![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 29. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CEK on March 24, 2006, at 19:07:05
I'm wondering if anyone out there has had any experience taking the combination of medicines that I am currently taking or have had any of the side effects that I am experiencing. My psychiatrist has put me on Lamactil( I'm up to 50mg and have been taking it for 3 weeks)Seroquel(100mg for 8days now) and Zoloft.(up to 50mg for 8 days) The doctor had put me on these meds for my anxiety, depression and Bipolar2 with mixed episodes. I have suffered with the depression and mixed freguent mood swings for at least 10 years, severely in the last 6. The only thing that I had ever been prescribed prior to this year was antidepressants. I had a classic nervous breakdown (not going insane just complete lack of functioning and sever suicidal thoughts)back in January and have been in bad shape ever since. The Seroquel is completely new to me and really knocks me out 45 min after I take it. I sleep a good 10 hours without wakening. When I do wake and start to move my whole body jerks and shakes terribly for about 10minutes. I'm really kind of duh in the morning but once I am fully awake, I'm so nervous that I could literally climb the walls. My heart pounds in my chest, I constantly shake(worse than before the meds) and I feel wired and very irritable. I've tried to wait it out to see if it'll get better but each day it seems to get worse. If I try to sit still, my body will jump or jerk like someone with Parkinsons. The anxiety, depression and anger that I was having is all still here,and I am never happy. I guess it will take a while for the medicine to really kick in. I finally called my doctor today and he told me to cut back on the Zoloft to 25mg. I see him again on the 30th. I don't feel like this is the Zoloft giving me the side effects because I have taken it before at 100mg and didn't have this side effect unless it has to do with the combination of meds. Also, instead of restless legs syndrom, I have it in my arms. I could just scream wanting to wave my arms around all day. Has anyone gone through this before or have any suggestions?
Posted by blueberry on March 24, 2006, at 19:54:45
In reply to Seroquel, Zoloft and Lamactil, posted by CEK on March 24, 2006, at 19:07:05
All pyschiatric meds can cause those aweful symptoms you are having. It is basically an anti-dopamine thing. No doubt all 3 meds introduced at the same time would have a profound impact on most people's nervous system, especially since you were in frail condition to begin with. But by far the biggest culprit is seroquel. That is classic antipsychotic stuff you are describing. If it were me I would drop the seroquel and look elsewhere for sleep...lunesta would be a safe start, or possibly remeron. I'm surprised all the meds were started so close to each other. When something goes wrong it's hard to tell which is doing what. Sure sounds like a seroquel thing to me though.
Posted by CEK on March 24, 2006, at 21:07:14
In reply to Re: Seroquel, Zoloft and Lamactil, posted by blueberry on March 24, 2006, at 19:54:45
Thank you for responding. I figured there would be no life out there to my response. I was thinking it could be the Seroquel also because I had done a lot of looking up the different meds and it had some scary side effects along with some of the other meds in the same catagory. I had seen a nurse practioner at a mental health clinic prior to seeing this psychiatrist that wanted to put me on Lithium and I pitched a fit because I was afraid of the side effects. She was the one that started the Lamactil.(That's why I've been on it longer than the other two.) I was feeling so bad and didn't have much faith in a nurse practioner prescribing me these kinds of meds (besides the fact that they were completely incompatent and uncaring at that clinic) and had my psychologist refer me to a psychiatrist. I didn't want to do the Seroquel either but my husband said I was going to have to stop bucking and kicking about what they gave me and do what they suggested because it might help me. Lord knows I haven't been getting better on my own and it is so hard living in northeast Misssissippi trying to find a good psychiatrist. There is a shortage here so I see one in Memphis which is a good haul from here. This doctor that I am seeing is one that I don't feel I could even suggest any alternatives to. He has that typical attitude of I know everything, you're a messed up idiot, do what I say and that's it kinda thing. I have seen 4 psychiatrists so far counting the week in the hospital that I spent in January for the suicidal thoughts. They were all the same. Very cold, kinda hateful acting. Made me feel like I was bothering them or something. They all made me feel uncomfortable. It's hard to give them all the info that they need when you feel like they want you to hurry up and get out of their office. My husband wants me to stay on the Seroquel and give it a chance. He thinks it's good that it makes me hyper because at least then I'm not sleeping all the time. I understand that, but is there no happy median? Surely it's not good to feel like you could pull your hair out or someone elses all day. I use to take 2-3Benadryl to make me sleep because of the racing thoughts but the doctor said I needed the Seroquel for a mood stablizer and it would help me sleep also and stop the Benadryl. I don't know how to get the right help or who to go to. I've called all over. I guess I'm stuck.
