Posted by Ritch on August 23, 2002, at 0:14:09
In reply to Bipolar and need help with so many meds, please, posted by Mandy on August 22, 2002, at 17:08:26
> I diagnosed with bipolar in May and still don't feel right. Some days all I can do is get up--I can;t get out of my house. I have been in a structured program but that is stopping because of insurance. I am so afraid of getting suicidal again. Here are my meds: Prozac 80mg/day (on this med at this dose for many years and I do not think it does anything since I am still depressed,Neurontin 800mg three times a day but dr. said to stop it since it does not seem to do anything. Trileptal 600mg twice a day and I guess it has stablized my mood but in the depressed zone constantly. I also take seroquel 100 mg at night for sleep. And, on my own, I take ambien 10-30 mg when I just cannot relax. Now dr. has added Wellbutrin starting at 100mg/day and increaseing to 150 mg/day. Plus I take cozaar for hupertension and levoxyl for hypothyroid. SO MANY MEDS---Why do I still have a death wish?? Can anyone comment on this med combo and what might be better? I hate this disease and feel I am being consumed by it
I hate polypharmacy too!
But, sometimes it is tough to do with just one or two meds. But, let's see, you are on these PSYCH meds:Antidepressants:
Prozac,
Wellbutrin,Antimanics:
Trileptal,
Neurontin,
Seroquel,Doc has said to dump the Neurontin because it isn't helping any? That's not uncommon. I would follow that advice, BUT withdraw it S L O W L Y, not all at once. DON'T change a lot of things at the same time and too close together. You will be totally lost as to what is helping or hindering your progress-I am totally guilty of that blunder. There is a definite withdrawal syndrome with Neurontin. It is short-lived though. It takes about two weeks (in my experience to work through). But mine was a very low-dose to withdraw from. You said you were on 800mg x3 daily? I would flip to 600mg x3 daily, for a week, then 400mg x3 daily for another, 300mg x3 daily for another, then 100mg 3x daily for two weeks, then off. That's five weeks, but you are on a fairly high dosage. That's your next step-a Neurontin withdrawal regime. You might be able to handle a faster withdrawal schedule with no troubles, but that is what *I* would follow if I was on that dosage.
good luck,
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:117418
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020821/msgs/117466.html