bipolar III

[skicolorado]

hi, I am  33 years old, female.  At the age of 18 or 19, I had what I
would describe as a panic attack.  I saw a doctor and was prescribed
effexor.  For me, effexor was an amazing drug that helped me
tremendously.  I was on a low dose too, 75 mg, daily.  However,
shortly after finishing my under gradate studies, at the age of 22, I
fell from my parents medical insurance.  I could no longer afford to
take the effexor and had to stop.  My doctor replaced it with a more
affordable drug, generic Zoloft.  Zoloft worked well for me, but never
really compared to the most excellent benefit(s) I had with effexor.
Eventually, after finishing college, I found a job and had insurance
again.  I tried to go back on the effexor simply because it worked
better.  Well, after returning to the effexor, it did not work nearly
as well as it had and also caused a rather strange side effect it had
not the first time:  Tinnitus (spelling).  I felt defeated as well as
disappointed.  I was again struggling with panic, depression, anxiety,
ocd.  Eventually, and I can not give you a specific time frame, but
probably around 28 years old, the doctor suggested cymbalta.  I tried
this and it worked.  Again, not as well as the effexor, but well
enough.  I am now 33 years old and sometime last spring (2009) the
cymbalta stopped working.  I don't have an explanation for this, which
is fine.  I started to see a different psycharist who also is a
pharmacologist (spelling).  I started seeing her this past June
(2009).  I continue to see her.  She believes that I have cyclothymia
(spelling) and has  made and articulated her suggestions.  Very
professional, very clear.  You might wonder, then, well why am I
e-mailing you?  I suppose I am looking for some reassurance.  I
understand that only 1% of the nation's population has this (mental)
illness.  Per the doctor's exlanation, it fits.  It makes sense that I
have this.  I suppose my disappointment comes in wondering if the
wrong treatment has been used these past 14 years.  My questions are
the following:
(1)  Are the drugs used for this illness safe?  I am particularly
curious about Lamictal (spelling).
(2)  Is it possible, at this stage, that I will eventually develop
bipolar? Is having or being diagnosed with cyclothymia a precurser to
bipolar?
(3) Book or books you might suggest?  Questions I should be asking?

Thank you, in advance, for reading my rather lengthy email, both
history and questions.
Regards from "trying to get well".

[opus88]

hi there...I too have been dx'd with cycothymia after years of being treated for only depression..Hensly iscorrect it is a milder form of Bipolar and I don't believe this should advance to full blown bipolar.
I have been seeing a P-doc/psychopharmacologist for years and he is greatly respected in his field of Bipolar diagnosis and treatment.
he also treats my son who is BP2.
I have been on Lamictal for approx 2 years, this is a mood stabilizer and I do admit it helps alot...by no means a cure all!
I do get less agitated and moody, and have had no side effects that I can link specifically on this medication(because I also take other medications not assoc. with cycothymia)  I do have mild hair loss and mild twitching and both CAN be a side effect., therefore I am monitoring and will speak with my P-doc abt in my Jan. appt.
There is a forum for BP and I have received valuable info on this site for BP medications...if you need more help than we have given.
I haven't found any books, I rely mostly on this site for personal experiences, You can also google and find some links there.
good luck..keep posting and let us know how you are making out.

[Hensley258]

Cyclothymia is really just another form of Bi-polar that does not fit the catagory or exact symptoms of Bi-polar 1 or 2.

In a sense you could think of it as a "mild type of bi-polar" because the low part of the cycle is supposed to "less low" that that of a person with full blown Bi-polar.

That not to say that this is not a devistating illness for you, which I'm sure it is.
You ask "can it manifest into full blown Bi-polar." Good question and honestly I don't know.

Not a lot is known about Cyclothymia so I wouldn't want to guess on that one.
As for he drugs to treat it.... Lamictal (Lamotragine) and Lithium Carbonate are two. (I'm sure there are others also such as Zyprexa)

A lot of times a Psychiatrist will also add an antidepressant to those two drugs.
I take both Lamictal and Lithium and don't have a problem with them, but you may. It all depends on the individual and how well you tolerate medication.

It sounds like you have a good P-doc. You say she is both a Psychiatrist and a Psychopharmocologist? That is great for you. Your lucky to have a P-doc with that extra traning. She will get your meds adjusted rite for you. It just takes time.