Posted by Tony P on March 25, 2006, at 2:19:33
In reply to Re: Seroquel, Zoloft and Lamactil » blueberry, posted by CEK on March 24, 2006, at 21:07:14
The Lamictal may be contributing too. I used to be able to take Trazadone for sleep. When I was on Lamictal at 300-400 mg/day I got nasty akathisia (restless everything) from the Trazadone. I sometimes get a bit of that from Seroquel plus Neurontin on top of Lamictal but not nearly as bad. A muscle relaxant helps me, e.g. Robaxin (OTC, at least in Canada) or Soma (Rx).
Tony
Posted by med_empowered on March 26, 2006, at 14:02:43
In reply to Re: Seroquel, Zoloft and Lamactil » CEK, posted by Tony P on March 25, 2006, at 2:19:33
i used to take low-dose seroquel for similar symtpoms..it was hell. Personally, I think you should drop it. Sometimes, docs are self-absorbed and stand offish. Here's what you should remember: it is YOUR life and YOUR body. The last time I had a doc like that, I flat out told him I was discontinuing a med I didn't like. He was a bit upset, but it changed the balance in the relationship---its kind of like a school yard bully; stand up to them, and they'll treat you better.
Now...as for you meds: seroquel clearly sucks. If you have mixed episodes, its a little surprising that you're on an anti-depressant at all, much less an anti-depressant plus Lamictal. I have kind of similar problems...personally, I found Trileptal to be helpful. Depakote apparently helps a lot of people, but its pretty rough stuff. Sometimes mixing mood stabilizers (ex: lamictal plus trileptal) is helpful, but it can also be tricky, so you'll need a cooperative doc. The good thing about that approach is that you can avoid an antidepressant, which can be kind of de-stabilizing over the long term and plus carries side effects (apathy, sexual dysfunction) that are best avoided. As for sleep...benzos help, the newer sleeping pills help...even vistaril and benadryl will help. You certainly don't need to take an antipsychotic for sleep--that's overkill and its ridiculous. Some ADs help with sleep...trazadone is a classic (personally I hate it). Another good option is Surmontil, an under-used tricyclic antidepressant. It kind of has mood-stabilizing properties, and it can be sedating, which can be a good combo for some people.
So...speaking from personal experience, I must say that I think if you discontinue the seroquel, you will feel **MUCH** better. Sometimes "non-compliance" is the first step to mental health. Good luck!
Posted by CEK on March 26, 2006, at 19:33:11
In reply to drop the seroquel, posted by med_empowered on March 26, 2006, at 14:02:43
Thank you for your response. I suffer from Major Depression also so I don't know if that's why my doctor had prescribed the Zoloft. I know I've read that the antidepressants can make rapid cycling and bipolar worse and questioned taking it, but I thought that maybe with the other meds that it would not have this effect. I had heard that Lamictal was good for rapid cycling and was good for depression also, that's why I suggested it to my last doctor who finally gave it to me. She wanted to put me on Depakote when I couldn't take the Litium but I absolutely refused. I too heard and read of all the nasty stuff about it and did not want it in my body. That doctor was a nurse practitioner and I felt more at ease telling her what I would not take. I guess that's because she was not a psychiatrist and I questioned her authority on the subject. Also, she was a woman and much less intimidating. I felt like I needed to try whatever this psychiatrist wanted me to take just to see if it actually worked and made me feel better. It's very scary putting your life and sanity in someone else's hands. You really don't know who to trust. Most doctors don't ever go over all of the side effects of a med, they just give it to you and tell you to take it. If it wasn't for this web site and the rest of the internet for my research I would have no idea about what to expect. Is there something wrong with taking an antidepressant and Lamictal? I've never heard. One thing is for sure is that I need something to enable me to function again but so far I don't think any of this is working. I know it takes time, but I feel like crap. I lowered the dose of Zoloft like the doctor said and I am not as hyper feeling, but now I feel completely washed out. I'm still shaking and jerking and my heart is always pounding in my chest. If I try to lay down to rest, I can't sleep because all I can feel is the blood pumping through out my body and the pounding in my chest is so annoying. I've been told that the Seroquel can make you dizzy or drowsy at first, but I haven't been told that your arms would feel like there were 50lb weights tied to your hands pulling them down. I have no strength or energy at all! Do you think this is the Seroquel? How long do you think is long enough to try a med before you give up on it? They say some side effects will go away with time, but how much time do you give for it to go away?
