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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pretty_paints on September 2, 2004, at 11:03:13
Hiya guys
I'm in a bad way, im in hospital but Iv just come home with my nan for a few hours break. To be honest I dont know whats going on. all I know is I had depression/anxiety (u might know me from past posts on here). And then I went onto remeron for depression. suddenly everythings gone weird and now im on risperdal. The physical side effects are awful and i cant even function until about 4pm (if i take the dose in the morning). at the mo im on 2mg morning and night (4mg total) but I need to change as I total cant handle feeling so ill on it (giddy/sleepy/sick/everything swirling when i stand up).
Anyone know why im on this med, or how it works, or what med could be used as a substitute?
Also, iv been on larazapam in the hospital and am realising now how bad it is. although it is a godsend for calming you, today i am feeling like crap for not having it. They are now not letting me have it unless its an absolute emergency, which is good i suppose, because i doubt il be allowed it outside of hospital. But still, I feel pretty messed up. Iv just cut the bottom off a pair of my tights and filled it with lavender from the garden. a poor substitute, but il try anything!!
please, any support anyone!! things are really bad :'o(
Posted by Sebastian on September 2, 2004, at 11:53:53
In reply to In hospital, things are bad. Risperdal anyone?, posted by pretty_paints on September 2, 2004, at 11:03:13
zyprexa makes an excelent substitute for risperdal. You probably are too emotional right now and thats why you take it.
Posted by Emme on September 2, 2004, at 12:06:31
In reply to In hospital, things are bad. Risperdal anyone?, posted by pretty_paints on September 2, 2004, at 11:03:13
I'm sorry you're in such a bad way. Can you tell us a little more about what got weird while you were on Remeron? Have they told you what benefit they're hoping for with Risperidol? It's an atypical antipsychotic, but it can also calm agitation in people who are not psychotic (I don't know if you had psychotic symptoms). I'm sure others here will have a lot of feedback.
I'm curious as to why they won't allow you to have lorazepam. Benzos have a good safety profile and are a godsend for many people. Maybe another benzo?
I wonder if the dose of Risperidol is simply too high. It really sounds like you're overmedicated and I wonder if you'd feel better on a lower dose. Don't hesitate to bring this up to them.
It sounds like there's not enough communication between you and the doctors. You need to know:
- What their assessment is and what kind of diagnosis they're going to give you.
- You should be able to get as much information as you want from them about exactly what every medication is and why they think it's appropriate and what side effects to expect.
- They should be willing to talk about other options should something not work.
- They should listen if you say you feel horrid. If you can't function half the day, that's pretty bad.
If you're not getting even this basic information, and it sounds like you're not, then something is wrong.
I know you feel terrible and it's hard to advocate for yourself when your defenses are down. Can your nan help you in talking to the doctors? Please do your best to get the answers you need and keep on telling them specifically what negative (or positive) effects you're getting from the meds.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Emme
> Hiya guys
>
> I'm in a bad way, im in hospital but Iv just come home with my nan for a few hours break. To be honest I dont know whats going on. all I know is I had depression/anxiety (u might know me from past posts on here). And then I went onto remeron for depression. suddenly everythings gone weird and now im on risperdal. The physical side effects are awful and i cant even function until about 4pm (if i take the dose in the morning). at the mo im on 2mg morning and night (4mg total) but I need to change as I total cant handle feeling so ill on it (giddy/sleepy/sick/everything swirling when i stand up).
>
> Anyone know why im on this med, or how it works, or what med could be used as a substitute?
>
> Also, iv been on larazapam in the hospital and am realising now how bad it is. although it is a godsend for calming you, today i am feeling like crap for not having it. They are now not letting me have it unless its an absolute emergency, which is good i suppose, because i doubt il be allowed it outside of hospital. But still, I feel pretty messed up. Iv just cut the bottom off a pair of my tights and filled it with lavender from the garden. a poor substitute, but il try anything!!
>
> please, any support anyone!! things are really bad :'o(
Posted by Racer on September 2, 2004, at 12:31:28
In reply to In hospital, things are bad. Risperdal anyone?, posted by pretty_paints on September 2, 2004, at 11:03:13
I had a weird reaction to Remeron, too, and it's not fun. I'm sorry that happened to you.
As for the rest of it, I wonder if the doctors are trying the risperadol (which I'm sure I'm mispelling) to try to calm you down. The benzos do not calm me when I'm in a state of anxiety, and it may be that they're not doing a great job for you, either.
A very generous friend of mine just yesterday talked to me about exactly this point, so I'll share his generosity with you. Anxiety has two components: psychological and physical. For some people, the psychological upset triggers the physical response, but then there are people who get so slammed physically that the drugs that calm the psychological side just plain don't work. I'm one of them: xanax works great to help me sleep -- as long as I'm not upset. Once the tension starts to build, though, about the only effect it has on me is to increase the whole fight-flight response, and make it all worse because I'm now upset *and* feeling even more vulnerable.
Treatment for anxiety has to be focussed on treating either the psychological side, allowing you to prevent the physical response; or the physical. In my case, I'm hoping my new doctor will look at a way to prevent the adrenaline overload from getting a good start, because once that happens, I'm pretty much a lost cause. (Well, a misplaced cause...) You may also benefit from something that tones down your adrenaline response. The AP that you're on now may be a stopgap measure until your doctors feel you're stabilized enough to work with them more effectively.
I do agree with Emme, though: you should already know *why* they're giving you this drug, and what effects to expect. They should also be responsive to the level of distress you're experiencing on it right now. Being unable to function for more than half the day, and feeling so sick is *not* especially conducive to recovery.
Best luck, and best wishes for feeling better soon.
Posted by TheOutsider on September 3, 2004, at 17:20:26
In reply to In hospital, things are bad. Risperdal anyone?, posted by pretty_paints on September 2, 2004, at 11:03:13
> Hiya guys
>
> I'm in a bad way, im in hospital but Iv just come home with my nan for a few hours break. To be honest I dont know whats going on. all I know is I had depression/anxiety (u might know me from past posts on here). And then I went onto remeron for depression. suddenly everythings gone weird and now im on risperdal. The physical side effects are awful and i cant even function until about 4pm (if i take the dose in the morning). at the mo im on 2mg morning and night (4mg total) but I need to change as I total cant handle feeling so ill on it (giddy/sleepy/sick/everything swirling when i stand up).
>
> Anyone know why im on this med, or how it works, or what med could be used as a substitute?
>
> Also, iv been on larazapam in the hospital and am realising now how bad it is. although it is a godsend for calming you, today i am feeling like crap for not having it. They are now not letting me have it unless its an absolute emergency, which is good i suppose, because i doubt il be allowed it outside of hospital. But still, I feel pretty messed up. Iv just cut the bottom off a pair of my tights and filled it with lavender from the garden. a poor substitute, but il try anything!!
>
> please, any support anyone!! things are really bad :'o(I've been wondering whats happened to you and hoping you were ok.
Sorry things are so poo for you at the moment.I cant offer much advice because I havent had enough experience to really be able to comment.
However I do think that the doctors should try to involve you more in what they are doing, and explain what their trying to achieve, typical UK!Regarding lorazepam; perhaps a longer acting benzo like Clonazepam would be a better choice, but I doute they'l be open to that, knowing UK docs.
I think that trying a different neuroleptic than Risperdal could be a good idea. Amisulpride and Sulpride are available in the UK, some people have good results with them. Then theres also Olanzapine, just some ideas.....Hope you feel better soon!
This is the end of the thread.
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