Best friend killed himself a year ago and went into a major depression. Have lost my business and am unemployed and just recently flipped out on my love of my life and she will probably never talk to me again. I am 32 years old.

Now I have been having angry outbursts and complete loss of control. The doctor has prescribed me Neurontin a while ago to sleep. Well Saturday night I took like 3000MG and the next day I literally turned into a different person. I was optimistic and positive for the first time in a long time. Do you think I have bi-polar or just have manic depressive personality.

Thanks

Neurontin is sometimes used off-label as a mild mood stabilizer to treat bipolar disorder. Test data has not shown it to be effective, but some doctors like to use it anyway. If it is working for you, go with it. Neurontin is a safe drug with very few side effects compared to the mood stabilizers typically prescribed for bipolar disorder, so count your blessings.

ME :D

Welcome HotRod40!

We can't offer any advise here on your diagnoses...

However, I also take Neurontin in conjunction with my Lamictal ...
While the Lamictal works wonders for my depression...I was still having issues wiht the hypomania, mostly the sleeping cycles or lack of sleep...and aggitation....that is when he suggested the Neurontin ( I had tried Risperdal before but it just made me tooo sleepy to get up for work everyday...)

I have been taking it for several months now, it has helped a lot and I have had no side effects what so ever...

I would talk to your doc, and here is a link
Keep a chart of your moods to take to your next appointment.
BP's have a clear pattern of mood cycles.

https://www.bipolaroptions.com/gr/Mood_Tracker.pdf

Glad it's working for you !

Hope

I was just prescribed Neurontin along with Focalin XR + Xanax & Ambien to help with sleep and anxiety

Doc, prescribed 300MG Neurontin (100 MG 3 times day). But I read about bad side affects especially weight gain & sleepiness. Is this really an issue. I think I may hold off and see someone else but take the Focalin Xanax & ambien

Neurontin is an anticonvulsant medication.

It can be used to regulate mood states (a) in bipolar and (b) in personality disorders, where rages or rapidly alternating mood states are an issue (emotional incontinence; or, labile affect as docs would say).

[Never heard of a "manic depressive personality disorder".]

Remember: three different docs can look at the same person and see three different conditions. It all depends on their background and the "lens" that they see through, diagnostically.

I remember a healthcare person telling me how in one patient assessment -- one doc saw "personality disorder" with psychotic features, a second doc saw "ultra-rapid cycling bipolar" and a third doc saw 'schizoaffective disorder'.

It's all about perspective and what the clinician sees at the time. (Patient profiles can change a lot in 3 days let alone in 3 months, or so.)


Some people have rage issues too. (Impulse control disorders; poor self monitoring of stress/emotion.)

I was on Neurontin for another condition. I found it gave me double vision. YMMV.

Remember too that depression in males can present with the 'sadness' criteria being replaced by 'irritability'. (rage, grumpiness, backbiting, outbursts, violence towards self/others)

Not everyone who is depressed seems "sad". In fact, some cannot cry or feel sad feelings. Rather, they have rage and irritability and anger towards themselves and others (probably part of the reason more males complete suicides and murder/suicides than females).

N.B. although females DO make more attempts, they tend to be less successful or use less lethal means.

Ok took 2100MG Neur last night and 100MG Seroquel. Then took 900mg of Neur this morning.

No suicidal thoughts today at all. I didn't feel awesome but much better than yesterday. I am charting my behavior and moods. I guess I cant exactly feel great considering how my life is pretty bad right now...I think if I can keep from freaking out and thinking about suicide then I am making progress.

Tomorrow I am going to mix in some Adderall. And then at the end of the week might start a SSRI.

I agree a 100% with these doctors diagnosis being a joke most of the time. Nobody has ever suggested bipolar II with my issues. I am not saying that is definitely what it is, but the evidence is sure looking that way.