Posted by med_empowered on March 27, 2006, at 3:03:15
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel » med_empowered, posted by CEK on March 26, 2006, at 19:33:11
hi. Personally, I'd ditch the seroquel..it can cause problems, and its really only a front-line med for schizophrenia and acute mania--for milder cases of bipolar, like yours, you can usually do without an antipsychotic.
If you feel hypomanic-y or like you need more mood control without seroquel, you can always add another mood stabilizer...bipolar depression can often be treated just with mood stabilizers (either by upping the dose of 1 or adding additional mood stabilizers). So if you're still having problems, adding Trileptal or Depakote or something could be useful. If the Antidepressant seems problematic you could always try reducing the dose further or switching to another drug (Wellbutrin supposedly causes fewer problems in bipolar disorder than the SSRIs, so that could be an option). Discontinuing antidepressants altogether is certainly another option.
You really should be more assertive with your doc. Think about it this way: he works for you. His job is to make you well, and right now it seems that he's failing at that. If he finds it difficult to meet your needs or take you seriously, you should get another doctor. PERIOD. If all else fails, you can always do this: go to a talk-therapist, and have that person call up your family doc/nurse practitioner and ask for certain meds. Usually, this method works pretty well. Good luck!
Posted by jerrympls on March 30, 2006, at 1:27:37
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel, posted by med_empowered on March 27, 2006, at 3:03:15
Seroquel is a nasty drug. I was put on it 3 years ago for insomnia and within a year I gained 100 pounds and am now pre-diabetic. My doc doesn't know what else to give me for insomnia because I've been on so many meds and he keeps saying "I don't want to make too many changes..." too many changes? Take me OFF seroquel = 1 change.
It's a horrible drug with horrific side effects.
Posted by maryhelen on April 1, 2006, at 16:39:38
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel, posted by med_empowered on March 27, 2006, at 3:03:15
My experience with Seroquel was horrible. I think it is nasty drug. When I started taking it, it was because my pdoc gave it to me at the end of a session. I had already told him that I wanted to change my sleeping med. I had been taking Immovane (I don't know what it is called in the States) off and on for 10 years. It has a nasty, metallic taste and it never seemed to leave my system. When i brought it up again, at the end of the session, he seemed frustrated and went into his filing cabinet and gave me two sample boxes of Seroquel, without discussing it with me. The only thing I could see, is that on the box it said it was an anti-psychotic. I took it anyway to sleep and I had the most horrific, disgusting, terrifying nightmares that I have ever experienced. I kind of felt that I was some weird maniac because, these thoughts had to be coing from my brain somewhere. I didn't take them for a few days, but after getting no sleep, the same thing happened. It wasn't really worth the 3 - 4 hours sleep, because I was too terrified to go back to sleep. I kept taking it for a while because I thought it was a side effect and would go away. Never did, so I stopped. It also affected me in the day with tremors and dizziness and a dull ache in my head. If that is just one example of the drugs that schizophrenics have to take, no wonder they hate taking their medications.
Med says it is a front-line med for schizophrenia and acute mania, for midler cases of bipolar. I do not have any of these conditions. I have treatment resistant unipolar depression. When I was still taking the Seroquel, the pdoc added Lithium, Lamitcal and Lexapro. I told him I would not continue with Seroquel. He wasn't thrilled, but I told him my experience with the drug and that I thought it was a nasty drug. He seemed surprised.
Can drugs, such as Seroquel, being presribed for conditions that we don't have, screw our brains up even more?
