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pat86
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Default Jun 30, 2018 at 02:17 PM
  #1
Has anyone found medications helpful with obsessiveness / having past events replay in your head over and over again. Many times its things that you are angry about but not all the time. Sometimes its just past social situations that will replay in my mind over and over again along with racing thoughts.

I have read people say depakote helped them with these issues.

Can anyone share what meds have helped them with these issues?
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Default Jun 30, 2018 at 02:52 PM
  #2
I understand why they may have said that Depakote may help, but I’m not sure that is the answer.

Something that does help (in conjunction with medication) is therapy.

In terms of medications, I really think that it depends. A doctor will be able to understand a more detailed explanation. Are the thoughts intrusive? (come from nothing or a trigger and are distressing)

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Default Jul 01, 2018 at 02:57 PM
  #3
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Originally Posted by TicTacGo View Post
I understand why they may have said that Depakote may help, but I’m not sure that is the answer.

Something that does help (in conjunction with medication) is therapy.

In terms of medications, I really think that it depends. A doctor will be able to understand a more detailed explanation. Are the thoughts intrusive? (come from nothing or a trigger and are distressing)

They kind of come out of no where. Like racing thoughts.
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Default Jul 01, 2018 at 09:34 PM
  #4
Do you have a diagnosis?
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Default Jul 02, 2018 at 08:52 AM
  #5
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Originally Posted by *Laurie* View Post
Do you have a diagnosis?
Yes Bipolar, ADHD,
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Default Jul 02, 2018 at 10:20 AM
  #6
For obsessive thoughts an OCD med could help, such as Prozac or Luvox. Though given you are Bipolar maybe they could be stemming from mania and in that case a mood stabilizer may be better. You've got ADHD too, hmm. I don't have ADHD but they once tried Guanfacine for me because I couldn't focus due to intrusive thoughts. Guanfacine ended up making me hyper so I had to go off it but it likely wouldn't do that to someone with ADHD. Hard to say what the best thing to try first would be but I think you have options. Like TicTacGo said therapy may be helpful too. Also, you said past events. Are they traumatic events? If so you may want to try some PTSD treatment, whether it be therapy or meds.
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Default Jul 02, 2018 at 10:22 AM
  #7
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Originally Posted by pat86 View Post
Has anyone found medications helpful with obsessiveness / having past events replay in your head over and over again. Many times its things that you are angry about but not all the time. Sometimes its just past social situations that will replay in my mind over and over again along with racing thoughts.

I have read people say depakote helped them with these issues.

Can anyone share what meds have helped them with these issues?
I don't think there is any medication that would treat this per se, but rather cognitive behavioral therapy. I pulled up a bunch of articles on this topic - available here.

This is something I struggle with daily. I am constantly seized with guilt, regret, and shame about all the relationships I've ruined, jobs I've lost, and other embarrassing events. My therapist has provided me with a few tools for managing the problem. Chief among these is an "I Know That…" journal.

Basically, whenever I get stressed out I write down 5 things that I know are true (e.g., "I cooked breakfast this morning" or "I paid the bills this afternoon"). It helps me stay grounded, and adopt a clearer picture of what is taking place in the present.

There's also a technique called "mindfulness," in which we strive to remain in the present. Easier said than done for most of us. I've tried meditation, but it just doesn't work for me.

Hang in there - these are struggles that many of us face, and need to keep our heads high and continue trying to surmount.

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Default Jul 02, 2018 at 12:59 PM
  #8
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Originally Posted by 88Butterfly88 View Post
For obsessive thoughts an OCD med could help, such as Prozac or Luvox. Though given you are Bipolar maybe they could be stemming from mania and in that case a mood stabilizer may be better. You've got ADHD too, hmm. I don't have ADHD but they once tried Guanfacine for me because I couldn't focus due to intrusive thoughts. Guanfacine ended up making me hyper so I had to go off it but it likely wouldn't do that to someone with ADHD. Hard to say what the best thing to try first would be but I think you have options. Like TicTacGo said therapy may be helpful too. Also, you said past events. Are they traumatic events? If so you may want to try some PTSD treatment, whether it be therapy or meds.

I think you are right a mood stabilizer would be helpful in addressing the racing thoughts and repetitive thoughts/obsessive thoughts.
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Default Jul 02, 2018 at 01:01 PM
  #9
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Originally Posted by 88Butterfly88 View Post
For obsessive thoughts an OCD med could help, such as Prozac or Luvox. Though given you are Bipolar maybe they could be stemming from mania and in that case a mood stabilizer may be better. You've got ADHD too, hmm. I don't have ADHD but they once tried Guanfacine for me because I couldn't focus due to intrusive thoughts. Guanfacine ended up making me hyper so I had to go off it but it likely wouldn't do that to someone with ADHD. Hard to say what the best thing to try first would be but I think you have options. Like TicTacGo said therapy may be helpful too. Also, you said past events. Are they traumatic events? If so you may want to try some PTSD treatment, whether it be therapy or meds.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsmith View Post
I don't think there is any medication that would treat this per se, but rather cognitive behavioral therapy. I pulled up a bunch of articles on this topic - available here.

This is something I struggle with daily. I am constantly seized with guilt, regret, and shame about all the relationships I've ruined, jobs I've lost, and other embarrassing events. My therapist has provided me with a few tools for managing the problem. Chief among these is an "I Know That…" journal.

