Posted by Ritch on March 4, 2002, at 23:10:44
In reply to Re: medication compliance with painful S.E's?, posted by Chloe on March 4, 2002, at 18:39:52
> I never forget my meds. But I just want to never swallow the silly pills again because I get this awful "burning" scalp pain from the mood stabilizers. I take tiny amounts of many stabilizers to avoid bad effects.
>
> 112 Eskilith CR
> 500 neurontin (down from 600mgs..)
> 250 depakote
> 1.3 celexa
> 20 amitriptyline, for the neuropathic scalp pain.
>
> Well, after two weeks of great stability and productivity, I am ready to ditch the neurontin, then the Li again. Because I think those are the ones that make the "burning" the worst.
> *I have a pattern, it seems. I get a good response to meds, then I feel good, then I am willing to risk my stability, to get rid of the damned side effects.* It always ends in pain and trouble.
>
> BUT, somehow I must find a way to stay compliant...and not stop these stabilizers. I am BP 2 and if I drop out any of these meds, I spiral into depression or agitated mixed states.
>
> Any thoughts on how to stay med compliant, when I have such bad scalp pain? Should I just keep popping these pills and forget about constant sting? My pdoc is out of ideas. The TCA helped for a while, but now I have grown tolerant to it's effects, I guess...
>
> Thanks so much
> ChloeHi Chloe,
I noticed that you have been relatively quiet lately (I figured that equated to "stable" :-)). My suggestion would be to jack up that darn amitripytline another notch! Since the 10mg generic amitrip. tabs are so cheap-just add a 3rd tablet and see what happens. I am probably going to have to revisit nortiptyline again. The Wellbutrin I am taking is making me agitated as hell. I almost couldn't go to work today I just felt so agitated and ILL. Of course it happens about 4-6 hours after my morning WB dose. It has been getting progressively worse the last week or two. I know I need more mood stabilizer, but I can't hack the Dep. weight gain, or the lithium GI distress. I knew the WB was making me a little more grouchy than I like, but it is going thermonuclear on me! No more. I quit taking it tomorrow. Nortripytline was a lot easier to tolerate and didn't make me anxious. I don't want to go back to a TCA, but I don't think I have any choice. I don't think my pdoc will write for methylphenidate or Provigil (and perhaps with good reason not to).
good luck with your situation,
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:96004
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020301/msgs/96427.html