Personally, with my experience, I would say Seroquel was a nasty drug for me and I would stop taking it.
maryhelen
Posted by vicksnow on April 3, 2006, at 8:29:13
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel, posted by maryhelen on April 1, 2006, at 16:39:38
i had a terrible experience with seroquel. it made me a walking zombie, and after a month of taking it i became even more pscychotic and had feelings of being out of touch with reality. it was good for sleep, but to try to remain awake during the day was a nitemare.
Posted by med_empowered on April 3, 2006, at 10:00:50
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel, posted by vicksnow on April 3, 2006, at 8:29:13
I think shrinks these days have forgotten something: NO ONE LIKES ANTIPSYCHOTICS. Yes, now and then someone might do well on low-doses w/o problems but overall--no one likes antipsychotics. This is why they have to make liquid and long-acting injection forms of these drugs; NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE THEM VOLUNTARILY. And its disturbing to see them being sprayed about on everyone so casually. Imagine how we'd feel if instead of the new drugs docs were using the old ones--"hey, you're anxious? OK, take some Haldol" Yeah, no...that wouldn't fly. And the new drugs really aren't that much better than the old ones, so in a sense thats what our docs are doing--shutting up everyone's problems with re-formulated Haldol and Thorazine, irrespective of what the actual problem **is**. For as much $$$ as shrinks are paid, I honestly think we can expect a little more.
Posted by CEK on April 3, 2006, at 10:13:14
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel, posted by maryhelen on April 1, 2006, at 16:39:38
I went to see my psychiatrist on the 30th to follow up on the medication. I told him of all the side effects I was having and how I was not feeling any better. So now he told me to stop the Zoloft and cut back on the Seroquel to 50mg at night. He told me to go up on the Lamictal to 50mg twice a day. He said that I seemed to be very sensitive to medicines and that he was running out of options since Effexor, Lexapro, Celexa, Wellbutrine, Cymbalta and Zoloft were not helpful. He told me to be patient, that we'd find something that worked, it was just going to take a while. I can't believe he acted like there wasn't much left to try. He acted very unconcerned about my side effects. I told him about the jumping, twitching and numbness I have with my body and how after 3 days of taking the Seroquel my lower back had started hurting and I was having trouble urinating. He thought that the combination of Zoloft and Seroquel was what was causing my symptoms. Well on Saturday April 1, I went to the doctor about my lower back pain and they said I had a kidney infection and prescribed an antibiotic called Bactrim. I have never had a kidney infection before. I looked up detailed side effects on Lamictal and Seroquel to see if this could've been caused by one of them and they both showed that they could cause kidney failure and decreased urine output. Has anyone developed this problem while on these meds? I think it was the Seroquel. I decided on my own that I did not want to take it anymore. Like so many of you I could not function in the daytime because of being so groggy. I'd be tired all day and then finally wake up at about 5:00pm and feel real wired and could not go to sleep unless I took the Seroquel. I was up at 5:30am on Friday to help my husband and kids get ready and then did not go to bed until 4:00am on Saturday because I had not taken the Seroquel and was not tired at all. I took 3 Benadryl at 2:00am and it didn't even start to make me sleepy. This use to work for me before the Seroquel. I said something has to be better than this. I went to bed at 4:00am didn't fall asleep until about 5:00am and woke up at 7:00am. I stayed up until 4:30pm and finally fell asleep and did not wake up until 8:00 the next morning. Well now since taking the Bactrim and increasing the Lamictal a rash has started. It's on the insides of my arms, back of my knees and on my face and neck and in my hair. It's red, hot and very itchy. The doctor that prescribed the Bactrim told me to stop taking it and she'd call me in some Cepro and my psychiatrist told me to stop taking the Lamictal until the rash is gone. He said we'd start introducing it back to my body at 25mg slowly when the rash was completely gone. Now here's the kicker. I'm not on any meds now. Now what do I do? He stopped the Zoloft all together and now the Lamictal and I don't want to take the Seroquel. My husband is insisting that I keep taking the Seroquel since I have nothing else to take. I'm scared though, because I feel like it is not good for me. I'm afraid of what's going to happen to me now with no meds. I don't want to start getting suicidal again and start bawling all the time and start feeling so out of control. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Posted by med_empowered on April 3, 2006, at 12:07:43
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel, posted by CEK on April 3, 2006, at 10:13:14
hey! OK..I don't know what your docs deal is. Any particular reason he won't RX something like Klonopin or Ativan? There are some issues with dependence, but its not that big a deal..besides, in bipolar disorders a lot of times benzos are better than antidepressants. Are there any good shrinks around you could try? I think you should consider seeing a doctor who isn't callous and unimaginative.
