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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by moongoo on October 26, 2010, at 4:50:09
Thank you for your offer to help, Phillipa. I am really freaked out about meds right now. I was on Amisukpride, an atypical antipsychotic in the UK, for about 6 years for bipolar depression mixed with some hypomania, I mostly took a low dose, 100-200mgs, for about 6 months 300 mgs. The typical dose for maintenance is 300-600, for more active problems 800-1200mgs. I have now read that people with a severe mental illness die 25-35 years younger than normies. I started taking meds faithfully after a severe breakdown when I was 40---took an antidep tricyclic and Amisulpride at 800 mgs. Gained a lot of weight and felt better so went off them for about 2 years, in which I self-medicated with alcohol and nicotine and sometimes left over meds. Then another breakdown, started on lithium, thorazine, lorazepam, and Seroquel 25-50 mgs for sleep.
Took this for 3 or so years, except I dropped the Thorazine pretty early on. Stopped this abruptly then was given the Amisulpride which I have now taken for a long while because it was so helpful, almost magically helpful. Now I have stopped it for a bit, though in a bind I take anything from 50 mg to 200 mgs. But not often/
My research has shown that the antipsychotics cause cardiovascular disease, The there is the liver and all the other organs. I have taken Lorazepam now for for 8 or 9 years. A bit of dizepam periodically before that.
Honestly Phillipa I feel doomed. Have you ever met an elderly person who has taken meds like this for a long time? Or do we all die off young?
Had blood tests recently which show healthy average liver, kidney, blood, cholesterol. The prolactin which was very high is going down steadily to a more normal level---not there yet though. That's the AMisulpride doing that. Need a mmamogram---2 sisters have been recovering from breast cancers that they got at my age, and they don't even take drugs of any kind.
Worried sick, just worried sick. But I do good lifestyle things---haven't smoked for 8-9 years, no alcohol in the main (drank doing a severe depression to feel better and during a mania to calm down but mostly sober), exercise vigorously 30-40 minutes each day (unless have flu or bad cold), also dance for 1/2 hr to rave music, and do yoga/stretch for 20-30 minutes plus some strength training with barbells. I eat a scrupulously healthy diet except for special occassions when I have cake or pie. I use 25 mg of Seroquel to get to sleep at 10 PM approx, each night, regularly, instead of being the night owl I used to be with erratic sleep (actually miss that, used to paint good pictures in the middle of the night). I meditate and practice Buddhist mindfulness as best as I can, and use CBT and DBT to handle negativity and the panic and anxiety disorder that I also have. Use relaxation techniques. Am on disability so I no longer have super stressful job in crisis counseling with schizophrenics with severe problems in housing, daily living, etc. So I have a lot of good non-stresssed time though I do get very stressed on my own too.sometimes---like now.
Sorry to write so much but I wanted to give you the right picture and you seem so wise, being a nurse and patient you know all the sides. I guess it's been about 10 years of steady psych meds. Do you think this is killing me? Do you know of any older---60s. 70,s 80, even 50s, people who have taken meds like me and survived well?
I am now on Lyrica 450 for anxiety (approved in UK), Lorazepam 3 mg daily (what is the top limit of normal dosage for Lorazepam, do you know?), Seroquel 25 mg for sleep, and Lamictal 200mgs for mood stabilizing.
What do you think---I will treasure, honestly absolutely value, any advice you can give me. Without the amisulpride you can see I get a little manic which is why I am writing so much. Please forgive.
I just want to know if survival into older age is possible or if I should be thinking a lower life span and not seeing my kids grow into their adult lives...and I will be heartbroken to lose my bestfriend and companion and helper husband whose love transformed me....what should I do. Go off meds?
Thank you so much Phillipa for agreeing to listen to my story. It is wonderful talking to a nurse. My sister is a nurse.We don't talk much esp not about bipolar but I think nurses know more than docs anyway on a lot of things to do with patients. They are right there, all the time.I respect nurses so much, Right now though I feel desperately in need of help. These meds have me trapped.
Thank you again, can't thank you enough for reading all of this. Hope I made sense.
yours hopefully,
moongoo
Posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2010, at 11:03:11
In reply to Phillipa I can't babblemail, please read, posted by moongoo on October 26, 2010, at 4:50:09
I honestly feel honored that you would pick me to write your very heartfelt message to. Yes I nursed for 15 years but have been out of the profession for 15 years also. As for the antipsychotics which seem to be your biggest worry. I've read good things on here about others experiences with them. You must trust your doc with medical problems. The internet is good and bad as some sites give good info and others not so good and it's hard to know what to believe. I seriously think you should repost this to the whole forum. Many experts post and read this board. But why can't you babblemail? Is it that you don't know how as I see your babblemail is off. Meaning your posting name appears in black. Mine should be blue or red and you click on my name and then babblemail appears. To turn your on go to registration and activate that yes you want babblemail. I'm very humbeled in your picking me but seriously others know so much more. Love Phillipa
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 2, 2010, at 21:41:27
In reply to Re: Phillipa I can't babblemail, please read » moongoo, posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2010, at 11:03:11
> To turn your on go to registration and activate that yes you want babblemail.
It used to work that way, but now it's one of the optional settings, see:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#babblemail
Bob
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