Basically, whenever I get stressed out I write down 5 things that I know are true (e.g., "I cooked breakfast this morning" or "I paid the bills this afternoon"). It helps me stay grounded, and adopt a clearer picture of what is taking place in the present.

There's also a technique called "mindfulness," in which we strive to remain in the present. Easier said than done for most of us. I've tried meditation, but it just doesn't work for me.

Hang in there - these are struggles that many of us face, and need to keep our heads high and continue trying to surmount.

I think its more of a chemical imbalance issue due to my bipolar and not really a cognitive behavioral issue.

plus I am not good with the whole journaling thing
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Default Jul 02, 2018 at 01:13 PM
  #10
ssri, ssnri, and some tca drugs can help with ocd and ruminations. that may or may not be a good idea for you, that's really up to your shrink. im in a similar situation...i get the sense some luvox may be in my future. ugh.
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Default Jul 02, 2018 at 01:17 PM
  #11
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Originally Posted by still_crazy View Post
ssri, ssnri, and some tca drugs can help with ocd and ruminations. that may or may not be a good idea for you, that's really up to your shrink. im in a similar situation...i get the sense some luvox may be in my future. ugh.

I have tried SSRI's and SSNRIs and they just increase my mania or make my racing thoughts worse.

I am already on seroquel and it helps my mood, sleep and other things as well.

So the only thing left to try would be a mood stabilizer or anti convulsant
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Default Jul 05, 2018 at 10:06 PM
  #12
The hospital put me on Saphris (I don't know why) - it is suppose to be for obsessions.

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Default Jul 06, 2018 at 08:34 AM
  #13
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The hospital put me on Saphris (I don't know why) - it is suppose to be for obsessions.

thanks looks like its an atypical antiphycotic
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Default Jul 06, 2018 at 06:21 PM
  #14
I had the same problem. Take zoloft and abilify and don't have them anymore.

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Meds: Abilify 30mg ,Lithium 600 per day, gabapentin 600mg, Zoloft 100 mg, remeron 7.5mg
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Default Jul 06, 2018 at 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by nataliepatricia6183 View Post
I had the same problem. Take zoloft and abilify and don't have them anymore.

Thanks I can't take SSRI's because they make my mania worse.

Abilify is an antiphychotic I am already on Seroquel which is an anitphychotic don't know if my doctor will prescribe both at the same time.

Were you ever on Depakote? did you ever discuss it with your doctor?
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Default Jan 22, 2019 at 11:30 AM
  #16
bump hoping to get more input
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Default Jan 22, 2019 at 11:37 AM
  #17
Just to be clear:

-Can't take SSRI's,SNRIs, or anti depressants because they make my mania worse

-Already on lithium (mood stabilizer) and seroquel (atypical anti psychotic)

looking for something that will quite my mind and bring a stillness to it with no racing thoughts. I seem to get them every day and am getting tired of them.
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Default Jan 23, 2019 at 07:00 PM
  #18
have you herd of limictal? l i cant post the link but google limictal for adhd
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Default Jan 23, 2019 at 09:33 PM
  #19
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Originally Posted by pat86 View Post
I think its more of a chemical imbalance issue due to my bipolar and not really a cognitive behavioral issue.

plus I am not good with the whole journaling thing
A tiny dose of Topamax worked like magic for this. For me it is also a chemical issue and I am also not into CBT or journalling.

12.5 of Topamax (which I started taking to ameliorate weight gain from Zyprexa, my main bipolar med) softened these thoughts a lot.

25 mg of Topamax erased them altogether.

And come to think about it, it makes sense - if a common side effect of Topamax is that it slows down thoughts, causes an occasional word recall problem, then it would only be logical that it would stop racing thoughts. If my problem is thinking that is too fast, I need a medication that slows it down.

I did not expect this effect - it was sudden and welcome. I also started losing some of the weight I had gained on Zyprexa.

Stillness and calm, yay.

Originally Topamax is an anticonvulsant, so you do not have any counter-indications for it.

My only regret is that I had not started it years ago.

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past medications: Depakote, Lamictal, Lithium, Seroquel, Trazodone, Risperdal, Cogentin, Remerol, Prozac, Amitriptyline, Ambien, Lorazepam, Klonopin, Saphris, Trileptal, Clozapine and Clozapine+Wellbutrin, Topamax
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Default Jan 25, 2019 at 01:37 PM
  #20
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Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor View Post
A tiny dose of Topamax worked like magic for this. For me it is also a chemical issue and I am also not into CBT or journalling.

12.5 of Topamax (which I started taking to ameliorate weight gain from Zyprexa, my main bipolar med) softened these thoughts a lot.

25 mg of Topamax erased them altogether.

And come to think about it, it makes sense - if a common side effect of Topamax is that it slows down thoughts, causes an occasional word recall problem, then it would only be logical that it would stop racing thoughts. If my problem is thinking that is too fast, I need a medication that slows it down.

I did not expect this effect - it was sudden and welcome. I also started losing some of the weight I had gained on Zyprexa.

Stillness and calm, yay.

Originally Topamax is an anticonvulsant, so you do not have any counter-indications for it.

My only regret is that I had not started it years ago.
I have thought about this medication to counter the weight gain I got from Seroquel.

I will ask my doctor about it perhaps I can kill two birds with one stone.

Only issue is I saw some people claiming it cause them to not be able to formulate their thoughts into words. Kind of made them stupid with mental slowness.
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