with me it always has been  Ihave fantasy of hurting my self but Inever would.I feel so flawed so worthless so utterly pathetic

[cowgirlnerd]

Lady - you have your hands full - that's for sure!  Sometimes, I think it's the bipolar that has kept me going at times...anyone else would never be able to handle the crisis.  

My heart goes out to you on your grandson.  I hope all is well with him now.

What you are describing the bipolar with major and psychotic depression is very very frustrating.  If you need to vent - just let me know, I know how horrifying it is.  

Don't give into the fantasy - my suicidal ideations started with fantasy then one day I acted upon them - very quickly.  The pain of all my issues was excruciating and I just started swallowing things.  Just be careful.  

Here if you need me!
Rach