Posted by Tomatheus on July 20, 2006, at 23:50:39
In reply to Re: bipolar anger » SLS, posted by ciaolavida on July 20, 2006, at 17:35:22
Ciaolavida,
For what it's worth, lithium made me *extremely* angry when I took it as monotherapy. I was partially responsive and only moderately anxious when I took lithium with Wellbutrin. I was doing this for about a year. But at some point I couldn't afford the Wellbutrin anymore and decided to stop taking it. For a few weeks after discontinuing the Wellbutrin, I felt basically the same as I did when I was taking both the lithium and the Wellbutrin. Slowly, but surely, though, my anxiety ended up going through the roof, and my anger was uncontrollable (note: I am not normally like this).
My diagnoses (for the record) have been dysthymia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder - recurrent.
For some patients with a bipolar diagnosis, lithium works extraordinarily well. But this is not the case for everyone. More specifically, I have read that lithium tends to be more effective in those who experience relatively long-lasting episodes of endogenous mania and depression than those who are "rapid cyclers." Of course, that doesn't meant that there necessarily can't be any exceptions. I guess I'm just trying to say that it's important to understand that lithium is not universally effective in everybody with a "bipolar" diagnosis.
As far as your anger goes, to what extent has your anger worsened since you started taking lithium? I'm not saying that the lithium is *definitely* the culprit, but if your anger became noticeably worse right after you started taking the lithium, it *could* be the culprit, and I think it's definitely something that you should talk to your doctor about.
I hope this helps some.
Tomatheus
> I am about to have a SERIOUS talk with my doctor next week about the drugs I'm on. Lithium and lamictal. Ok, fine lithium for the mania. Yes, I need it. Is it working? Not really, but I'm just now on night 2, 900 mg. Lamictal for depression... I'm at 300 mg. Is it working? Absolutely not. The cycling has gotten so fast SO fast I think it's just starting to mix together. Anger on the way up, anger on the way down. I'm just ANGRY! And I'm not getting anything for rapid cycling and I'm not getting anything for anger. If I could just be only depressed for a few weeks or only manic for a few weeks then OK fine I could handle that, but this I CANNOT HANDLE.!!>!!
poster:Tomatheus
thread:668683
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060717/msgs/668842.html