Anyway...try not to freak out while you're off meds. You might not need anything right now--just b/c you're off meds doesn't mean you'll "go nuts" or anything. So try to relax a little bit. And...your husband really should back off a bit. If he keeps bothering you, you can always throw away/flush your seroquel tablets each day and tell him you took them. That's easy enough.In terms of replacement meds...have you tried Trileptal? Its usually pretty well tolerated. In my experience, if you keep it @ 600-900 you can stabilize your moods without feeling like a zombie, which is always a nice thing. You might also want to try adding in some alternative stuff--fish oils, amino acids, etc.--to complement the meds you take. It doesn't work for everyone, but some people find that doing the two together means lower doses of medication, fewer side effects, and more benefits from the overall treatment program.
Personally, I'd kind of hesitate to re-introduce Lamictal. Not to further diss your doc or anything, but it doesn't seem like he understands just how **uncomfortable** this situation is for you. Plus, there are so many other options that I'm kind of confused as to why he insists on trying Lamictal over and over again. Keppra and Trileptal would be my 2 top picks--no blood tests, not likely to cause drug-induced stupidity. There's also lithium, depakote, tegretol..those are more hardcore and would require blood work.
I'm really sorry about your situation. I hope all this helps. If you want more bipolar info, there's lots of info on the web to be had...I think psycheduction.org (or something like that) has a lot of info..its run by a shrink.
Good luck!
Posted by ed_uk on April 3, 2006, at 13:37:45
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel, posted by CEK on April 3, 2006, at 10:13:14
Hi
>he was running out of options since Effexor, Lexapro, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta and Zoloft were not helpful
Med is right. Your doc sounds pretty unimpressive. Just because the latest 'in fashion' over-advertised meds didn't help you certainly doesn't mean that you're running out of options. What it actually means is that the only meds your doc is familiar with are the latest 'in fashion' over-advertised ones. I think you may need to get a new pdoc!
>Now what do I do?
Stopping Seroquel abruptly can really mess up your sleep. Do you have any left? You could take 25mg in the evening initially......then half a 25mg tablet etc, or whatever works best.
Ed
Posted by CEK on April 3, 2006, at 17:47:45
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel, posted by med_empowered on April 3, 2006, at 12:07:43
Thank you all for responding to my situation. You are the only people that I have to discuss these things with because no one else understands. They haven't been there or done that or however I should put it. My husband tries to keep my "situation" hush hush, I guess so no one will talk bad about me "being crazy." I don't mind anyone slamming my pdoc. I do it all the time. He has supposedly been a pdoc for 35 years but I feel like he doesn't know his but from a hole in the ground. At our first meeting he told me he was against the benzos because he thinks they are only a temporary fix and that they can be habit forming. My sister has been on Adivan for her panic disorder for 7years and she said she doesn't know what she would do without it. She was house bound by panic before she started it. My mother and I feel like if something helps you, so what. My sister has been pushing for me to get my doctor to let me try a benzo and see if that helps, but I told her how he is. I've got another appointment with him on the 20th,but I also have an appointment with a new pdoc on May 4. I couldn't get in to see him for 6 weeks when I first made the appointment, but I made it anyway and figured I'd deal with this pdoc until then. I'm interested to see how he wants to go about my treatment. I'm to the point of trying street drugs or buying Xanax off of some weirdo to see if anything helps. I'm holding off on that though. Sometimes I feel like I'd be better off going back to the Effexor and having no brain fuction and wanting to eat all day. I was still very depressed and had no disire to do anything and the mood swings were out of control, but at least I wasn't irritable and I was able to force myself to go to work. I had just hoped that there was something out there that would help me to live life and not deal with it. One thing I know for sure is that I need more therapy. I see a psychologist now that does neurofeedback and life coaching but he doesn't think it's important to deal with past promblems. He says the past is in the past and that you need to focus on the future. He says it's a waste of time to try to "fix" the past when there's nothing you can do about it today. I thought that most therapist wanted to help you deal with past hurts so you could go on with the future. I need help dealing with past problems. I feel like they are at the heart of my problems that I have today. Problems with