BP and Panic anyone?

So I've been diagnosed as bipolar nos (not sure if 1 or 2, but my doc is leaning toward2), general anxiety, and Adhd nos). I would have to say that my anxiety is the biggest culprit in my mood swings and controls my life to no end, which I know I should probably put this in the anxiety board...but I have been trying so many meds for the bipolar it has been driving my anxiety through the roof! I first tried lamictal and got the rash, so that was a no go. Then went on abilify. Seemed to help until my doc took me off of my celexa, lowered my topamax and increased the abilify to 15. I was crawling out of my skin, rapid cycling, angry, depressed, etc. I also take klonopin .5 two times a day and dexedrine for add. Now i decreased the abilify to 10, went up a little on the topamax (which i could tell within hours i felt calmer), and started lexapro. Unfortunately I'm only a week into the lexapro and my anxiety is still pretty high. I don't know what to do, since I'm an exotic dancer and a dj and I get panic attacks on stage and really anxious in crowds. I have a lot of opportunities as far as dj residencies coming up and i don't want to mess them up. Honestly I feel fine in the morning until I take my abilify. At first when it was added to my cocktail i think it helped, but now it makes me feel like i want to crawl out of my skin and gives me added anxiety. I've been on it well over a month so any start up side effects would be gone. I'm thinking about asking my doc about buspar because the klonopin doesn't even seem to help. I just feel like i'm in constant panic mode. It really sucks. I can't feel like this...like...i have stuff i have to do. I only have so much in my savings account. If i don't work, i don't make money. I'm starting to get a little worried about it. He's concerned about putting me on anything that might make me manic but honestly the lexapro has yet to do that to me...if anything I'm still slightly depressed. I know it's only going into week two and that's why. Just wanted to know if others out there deal with panic and anxiety along with their bipolar.

Hello!


Sorry to hear about all the troubles you have been having . Stay strong (easier said then done)!


I have just about the exact some diagnosis BP2, adhd, panic disorder. All the meds work different for everyone but here is what i take.
Prozac 60mg
lamictal 200mg
methylin ER 10mg 3xday
klonopin .5mg x x2 a day
buspar 10mg 2 x a day

So far this seems to be a good mix, I have also had increased anxiety lately so i'm going to ask the pdoc to up my dose of klonopin. I never noticed any difference when i started taking the buspar, so i can't really recommend it, but it may help and I just don't realize it.

The quickest relief for anxiety would be a benzo (klonopin, xanax, valium etc) So if klonopin isn't doing the trick, perhaps try another (I've had phases where klonopin did nothing and switched to xanax for awhile. The only other thing I would suggest is, try not to change many meds at once, I had each of my meds added one at a time, about each month, just to keep tabs on side effects, and if the med is even helpful.

I hope you feel better soon, and find what you need to feel better!

Thanks for your concern justin. I think my anti-depressant just starting kicking in, so my anxiety has gone down a lot. I've been feeling a lot more stable too. Not manic, not depressed... just a lighter mood overall. My doc lowered my abilify to 5mg, which seems to reduce my anxiety (i'm pretty sure that was a culprit). It's hard to tell because I've been going on and off so many things. My doctor just increased my klonopin too until my lexapro really starts kicking in and that has helped tremendously for my physical side effects. I think since my mood has been more stable for at least the last week or so my anxiety has gone down. I know for me, when my moods are unstable my anxiety goes up. Also the add gives me anxiety, but a lot of the drugs that they give increase that too...or make me manic. Dexedrine is the only things that has done neither, though I'm on a really small dose. It's such a pain to manage. I look at it this way though...i am definitely a much more interesting person because of these illnesses. If i can tackle these things things in my head, I can conquer a lot of things in life. Just sayin.

I'm so glad to hear that things are going better for you! The meds certainly are confusing and frustrating. My psychiatrist works my meds like this. I give him the top 3 feelings/moods (anxiety, motivation, sleep etc) just to help keep things organized and focused. and start peeling the layers as some symptoms clear up.

I feel similar when my moods start to shift, the anxiety really kicks in and seems to dominate all the other symptoms or just make everything i feel worse.. Its a lot to handle and cope with. Once I feel the shift I have to see my doc asap, as the longer i wait, the more resistant i become about going to the doc.

Just gotta ask, the Dexedrine is it an extended release version? I have had so much better results taking the extended release, helps keep things balanced and steady. I feel a bit worried about my methylin ER dose size, but it helps, its the smallest effective amount, any less its not really worth it.

Bipolar sure gives us a different view of the world. But it offers a benefit "normal" people don't experience, we've been to places in our heads, feel and sense things, that "normal" people don't even know exist.

I like you're positive attitude! Just going to the doctor and seeking help takes a lot of strength and will power, you are helping yourself way more then you realize, you are doing the work, be very proud of yourself! And you will tackle these things you're working on, if one doc stops being useful move on! I had a few doc's before i found one I liked working with.

You're gonna do great! Don't think any other way! I wish you the best!