Evening agitation

Greetings all,

I'm back from my very long absence which can only mean that I've lost the plot a bit and need to share things.

I've had a very long, delightful hypomania that's lasted about 3-4 weeks. I haven't slept properly since the last week of January. It was all triggered by listening to my favourite musician of all time...except that I listened to it ALL NIGHT and have been skipping off to work on 2-3hrs sleep feeling fabulous. Etc. Etc. Etc.

This could be a long story but I'll do my best. I'm making my way back to earth with a few days of feeling very low of course. My sleeping pattern is destabilised totally, the long-trusted sleeping pills don't work and once my lab work is back I'll have a total meds overhaul. But my biggest problem right now is agitation and irritability. I cannot concentrate. By the evening, I'm pacing around. I sit down, and my legs have to be moving.

Given that I deliver healthcare for a living, it's been agreed that I don't go to work until I'm more stable. This also makes me furious although I agree with it.

The problem is this - it'd help a lot if I could spend time each day burning off energy by gardening, walking, and especially hitting the gym. But I can't concentrate enough to put something together. And other people are annoying me so much right now that it can be hard not to yell at them on the street. Absolutely no tolerance.

So what do you do about night-time agitation? And how do I square the circle of needing to burn things off but not having the tolerance or concentration to work out? I picture myself ploughing up and down a swimming pool flicking V-signs at people.

It's great to have you back, turnaround, but so sorry to hear things haven't been going too well. I find that when it comes to agitation, only a meds change can really help. Usually if I'm in a high, I get Diazepam added into my meds regime PRN and also an antipsychotic, like Zyprexa, and that combination normally calms me down. Would it be worth contacting your pdoc or GP for at least some short-term Diazepam or another benzo to tide you through until your meds overhaul? Sending many hugs and hopes for recovery your way x

Good to hear from you too Ennui, how have you been?

The CPN rang a bit ago to tell me the blood work & ECG is fine and I can start quetiapine (or seroquel depending on where you live) this evening. We'll see how that works out. He (CPN) was fairly optimistic that I should start to cool off once this new stuff kicks in.

I've had diazepam before and yes, it's really good stuff. So good in fact that I keep dropping hints to people that I believe I'm in dire need of some. It's very addictive though so you need to be careful. They haven't given me any and now that I'm starting quetiapine, it's unlikely that I will.

Keep you posted...

I'm right with you on agitation and irritability at people on the street.
My latest pet peeve is people that have fused vertebrae in their necks and step off the sidewalk at intersections without looking left or right. Today I rolled down the window and shouted at an oblivious young lady who was walking and talking on the phone when she stepped out in front of a car... Clueless. But yelling doesn't help!!!

I really understand the agitation that halts our ability to do anything constructive that takes some planning or preparation. Tasks or activities that last longer than 15 minutes are impossible.
I keep a running list of things to do... Then just grab an item when I'm inspired and go with it.
It is helping me keep my head above water right now.

Bills are paid. Apartment is relatively clean, but I do need to vacuum... getting to appointments. Not able to read, but I have about 6 books that I want to get to.

No advice. Just understanding.
Take care,

So the quetiapine is, er, quite good at shutting me up and calming me down. I started it on Monday evening. I stormed out of the house, stormed down the road to the psych place muttering ##**** this ##*** that etc, snapped at the pharmacist, stormed back down the hill cursing EVERY person who I passed, stormed round the supermarket, stormed home, swallowed my initial 50mg...and within 90mins I was thinking "Ahhhhhh that's a little better". And guess who slept overnight? Yup! I woke up every hour but I went back to sleep quickly again.

And the famous quietapine dreams...yeah...they're pretty intense. When I awake, I have to look for evidence in the real world that the dreams didn't really happen. I'm actually rationalising myself out of a dream.

Does quietapine usually work so fast? It actually felt like taking diazepam because it was so fast-acting. And by yesterday evening it had definitely worn off. I was out of the house and started feeling tired, worked-up and like I wanted to burst into tears and start hitting things.

Remember that I'm not usually given to this kind of behaviour.

Tonight I start the increased dose. It's only 100mg but it should be enough.

This is my first major meds change. Another piece of time off work. Another hole in my worklike. #########. ########. ########

Storm here , Storm there, Storm everywhere... Storm at him, storm at her, storm at everyone...
Storm at the sun, storm at the rain, Storm at the moon. Storming all the time.
I know it well.

not tonight.
Just chilling, after organizing my Bookmarked pages on internet.
kind of like house cleaning... feels so good.

Great to see you turnaround, it has been a long while since I've seen you on the forum. I 've taken Seroquel and it was great for helping me sleep. I loved how I could easily drift off to sleep. The doctor said it helps with depression and mania.

turnaround wrote:Good to hear from you too Ennui, how have you been?

The CPN rang a bit ago to tell me the blood work & ECG is fine and I can start quetiapine (or seroquel depending on where you live) this evening. We'll see how that works out. He (CPN) was fairly optimistic that I should start to cool off once this new stuff kicks in.

I've had diazepam before and yes, it's really good stuff. So good in fact that I keep dropping hints to people that I believe I'm in dire need of some. It's very addictive though so you need to be careful. They haven't given me any and now that I'm starting quetiapine, it's unlikely that I will.

Keep you posted...

I've not been too bad thanks. I'm currently trying to come off my antipsychotics (very slowly) because of ongoing problems with sedation, so wish me luck!

I've actually been on Quetiapine/Seroquel for quite a few years, since '12, and it's helped majorly to treat my episodes, which tend to be mixed ones these days, and I hope it helps you in the same way, too. Like quietgirl said, you're almost guaranteed a good night's sleep once it kicks in. By the way, I find if it's at the right dosage, Quetiapine is quite fast acting and tends to make a difference within about 1 to 5 days, depending on the severity of the episode.

Yeah, you're right about Diazepam- it's very effective but just as addictive, so I've only ever taken it short-term, at the height of an episode (usually a manic one). I hope your new meds regime is suiting you well, turnaround. Hugs, if wanted x

Welcome back! Klonopin helps me. Geodon will put me to sleep.