![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2011, at 13:03:33
Speaking for myself seems the more meds I take the less they do and was better when only took 25mg of luvox and 15mg valium at night. Now the hormones, added 5mg lexapro, upped luvox to 50mg and added lmg of xanax at night but downed the valium to 5mg so how come worse now. I don't get meds at all. Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on January 20, 2011, at 13:29:03
In reply to Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why?, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2011, at 13:03:33
Seems to be, huh? Then again, I think as we age we require more just to maintain status quo or slowing down the inevitable declines aging can bring.
You probably didn't require hormones as a younger woman. And you have lymes now, too.
I'm sorry your worse now. Is it GAD? What are your symptoms?
Posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2011, at 19:16:24
In reply to Re: Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why? » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on January 20, 2011, at 13:29:03
FB same old same old just seems like I was better on the old regime. As for the lymes had it when was also on lower dose. Nac was suggested by poster Ron Hill. I did google and asked guy in vitamin store about it. He confirmed it can detox liver from heavy metals,reduce inflammation, and help with illnesses. One lady in the store said she uses it for sinus problems. G got some as he has sinus problems. I'm thinking also this will be last month of hormones as do nothing at all. Love Phillipa
Posted by Zyprexa on January 20, 2011, at 23:53:11
In reply to Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why?, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2011, at 13:03:33
I think the problem is the decrease in valium. If the old regimin worked better, why not go back. You have been taking the valium for such a long time, maybe you need it now.
Posted by herpills on January 21, 2011, at 7:19:21
In reply to Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why?, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2011, at 13:03:33
I know for myself, if I'm on 4 meds vs. 1 or 2 meds I expect to feel better. I don't really feel that much better since I've added Abilify, and it's frustrating.
Perhaps it is because you are taking more meds now, and you expect to feel better but you don't. Maybe Zyprexa is right go back to old dose of Valium? herpills
Posted by mellow on January 21, 2011, at 11:06:09
In reply to Re: Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why? » Phillipa, posted by herpills on January 21, 2011, at 7:19:21
I also get frustrated with adding more and more meds with worse and worse results. I was doing a fairly heavy med cocktail for awhile and finally realized it just was a losing battle. It all culminated on my honeymoon a year ago when I had so much brain fog we didn't even get to enjoy our trip. I was glued to the bed crying and calling the pdoc everyday. You shouldn't feel that way if the meds are working.
My doctor would up my antipsychotics substantially to calm me down and things would be great for a month or two (at least I wouldn't want to kill myself, never mind that I slept 14 hours a day) and then I would be back all wound up and crazy again in no time. There would be nowhere to go but higher doses or try new meds. The only things that finanlly helped me were non medical things or what my pdoc calls "mental hygiene". From our first appointment 4 years ago he has always said "less meds is better" but my lifestyle eventually took me to a place where I was on high doses of 2 of my 4 meds in the cocktail.
One thing that has helped is the Alternative board. I'm working with a lot of vitamins that I never knew about. Magnesium in particular made a huge difference. I have also lost 40 pounds on the weight watchers program. I noticed yesterday morning while shoveling snow off my driveway that this is the first year that I wasn't worn out and having back pain while shoveling the driveway.
I'm in better physical shape and it is bleeding right into my mental health and mood. I'm down to 3 meds and my antipsychotic is very low. My doc says we can get me down to just one mood stabilizer by the end of the year if I keep up with exercise and diet.
Finally committing to talk therapy for a solid 2 years has also helped me deal with a lot of issues. All in all I think it is just a natural progression to increase the meds more and more. Life just gets harder and harder if we don't get to the root, whether it be vitamin deficiencies, poor physical health or emotional traumas from the past.
One thing that is scary is how much better I feel off SSRI's. You would think Antidepressants would make you feel better, but I had suicidal thoughts for years and it has gone away completely in the last 8 months. My fatigue has reduce a lot too. I don't understand how drugs that have such opposite effects for what they are prescribed can still be on the market. That makes me afraid to be on psych drugs period, but right now I don't want to rock the boat. I feel decent and will keep with my regiment.
Posted by Phillipa on January 21, 2011, at 12:53:50
In reply to Re: Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why?, posted by mellow on January 21, 2011, at 11:06:09
I feel you guys are right as cut 2.5mg of lexapro off last night slept better. And zyprexa think you are right about the valium. In honesty this time xanax has made me from the beginning feel worse. Didn't want to admit it but true. Mellow with the supplements I take 400mg of magnesium for bowels. Horrible back pain. What other supplements you taking? Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on January 21, 2011, at 13:08:10
In reply to Re: Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why? » mellow, posted by Phillipa on January 21, 2011, at 12:53:50
Phillipa,
How much Valium were you taking for how long? And cut back how much? Zyprexa (I think) brought it up. That really could be a big piece (main piece?). Most doctors act like benzos are interchangeable, but each one is different.
I'm in a similar situation as many babblers--my meds are really stacking up. I don't like it, and feel worse PLUS hopeless because meds are failing.
Who said they are shoveling snow, Mellow? Did you go on this path with the same pdoc, that is more and more then less again? Is s/he your talk therapist, too? Kudos to you :)
I'll check out Alt more often.
peace,
fb
Posted by Phillipa on January 21, 2011, at 18:53:06
In reply to Re: Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why?, posted by floatingbridge on January 21, 2011, at 13:08:10
FB it was back and forth through the years different benzos started with valium. Then ativan, then xanax, then back to valium, and now two. Started 40 years ago on 5mg three times a day with miltown no longer used and felt great. It was when quit drinking beer, thyroid, and lymes that everything got bad. It was 15mg of valium only with 25mg luvox when moved here five years ago. Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on January 22, 2011, at 0:34:44
In reply to Re: Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why? » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on January 21, 2011, at 18:53:06
Hi Phillipa, That seems like a big cut in Valium. Was it fairly quick? Does that amount of xanax keep your anxiety in check? I'm not encouraging you to increase--just curious. I currently take 1.5 xr xanax plus, lately, 0.5-2.0 mg as needed. Today none. I really try to keep it down. But this is a difficult time. For some time I was at only at 0.5 daily.
This is usually my experience with AD's. I usually end up on a low dose. Like when we doubled my pristiq from 50 to 100.
Not good.You seem to have had some major life stressors in the past five years, too :(
I hope you find that key to feeling better soon.
fb
Posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2011, at 18:59:51
In reply to Re: Seems More Meds You Take More Needed Why? » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on January 22, 2011, at 0:34:44
FB I don't think xanax works for me anymore as when added it back in started to feel worse. Last night cut xanax to .5mg bedtime and 5mg valium, then when woke for synthroid instead of taking .5 xanax took 5mg of valium and had also cut lexapro down to .25mg and feel better today. Less I take the better it's starting to seem? Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.