my father all my life(he's bipolar but won't admite it, says I'm the crazy one. He has mean, hateful manic episodes and cuses and hurts everyone that is close to him all the time)I've cut all ties with him. I don't allow him to mentally hurt myself or my children anymore. I made this decision last year August and don't have any regrets about it. But the main source of my pain and anger came on 6 years ago when I was first put on the ADs. My husband had an affair after 1.5 years of marriage and it almost killed me, literally. I know people talk about PTSD happening with tragic things but I feel like I suffered with it over the affair. For 5years I relived it and bawled over it everyday. Everything reminded me of it and I tried to avoid everything that did.(songs on the radio, movies, places, sex) After 5 years I finally got to where I didn't cry about it anymore, I just got bitter about it. My husband and I stayed together and he's the most wonderful man in the world since then, but it still is at the core of me. I can not allow myself to pysically get close to him, even kissing because it brings back all the pain and makes me feel like I hate him. I don't know how any doctor could think this is something that doesn't need to be delt with. It feels stupid to even bring it up after all those years so I don't discuss it anymore. I'm sorry to ramble on and on. I know people here see a responce or thread from CEK and think "Oh God! Don't even read that one. That woman won't shut her mouth!" The doctors say it's part of my bipolar problem. I never realized this. One councilor told me he thought that I just had a lot to say. Sorry everyone.
Posted by tygereyes on April 3, 2006, at 20:10:20
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered, posted by CEK on April 3, 2006, at 17:47:45
I like Seroquel.
It's basically the only sleep medication I can take that doesn't cause me to relapse into heavy addiction.
Posted by CEK on April 3, 2006, at 21:54:41
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered, posted by tygereyes on April 3, 2006, at 20:10:20
I took Ambien in the hospital and loved it for sleep. I would go to bed at 9:30 and wake up at 6:00 and never felt hung over or groggy the next day. It was wonderful, but the doctors didn't want to prescribe it to me because it can be habit forming. But isn't everything that helps you sleep? When I use to take Benadryl to help me sleep, I got to where I couldn't sleep without it. The Seroquel just seens too strong. What is the dose that you use to sleep? Taking 100mg and even 50mg I'm completely useless the next day.
Posted by tygereyes on April 3, 2006, at 22:12:33
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered » tygereyes, posted by CEK on April 3, 2006, at 21:54:41
50 mgs .. took me about a month to get used to it, now I sleep 8 hrs and wake up feeling more refreshed than I ever have.
Posted by med_empowered on April 4, 2006, at 9:27:01
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered, posted by tygereyes on April 3, 2006, at 22:12:33
hey! I don't know what it is with your docs and fearing "addition". Here's the thing: technically, Ambien and most other sleeping pills are schedule IV substances, which means the FDA thinks there's a minor risk of dependence. In reality, the newer sleeping pills don't really cause problems, and if your doc doesn't want to RX Ambien, you can can always try Lunesta, which HAS been approved for long-term use, so we know the dependence/addiction risks are pretty minimal. As for benzos...same thing, really; some docs apparently think that if you give a patient a Klonopin that patient will abuse it to no end...generally speaking, that's not true. Ideally, if you take a benzo you'll only take it for a while (although some people do need them indefinitely)....the vast majority of patients don't ever have a problem with taking them.
I think you need a new doc.
Good luck!
Posted by CEK on April 4, 2006, at 12:11:25
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered, posted by med_empowered on April 4, 2006, at 9:27:01
Thank you for the follow up. I always look forward to hearing what you have to say about a subject. You sound like you know so much and I value your opinion. Everyone elses too. I sure don't know anything since I've been dealing with the depression and rapid cycling for years and the anxiety and panic attacks have just developed that last couple of months. I would love to try something more quick acting than what he prescribes yet he doesn't like" quick fixes." I try a new doctor on May 4. I hope he shares a different opinion. It's hard living here in the south. I use to live in Chicago where doctors were plentiful. Here in northeast Mississippi, there aren't many doctors. Most don't take new patients so I drive over 100 miles to Memphis to see pdocs there. It is so discouraging. Thank you so much for your responce. Sometimes it feels like since I am new to this board that no one will respond. It makes me feel so much better when y'll do. I don't feel so alone in my "craziness."
