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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by chand2407 on October 26, 2005, at 20:01:54
i told him about the hearing voices or the intrusive thoughts and he told me he is thinking more like psychotic depression or psychosis so he put me on 200mg of seroquel instead of 100mg and im still on the elavil and klonopin. since my body is so sensitive to meds he is taking the doses slow. i am kind of happy about that and he said the sedation and nightmare should go away in about 2 weeks. but i do not want to take it twice a day once in morning and at night. i wonder can i take them both at night. any suggestions.
Posted by Racer on October 26, 2005, at 21:13:50
In reply to i went to psych today please read, posted by chand2407 on October 26, 2005, at 20:01:54
Posted by chand2407 on October 26, 2005, at 21:22:35
In reply to Suggestion: take as prescribed by your doctor (nm) » chand2407, posted by Racer on October 26, 2005, at 21:13:50
i read on the internet that this guy took seroquel for 1 year and started having homicidal and suicidal thoughts is that common. i am getting scared now
Posted by Glydin on October 26, 2005, at 21:43:26
In reply to read dangerous things on seroquel, posted by chand2407 on October 26, 2005, at 21:22:35
If you research ANYTHING on the 'net, you will find horrible horror stories filled with danger, dread and any manner of bad outcomes.
I agree with Racer, you should follow your doctor's instructions.
Posted by Racer on October 27, 2005, at 0:35:31
In reply to read dangerous things on seroquel, posted by chand2407 on October 26, 2005, at 21:22:35
Listen, if you look for it, you'll find all sorts of stories like that. (I read something a while back about someone whose entire life was apparently ruined by poisoning by her doctor. Reading a little critically, this was a very disturbed woman who would have been "poisoned" the same way had the doctor prescribed Skittles and aspirin. You really gotta consider the source.)
When you read those things, consider this: if the drug had worked a miracle for him, if he were suddenly able to put his life in order, get a great job, buy a big house, marry an independently wealthy supermodel, and drive a Maybach -- would he be writing his story about meds on the internet? People who have resounding successes on most of these psychotropic meds don't write their story. Partly because they'd rather attribute their problems to the drugs, and their successes to their own abilities -- but largely because they tend to be out living their lives. Please keep that in mind when you start to scare yourself this way.
Good luck.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on October 27, 2005, at 5:58:53
In reply to I read online... » chand2407, posted by Racer on October 27, 2005, at 0:35:31
It has been the first med out of 40+ that has had a positive effect on the severe anxiety I started having in 1997. Yep, eight long years.
It's a great med. I take 25mg Seroquel with 1mg Klonopin. That race of nervous energy is just about completely wiped out. Yep. On the downside, I feel groggy throughout the day, but hey every med has some downside. It is certainly worth the trade-off.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, don't spook yourself out by reading some of these "horror" stories on the Internet. You REALLY CAN spook yourself about anything if you so desire.
I hope your trial goes great!
Posted by med_empowered on October 27, 2005, at 7:40:33
In reply to Re: Seroquel is a miracle drug, posted by UgottaHaveHope on October 27, 2005, at 5:58:53
hi! Horror stories and success stories are out there for anything and everything imaginable so..I wouldn't put too much stock in them. You realy have to go by: 1) large scale studies 2) clinical experience (try reading what shrinks have to say about certain drugs) 3) your own experiences. Seroquel isn't perfect--I HATED it--but it might help you. If it doesn't, or you have bad side effects, tell your doc to switch it to something else. Personally, I hated seroquel, hated geodon, hated zyprexa, but did reasonably well on low-dose abilify (higher-dose abilify was pure hell, though). My only concern about your combo would be the combined effects of Elavil+seroquel on blood pressure (both can cause orthostatic hypotension), weight (both can cause marked weight gain), and sedation (both tend to be pretty sedating and dulling). I can understand not wanting to take seroquel 2X daily; its awfully sedating. Have you considered abilify? Its non-sedating, like geodon, but it doesn't cause very much EPS, there seems to be a low tardive dyskinesia risk, and it doesn't cause weight gain (watch out for blood sugar issues, though). Plus, dosage adjustment is easy; if you **NEED** an antipsychotic, you can start at 10mgs (I'd recommend starting at 2 or so and trying to keep it at or under 10). Good luck!
Posted by med_empowered on October 27, 2005, at 9:38:49
In reply to i went to psych today please read, posted by chand2407 on October 26, 2005, at 20:01:54
I read in a previous post that your doc wants to eventually get the seroquel up to 900-1,000mgs. That's A LOT. Most studies have demonstrated some effectiveness (especially in bipolar) starting at around 300mgs, and maxing out around 800mgs; this 900-1000mgs business seems a little bit heavy handed.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on October 27, 2005, at 9:52:12
In reply to Re: Seroquel is a miracle drug, posted by med_empowered on October 27, 2005, at 7:40:33
You only know if a med is good for you if you try. I know, it stinks.
