Mania and Medications (Antihypertensive)

Many of us have bipolar disorder and we experience mania and depression. I don't think any of us are alike. There are many different "types" of bipolar: Bipolar I, Bipolar II and we experience this disorder in different ways - mixed episodes, hypomania, mania, depression, rapid cycling, etc. 

It is no wonder that there are many different types of medications used to treat the symptoms of this disorder and the "cocktail" - ie. the mixture of drugs is something that is very individual. 

For some of us it takes years to find the right meds to feel better and many wind up enduring shock treatment - ECT.

Others find their "right meds" early on. 

It is also important to note that with bipolar disorder (BP), there is no permanent treatment. We don't just find the right meds and are in remission the rest of our lives.

The amount of time we remain in remission is again, different for everyone. Some can go many years while some are constantly having medication changes "(tweaking their meds)."

The important thing to realize is that this disorder, that kills many of us by the way, will sooner or later tap you on the shoulder just when you begin to forget you have the BP and you will experience some break through mania and/or depression.

We wind up at our Drs. offices explaining that we have symptoms again and our medications are changed. We may go off some meds and try new ones or the dosage we are on is simply changed.

This is the process I have been going through for several years and it indeed is rare that I will feel depression or mania but it does come.

I became manic (the bad uncomfortable restless kind) just here recently. I attribute that to external stressors and primarily having to lower my neuroleptic due to muscle spasms.

Mood stabilizers and lithium don't do a thing for me hardly except for putting on a great deal of unwanted weight.

Of course it took me 3 days of feeling manic to realize it was mania. I'm always the last to know. I just thought I was feeling very anxious and did not understand why my benzodiazepine wasn't covering it. Finally it hits me - "silly me, I'm manic!"

My Dr. added an antihypertensive  that is given to people with high blood pressure as well as the following as listed here:

"Adults and children: 0.1-0.3 mg/day, given in divided doses.
Alcohol withdrawal.
300-600 mcg q 6 hr.
Atrial fibrillation.
75 mcg 1-2 times/day with or without digoxin.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
5 mcg/kg/day for 8 weeks.
Constitutional growth delay in children.
37.5-150 mcg/m²/day.
Diabetic diarrhea.
100-600 mcg q 12 hr.
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.
150-200 mcg/day.
Hyperhidrosis.
250 mcg 3-5 times/day.
Hypertensive urgency (diastolic > 120 mm Hg).
Initial: 100-200 mcg; then, 50- 100 mcg q hr to a maximum of 800 mcg.
Menopausal flushing.
100-400 mcg/day.
Withdrawal from opiate dependence.
15-16 mcg/kg/day.
Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.
300 mcg.
Postherpetic neuralgia.
200 mcg/day.
Psychosis in schizophrenia.
Less than 900 mcg/day.
Reduce allergen-induced inflammation in extrinsic asthma.
150 mcg for 3 days or 75 mcg/1.5 mL saline by inhalation.
Restless leg syndrome.
100-300 mcg/day, up to 900 mcg/day.
Facilitate cessation of smoking.
150-400 mcg/day.
Ulcerative colitis.
300 mcg t.i.d.
•Transdermal Hypertension.
Initial: Use 0.1-mg system; then, if after 1-2 weeks adequate control has not been achieved, can use another 0.1-mg system or a larger system. The antihypertensive effect may not be seen for 2-3 days. The system should be changed q 7 days.
Treat spasticity.
Adults and children: 0.1-0.3 mg; apply patch q 7 days.
Cyclosporine-associated nephrotoxicity.
100-200 mcg/day.
Diabetic diarrhea.
0.3 mg/24 hr patch (1 or 2 patches/week).
Menopausal flushing.
100 mcg/24-hr patch.
Facilitate cessation of smoking.
200 mcg/24-hr patch.
•Epidural infusion Analgesia."

I did read on medscape some studies showing it does help with mania. 

What is amazing is that this stuff really works on me an this is only the third day on it. 

I wake up unstressed like I have had a rested sleep which I have not experienced lately. I do feel too sedated during the day but that's ok. My body will adjust.

It also seems to be clearing up my ulcerative colitis - irritable bowel syndrome. 

This is my experience. It may not be yours. 

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