Posted by tygereyes on April 4, 2006, at 16:15:40
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered, posted by med_empowered on April 4, 2006, at 9:27:01
If this was for me ... it's not my doctors who fear addiction. It's me. I've abused Ambien to the point of psychosis, taking many, many times the recommended dose to get high. Benzos are out of the question. Anytime I've ever taken benzos the entire bottle is gone by the next day.
> hey! I don't know what it is with your docs and fearing "addition". Here's the thing: technically, Ambien and most other sleeping pills are schedule IV substances, which means the FDA thinks there's a minor risk of dependence. In reality, the newer sleeping pills don't really cause problems, and if your doc doesn't want to RX Ambien, you can can always try Lunesta, which HAS been approved for long-term use, so we know the dependence/addiction risks are pretty minimal. As for benzos...same thing, really; some docs apparently think that if you give a patient a Klonopin that patient will abuse it to no end...generally speaking, that's not true. Ideally, if you take a benzo you'll only take it for a while (although some people do need them indefinitely)....the vast majority of patients don't ever have a problem with taking them.
>
> I think you need a new doc.
>
> Good luck!
Posted by CEK on April 4, 2006, at 21:45:44
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered, posted by tygereyes on April 4, 2006, at 16:15:40
Oh God, not me! I'm scared of doing something that they tell me not to do. I have three children ages 11, 6 and 3. All I want is to be able to at least be half way be alble to function and to be a good mother to them and a loving wife to my husband. I'm one of those weirdos that love to wait hand and foot on the ones I love and I can't do that in the condition I'm in. I definately wouldn't want to be high.
Posted by Persephone on April 5, 2006, at 2:03:29
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered » tygereyes, posted by CEK on April 4, 2006, at 21:45:44
A couple of years ago I was on parnate and klonopin. Yes, I am addicted to the Klonopin but I can deal with it. I have been on the same dose for over 5 years so no tolerance problem yet. I could not function without it. A small price to pay IMHO. It does not make me high. If your body needs it and tolerates a benzo, I don't think you will experience a "high."
When the parnate was not working quickly enough, the PDOC decided to add seroquel. HUGE mistake. The only reason she gave it to me was because there are so few meds that can be prescribed with MAOIs. Poor excuse to prescribe an antipsychotic! I tried it at 25mg/night and it was horrible! I felt nothing in terms of emotion. I was not sad but I could not experience any joy either. I think as someone mentioned it was like being a zombie. I just existed. Quit taking it and found a new PDOC.
I know how difficult this is for you but you must advocate for yourself. I am glad you are going to a new PDOC. Next, I would find a new therapist. If you feel the need to talk about past pains then find someone who will work with you on resolving/addressing these issues. This is about you, not the therapist! Since you have to live with your husband, only you can decide how to handle that situation. You may try talking with him about what you need in terms of his support; again, not about what he needs you to do.
I hope this did not sound too harsh. It can take a while to find the right combination of meds. Keep searching until you can find the right doc and therapist. I admire you for all you have done so far! It takes courage and energy to keep on truckin' in spite of all the obstacles you have encountered. Be proud of yourself.
Posted by CEK on April 5, 2006, at 6:44:38
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered, posted by Persephone on April 5, 2006, at 2:03:29
Thank you so much for your kind words. It's nice to know I have friends here. It was not harsh, just honest and that is always appreciated. Love, CEK
Posted by tygereyes on April 5, 2006, at 10:24:21
In reply to Re: drop the seroquel-med empowered » Persephone, posted by CEK on April 5, 2006, at 6:44:38
> Thank you so much for your kind words. It's nice to know I have friends here. It was not harsh, just honest and that is always appreciated. Love, CEK
Also - don't let my story scare you away from controlled substances.
I have a long, long history of drug addiction. I have a dx of "polysubstance dependence" - which means that, though my main love is heroin, I will abuse anything that can possibly abused.
My doctor once joked that if pharmaceutical companies want to find out for certain whether or not a drug has an abuse potential, they should give it to me first. ;)
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