Medical science is making progress, but we are still not at a point where they know what exactly will work for you. It's trial and error. What has been an absolute "miracle" for me (and Seroquel has) didn't work out so well for someone else.
Posted by SLS on October 27, 2005, at 10:36:06
In reply to by the way..., posted by med_empowered on October 27, 2005, at 9:38:49
> I read in a previous post that your doc wants to eventually get the seroquel up to 900-1,000mgs. That's A LOT. Most studies have demonstrated some effectiveness (especially in bipolar) starting at around 300mgs, and maxing out around 800mgs; this 900-1000mgs business seems a little bit heavy handed.
Some recent work has suggested that dosages of Seroquel as high as 1200mg are optimal for some people. Its affinity for D2 receptors is very low. Quite a few people seem to need at least 800mg to treat psychotic symptoms.
I wish I could remember where I last saw a treatise on this matter. I'll see if I can't Google it up.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 27, 2005, at 10:41:48
In reply to Re: by the way..., posted by SLS on October 27, 2005, at 10:36:06
Here we go:
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/8525697700573E1885256DB4006B7642
Seroquel 1600mg!
I have seen at least one person find 700mg inadequate who responded better at the higher dosages. Interesting that this same person responded well at 3.0mg of Risperdal. Unfortunately, she was intolerant of the prolactinemic side effects of that drug.
- Scott
Posted by med_empowered on October 27, 2005, at 14:31:53
In reply to Re: by the way..., posted by SLS on October 27, 2005, at 10:41:48
it seems that there has been some use of high dose atypicals...the CATIE study, the one that showed perphenazine pretty comparable to zyprexa, reflected this...apparently, a lot of the patients were being RX'd unusually high doses of atypicals (which may have skewed the results...but, the study does reflect the clinical reality). It just seems odd to me that a doc would aim for doses higher than those recommended or well studied, without giving the patient time to respond to lower doses. It'd be like giving someone Valium and aiming to get them up to 50 or 60mgs.
Posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2005, at 20:16:56
In reply to wow, posted by med_empowered on October 27, 2005, at 14:31:53
Med what would be the optimal dose of valium for someone who has been on a benzo for over 30years? I did try seroquel last year and couldn't tolerate it. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by med_empowered on October 28, 2005, at 5:50:07
In reply to Re: wow » med_empowered, posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2005, at 20:16:56
hi! Benzo dosage seems kind of hard calibrate. That said, I think since you definitely have tolerance, your doc should just do some flexible dosing. The old-school dosing for valium was 10mgs, 3 times daily with an optional 4th dose. I think if you could find a good dose within the 30mgs, that'd be preferable; if necessary, it seems like going up to 40 would be fine, especially if you've tried other stuff with minimal success.
Posted by Phillipa on October 28, 2005, at 18:29:21
In reply to hey phillipa!, posted by med_empowered on October 28, 2005, at 5:50:07
Thanks Med, but I'm moving and how do I find a pdoc who will do this? Can't very well get on the phone asd say hey do you prescribe valium? To some secretary who wouldn't know anything. My fear is the new school of atypical antipsychotics is what most of them now use. Is there a way to find pdocs in Charlotte NC who still will prescribe valium? Any assistance appriciated as I've never had to do this before. My one experience with a young pdoc was he tried to detox me from them with his goal being an AD. It landed me in a neurologists office with legs shaking violently and unable to speak unless you call shaking voice talking. The neurologist said I needed a pdoc who wasn't afraid of benzos. Being from the area I knew of one my daughter-in-law was seeing and knew she would prescribe them. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by med_empowered on October 29, 2005, at 7:41:06
In reply to Re: hey phillipa! » med_empowered, posted by Phillipa on October 28, 2005, at 18:29:21
hey cool..you're moving to NC? i'm moving to asheville soon. Anyway, I dont know a doc in particular who will RX benzos, but in my experience southern docs are a little better about it (shrinks, not GPs) than docs in other places. Usually, its a good idea to go to someone a bit older...possibly one who specializes in anxiety. I tend to get along better with female shrinks, but that could just be me..there seems to be less "ego" involved, and there's usually more collaborative and friendly. Good luck!
Posted by Phillipa on October 29, 2005, at 18:40:46
In reply to Re: hey phillipa!, posted by med_empowered on October 29, 2005, at 7:41:06
Med, I wish you would turn your Babble on. That way I could give you me E-mail address. I agree with you that the older doctors tend to prescribe benzos more often. I have so many questions to ask you. And I just won't post my E-mail on line. Do you suppose you could Babble me? That way I could give it to you. You are so knowledgeable and smart. I'll bet you're going to be a psychiatrist or nuclear psycicist. sp? Fondly, Phillipa
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