Meds for Bi-polar ll?

[Hensley258]

Does anyone have any experience with Bi-polar ll and the medications which are used to treat it?

It appears that for many years I may have been mis-diagnosed as strictly "Uni-polar" but I am having a lot of difficulty controling my depression with just AD's because I get a bit Hypomanic, which results in severe agitation, steady high anxiety and bursts of agitated uncomfortable energy.

I have an appointment with my P-doc tomorrow. he has mentioned this possible Bi-polar ll component before, but I always said, "rubbish" because I don't get uporic type mania highs, but rater a down irritable type of hypomania.

I am starting to see what he ment by saying I may have some minor Bi-polar ll component to my Depression, which might explain why I am having such a rough time with just AD meds now.

What are some of the meds used to treat this different sort of Bi-polar? Are they specific for Bi-polar ll or used for both l & ll?

This Bi-polar ll thing is new teritory for me which is why I have questions.

Regards.

[Hensley258]

My P-doc actually said Limictal is a great Bi-polar ll drug, AS LONG AS I DON'T GET THE DEADY RASH THEY TALK ABOUT. he said if I get even a spot of it to stop and call him ASAP. He is starting me at very low dosage at first.

I should be fine because I tolerate medication very well, it's my run away Severe anxiety and depression that I can't tolerate.

Thanks. Plus Zyprexa is an anti-psychotic and getting that DDPP sydrome thing from it scares me more that the deadly rash from Lamicatal.

Pick your poison, looks like they both have issues related to health.

Thanks.

[bernie40]

I think this just proves the point that different medications work differently for different people.  All medications have side effects, and it is unfortunately a matter of trial and error to find the correct one.  I hope Hensley that you hit lucky with the first one!

:-)

[therese83]

Just to confuse you even more!
I asked my Doctor for lamictal and she said that she had many bad experiences with it.  A very low dose of zyprexa works wonders for me.  Especially if sleep is a problem.
Now it is a drug that you read a lot of bad things about, but it saved me and started working very quickly.  But at a very low dose  2.5 mg or some people can get by with less.  though obviously people with more serious illness take a lot more.

[bernie40]

I'm glad the docs put you on a good one - it would be the one I forgot to mention - haha.  I have heard good things about it, its not one that I have personally tried.

I would definitely advise keeping a mood tracker so that you can monitor any changes with regard to your low moods, especially as these are more bothersome to you.  High anxiety is not a good feeling, I can relate to that as it is a state I frequently get in when I am not on meds - I'm heading a bit that way at the moment as I am yet again inbetween meds.

Mmmmm mint choc chip ice-cream - now that is my favourite!!  Try sucking a mint instead and drink an ice cold water whilst it is in your mouth so you get a real hit of the mint.  May help ward off the craving.  :-)

All the best.

Dozer (that is so very apt as I am a very sleepy person, a lot of the time, lol)

[done4good]

I take lamictal and it does help me quite a bit in addition to my AD. Reading your definition of Bipolar II makes me wonder if that is what I have. My NP told me that lots of unipolar take lamictal so I never considered that I was BP II...didn't really know much about it.
My mom was BP I and had the euphoric highs and very very lows so I always figured there was no way I was BP cuz I NEVER had the euphoria.
I've also self-medicated w/drugs and alcohol which of course was not the answer.

Good luck w/the Lamictal. How much did they put you on? I am at 100 mgs.
d

[Hensley258]

Good info Dozer, thanks.

I saw my P-doc today and he said he has seen Lamictal work very well for this Soft or Bi-polar ll type of agitated anxiety based depression. He's trying me on that, slow at first.

Correct you are; No doubt I will have to keep taking my AD medication. I get way too low without it. This damn ultra high anxiety needs to get in check though. Hoping Lamictal will level me out a bit.

My AD is Mertazapine. Working ok so far, except that I want to eat 10 gallons of Blue Bell ice creame a day on this ****. Swear to God, Mint Chocolate chip ice cream is like frozen crack cocaine to me now. Must fight urge!

[bernie40]

Hi,

There are many different medications used in the treatment of Bipolar I and II.  I think the only difference between the two is that with Bipolar I there is more chance of the requirement of an anti-psychotic - although these are also used for BP II.  Confused?  Don't be!  Here are a few that I have tried, or have been suggested.  There are slight differences between your country and mine and the generic names for which I apologise.

Depakote - this is a mood stabilizer also known as sodium valproate - originally used in the treatment of seizures it has proved effective in both BP I and II

Lithium - this has been around for many years and you have probably heard of it.  Particuarly effective but also comes with numerous side effects and has to be carefully monitored in the blood.  Over here (in the UK) this is used less often than it was.

Carbamazepine (Tegretol) - This has also been around a fair while and so an awful lot of research has been done on it.  Side effects are not as extreme as other medications.

Mertazapine - I don't know much about this one and don't think it is necessarily a common one in the treatment of BP, but it was one I tried.

Topomax - This is licensed in America for the treatment of BP, I have read that it is particularly effective in BPII - it is also used for the treatment of severe migraine.

Seroquel - This is an anti-psychotic - however it is also effective in helping with anger (apparently).

There are many more but the names escape me right now.  The thing with BP is it can take time to find the right medication to suit the individual.  It is also common for a "cocktail" of meds to be required.

It sounds like you have what is known as "soft" BP, ie, you tend to lean more towards depression so I would think you would need to continue with an AD alongside any mood stabilizer.  I have found, however, that some mood stabilizers send my mood even lower - hence why I am still not settled on a medication.

There is a very good website which you may like to look at, this was brought to my attention by someone else on here - www.mcmanweb.com  This is written by John Mcman, himself a sufferer of BP.  It is very informative.

Good luck with your appointment.