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twosugartea · 15-12-2011, 11:18 PM

Apparently I'm hypomanic. My doctor is changing my diagnosis from schizophrenia & BPD to bipolar, he said he's suspected it for a long time, he just hadn't seen me have a severe episode yet & that it can be confusing when symptoms overlap, hence my old diagnosis.

I'm scared, I'm scared even though he said the prognosis is better. I'm scared that I'm going to be like this forever, constantly swinging from high to low. This is an irritable hypomania, racing thoughts, not being able to sleep & feeling like rubbish. I've self-harmed the worst ever in the last two days, and thats after ten years of it. I have been to a specialist burns unit, I may have to stay inpatient there for treatment if it doesn't get better. I'm scared that I'm capable of doing this to myself. I'm scared that I'll get sectioned, even though I made the manager of the early intervention promise that I wouldn't. She promised on the proviso that I see the crisis team, great, because I've got on so well with them in the past :\ except not. And for me, crisis team ALWAYS ends in hospital. Always. They corner me.

Anyway, apologies for the rant. Medication question
My doctor has decreased my venlafaxine by 150mg. Will this have side effects? He's doubled my abilify to 20mg, I fear this will only add to the irritation. He's given me 2mg of clonazepam to take a day, will I be super sleepy all the time, and is it addictive & in what dose/time frame?

FINALLY:
He wants to start me on topiramate. I swear it's not even liscensed for bipolar, but apparently it helps. If not that, then lithium. Does anyone have any experience of either?

Thank you.

15-12-2011, 11:18 PM	#1
twosugartea a cup of tea, and me Join Date: Jul 2011	Hypomania & Medication stuff Apparently I'm hypomanic. My doctor is changing my diagnosis from schizophrenia & BPD to bipolar, he said he's suspected it for a long time, he just hadn't seen me have a severe episode yet & that it can be confusing when symptoms overlap, hence my old diagnosis. I'm scared, I'm scared even though he said the prognosis is better. I'm scared that I'm going to be like this forever, constantly swinging from high to low. This is an irritable hypomania, racing thoughts, not being able to sleep & feeling like rubbish. I've self-harmed the worst ever in the last two days, and thats after ten years of it. I have been to a specialist burns unit, I may have to stay inpatient there for treatment if it doesn't get better. I'm scared that I'm capable of doing this to myself. I'm scared that I'll get sectioned, even though I made the manager of the early intervention promise that I wouldn't. She promised on the proviso that I see the crisis team, great, because I've got on so well with them in the past :\ except not. And for me, crisis team ALWAYS ends in hospital. Always. They corner me. Anyway, apologies for the rant. Medication question My doctor has decreased my venlafaxine by 150mg. Will this have side effects? He's doubled my abilify to 20mg, I fear this will only add to the irritation. He's given me 2mg of clonazepam to take a day, will I be super sleepy all the time, and is it addictive & in what dose/time frame? FINALLY: He wants to start me on topiramate. I swear it's not even liscensed for bipolar, but apparently it helps. If not that, then lithium. Does anyone have any experience of either? Thank you.
twosugartea a cup of tea, and me Join Date: Jul 2011	And at once I knew, I was not magnificent...