Hello sir/ma'am, i'm 37-year-old male weighing 53 kg. My entire blood report including thyroid, vitamin b12 etc. Is normal. I have no other known illness apart from dry eyes. One month before I discovered that I think I have a bipolar disorder. Mania has occurred very rarely over my life so far, in 2007, 2009, 2017, 2020. My manias were not so severe: I did not see hallucination or nor was I psychotic but they did affect my personal and professional life very badly. They lasted for months and were also followed by the periods of depression. Some depressions lasted about a year. Last time my year-long mania ended just recently on 25/07/2020 (just one and half month before) and I crashed into a bout of depression. I couldn't sleep for 5 days and my stomach was churning with pain. Then, I visited a general physician on 29/07/2020 and he prescribed me medicines for acidity and arrest (clonazepam 5 mg). He prescribed this clonazepam for 6 days to help me fall asleep. With it's help I was able to sleep but i'm still still taking it even after one and half month. I researched a lot: studied, watched and read books about mood disorders and I think I have I have bipolar disorder. I found that clonazepam belongs to benzodiazepine family of drugs which should be taken only 2 to 4 weeks otherwise it creates dependency. Now, sir/ma'am, shall I stop clonazepam suddenly and switch to fluoxetine (20 mg) to help me come out of depression? I am still in depressive phase of my bipolar and still I am not able to sleep without taking clonazepam. You are expert in this field so please suggest me what should I do? I greatly appreciate your help.
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Rajesh sir, pls pls seek proper clinical assessment of your situation and go for clinical therapies for your condition. Only medication will never help. Depression is very deep rooted and you need to learn mechanisms to avoid getting into the depression trap. Pls tell if you are doing regular exercises, meditating, having a good social circle and participating in creative activities...life is so.much more...explore, find new interests, ignore your mood swings the same way we do things/tasks at offices even if we don't want to ... spend time with good friends...don't go into a shell, you can talk about your situation as well... I truly wish you all the best...you will and can become better but doing the right things... Â
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Post studying the complete medical history , we'll be able to figure out the best possible solution. Let's have a detailed discussion for better advice and medication plan.Â
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Dear lybrate-user, nice to know that you are tracking your mood. Please go with the doctor's advice from time to time. Don't self medicate. Your psychiatrist will withdraw the benzodiazepine before you become dependent on it. Probably in due course, he may add a mood stabilizer. Please have frequent consultations with the same doctor in your different mood states. Â
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Dear Lybrate user it is very important to understand that taking medicines fo long time increases the dependency and it's not good for health. Taking sleeping pills are not at all recommended. If you are searching or gaining knowledge about your mood swings, you must have also come to know that you require counseling. Tracking the problem on your own and relying on medicines is not healthy. You need to immediately seek counseling to cope up with your issues in a healthy and positive way. You can contact us at peaceofmind counseling services. We shall be happy to help you. Â
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Greetings of the dat Mr. lybrate-user. Bipolar disorder is diagnosed when an individual has distinct periods of mood and behavioural changes. Mania and depression. To diagnose a manic episode, its always better to consult a psychiatrist. Management of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder is quite different from management of unipolar depressive episodes. Bipolar depression will require a mood stabilizer and antidepressant combination. Kindly meet a psychiatrist for further plan of action. Â
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