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I always wondered why Pdocs didn't want BP IIs to have stimulants to awaken their depression. I asked my last Pdoc why I couldn't have Ritalin? It made you have energy, focus, and weight loss.
She said that for a Bipolar it was a stimulant and would cause a hypomanic/manic spell along with a depressive spell to hit at the same time.
This would cause, for example, someone to say "Oh I think it would be fun to run out into the middle of I-40 during rush hour, wouldn't that be great?" (hypomanic/manic/impulsive)
Then the depressed side would kick in at the same exact time and go "Oh why the heck (nice word) shouldn't I? Life is a beech anyway." and therefore, cause a BP to actually do something they normally wouldn't.
You should also not drink a Starbuck's coffee and eat a cinnamon twist at the sametime neither, I found out this morning early. Talk about racing thoughts and buzzing on the ceiling. Whew!
Oh and especially if you are me and haven't slept well in several weeks. Not good folks! I wanted energy but not all at the exact same time and to the intensity it is. (actually I am having to go back and correct words as I type cause me fingers can't seem to hit the keys).
I normally get that eventually with my "up" side but today - I just didn't need it to be suddenly out of blue at the exact same time ( Usually it is a gradual increasing thing over a few hours or day or so).
Now I am awaiting the caffeine and sugar fallout which will probably be hitting me in a few minutes. Oh joy and glee for me (sarcastic).
My pdoc put me on Ritalin 5 mg twice a day but said she planned to d/c it...no explanation. i went to my fdoc and told him it made me feel "normal". I have been on it for 6 mos. along with my BPII meds and I am doing fine.
I was first diagnosed with Add and Anxiety so I'm on Brand name Ritalin 10mg 4x daily. (Generic is nastyfor me!) And Xanax .5 mg 2 times daily.
My doctor doubles the dose so that I pay less for my RX. I'm self employed. No Mental Health coverage. Grrrr!
We always thought I may be bipolar but I felt not serious enough to experiment with expensive meds. especially while in job transitions.
Utimately tried Lamictal. The first time we went up to the max dose reccomended. Bad! Couldn't think, dxylexia, tremmors. Funny thing is I felt great on 25 mg almost immediately.
So now I'm on 25 to 50 mg daily and doing fine. (Still some memory problems)
As to the question of stimulants. Why the H not! They are known to relieve depression.
I don't think I could make it to work on time if it wern't for the Ritalin due to the insomnia with the bi-polar.
Puritanical America! Heaven forbid we might take a drug that makes us feel good!
By the way the Ritalin does not cause me to loose weight nor does it effect my appetite. I wish!
Perhaps because I am really Add?
Here's a tip. I had my MD prescribe the Lamictal and he had no problem. Since it's written by an MD and is actually for seizures it slides through my health insurance at 45.00 co-pay. Other wise couldn't afford it at all!
(Does this thing have spell check? Sure could use it.)
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jenna,
I've now asked 2 pdocs about Ritalin since my post and they wouldn't prescribe me non either. Same reason as the 1st one. It would throw me into a manic spell and well we wouldn't want me to have all that energy with no idea what to do with it. (sarcasm) So instead I'm barely able to get up, move as slow as a slug, can barely do any housework, and sit on the couch staring out the window for sometimes hours. Yet still have to go to work, function, and breathe. I'm almost on the verge of getting something over the counter or illegal at this point. Just to feel good and have the energy to burn if not to just move. The stuff they prescribe all causes side effects of drowsiness, sluggishness, exhaustion, and most are actually depressants (ie., Klonopin, Ativan, Seroquel, Risperdal, Lithium, etc..). Funny, they want to ease depression by giving you something that well.. can cause depression. So much better than hypomania or mania.
