HELP! Is this because my medicine?!


Question: Ok.. Last Wednesday I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. I started taking fluoxetine on Thursday. Since then I've noticed I've been really hyper all the time, I've been unable to fall asleep until like 4 am, and everytime I'm alone I feel completely void, empty, and miserable on the inside. It's a truly horrible gut feeling. While I had depressed moments before, its been nothing like this, because this actually almost hurts.

Isn't it impossible that my medicine's causing this though? It takes weeks to get in your system I thought, not days. So is it just my problem getting worse, and the medicine will eventually help? Or should I call my psychiatrist and be put on something different, perhaps a mood stablizer like Lithium, instead of an anti-depressant?

This is a really bad feeling, especially when I'm alone. When I'm in groups I think my confidence has gone up though, and I'm more outgoing, so it's like a double edged sword. Please help?!


Answers: Ok.. Last Wednesday I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. I started taking fluoxetine on Thursday. Since then I've noticed I've been really hyper all the time, I've been unable to fall asleep until like 4 am, and everytime I'm alone I feel completely void, empty, and miserable on the inside. It's a truly horrible gut feeling. While I had depressed moments before, its been nothing like this, because this actually almost hurts.

Isn't it impossible that my medicine's causing this though? It takes weeks to get in your system I thought, not days. So is it just my problem getting worse, and the medicine will eventually help? Or should I call my psychiatrist and be put on something different, perhaps a mood stablizer like Lithium, instead of an anti-depressant?

This is a really bad feeling, especially when I'm alone. When I'm in groups I think my confidence has gone up though, and I'm more outgoing, so it's like a double edged sword. Please help?!

I also have BP II ... and am what is known as a "rapid responder". All medications have side effects but there are those that are above and beyond tolerable. I know within 2-7 days if a medication is feasible. It can take several weeks, even months before you know the full effect of a medication but I found that a medication that affected me in the way your fluoxetine is affecting you will never work out.

The foundation of bipolar disorder is mood stabilization first and foremost. Lithium is the standard medication but all the seizure medications have a dual function of mood stabilization. It's tricky treating bipolar disorder because the antidepressants can trigger manic behavior.

Read up on BP as much as you can because the more you know, the closer you'll come to leading a normal life. Find the best psychiatrist you can in your area. Don't ignore the importance of vitamins and restorative sleep.

Good luck

I think that, if you are having such issues with inability to sleep and feeling miserable, call your psychiatrist soon as you can.

medications do enter our system as soon as we start taking them, and there are side effects, which sometimes subside given time. however, if the side effects are intolerable, then do what is best for yourself.

I can;t understand why your not on a mood stabiliser, you need to control your highs as well as your downs.
Ask to be put on Eppilim, it is used to treat epilepsy and very good at treating BiPolar disorder.

You will exprience a range of emmotions and expiriences from the time you start the med.. Youve gotta deal with it at least until the 6-8 weeks is up. Then you can talk with your doctor about the side effects and whether or not they are tollerable enough to out way the bi polar.

have u tried lithium tabs? my dad is bipolar and even tho they effect him a little they are pretty good. get another opinion from a different doctor. good luck

You should find out if you can take a different anti-convulsant that is more well known for treating bipolar disorder, such as Lamictal, Depakote, or Tegretol. Lamictal is supposed to be the best for bipolar depression. Anti-depressants like fluoxetine can cause bipolar persons to become hypomanic or manic, so watch out.





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