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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Metalblade on January 3, 2004, at 22:31:45
I really need some opinions here on what I should do. First off let me give a brief history of my Mental illnesses. Well maybe it won’t be so brief because I’m starting from child hood. :-) When I was very young in like Kindergarten the teachers noticed that I wasn’t playing with the other children. I would go off on my own and play or I would just find some place to set and watch the other children. I had no desire to talk much. My problem got worse as I got older. Middle school and High school was a nightmare for me because I was scared to talk to people. I started skipping school because of this. At the time I didn’t know that what I had was called a Social Phobia. And on top of this I was also very depressed and of course I had no idea what that was either until eventually mom finally took me to a Pdoc. He told me I had Social phobia and depression. I was like hell ya; I finally have a name for it. That was not the end of my problems though. This doctor put me on Effexor and buspar. Well I noticed a response immediately. In fact the Effexor made me manic which was great for the Social Phobia but terrible at the same time because I was doing crazy things like running red lights for fun. The buspar is a joke by the way! I could take as little as 25mg of Effexor and this would happen to me. My eyes would dilate really big too. Any way when I had started taking the Effexor I had already quit smoking cigarettes about a month before and was completely off of smoking. But for some crazy reason maybe mania induced I don’t know, I got a cigarette off of a friend of mine. I started smoking again and the Effexor no longer made me manic but it didn’t help with depression at all after I started smoking again. In fact no antidepressant I have tried when I smoke works. Well, I told the Pdoc about my little discovery and by that time I had already looked up that antidepressants cause mania. He told me that there is no way that smoking could have that effect on antidepressants and the fact that I told him how the Effexor made me manic didn’t seem to ring any bells for him that I might be Bipolar. So if any one out there has had this happen with cigarettes let me know. Ok, let me go on. I was very dissatisfied with this Doctor so I went to a new doc. He first gave me Wellbutrin to get me off the Cigarettes, which worked like a charm. Then he put me on Zoloft. I took the Zoloft off and on for about 2 years. And then I got him to switch me over to Paxil because I heard it was better for Social Phobia. Well what I have noticed with these two drugs is that they initially work great the first day but not to the point of mania like the effexor caused, then they stop working and I start to get depressed again. Then if I increase the dosage they work and then quite working all in just a few days. So for the last 4 years I have been cycling my medicine to keep it working. Also I learned something the hard way. Don’t take over the counter sleeping pills. I took them for those four years and they have caused the cartilage in one of the discs in my back to degenerate and also in my hip. Take melatonin instead, its much safer, it works and is available in the supplement section of Wal-Mart. So any way, the Paxil has helped somewhat with anxiety but not nearly enough. I went back to the new Doc and asked him for Nardil. He basically laughed at the thought of even prescribing it to me. Call me indecisive if you will but I once again went back to the first Doctor. And he put me on vistaril for anxiety, which is like taking sleeping pills. He won’t prescribe me Klonipin either. I told him that I suspected that I had bipolar depression and that I had tried low dosages of lithium at 300mg for two weeks to see what would happen when taken along with the paxil. He was really pissed when he heard about me experimenting like that. But the whole time I was taking the lithium with the paxil I haven’t been cycling at all. My mood has stayed constant and I have gotten a lot of work done around the house. I don’t work anywhere by the way because of the Social Phobia. Even though I have got a tun of education. I went to school for electronics then I went back to school to become and electrician and got my license. All the education in the world isn’t going to help if I can’t interact with people. So back to the problem. After I told this to the doctor about my lithium experiment and begging him to put me on lithium he up and tells me he wants to put me on risperdal. I am not psychotic or schizophrenic. And from what I have read people with Social Phobia have low levels of dopamine and antipsychotic medications lower dopamine levels. So am I wrong in thinking this medication is just going to make my Social Phobia worse. Any input here would be greatly appreciated and sorry about writing so much in this post.
Posted by HappyGirl on January 3, 2004, at 23:50:52
In reply to Social Phobia and bipolar, posted by Metalblade on January 3, 2004, at 22:31:45
Hi:
First off, in regard to 'Risperdal' ... In Bipolar, atypical meds. such as Zyprexa, Risperdal, Seroquel and other newer AP are widely prescribed. Those AP meds. are designed certainly for 'Schizophrenia,' however AP also has a terrific result on Bipolar as well, such as 'manic,' espeically cycling/rageous form, some effect for depression along with all other annoying BP symptoms you could list of.
Probably, the reason why your pdoc. rxed Risperdal is because he/she suspects you have Bipolar, ... neither severe nor milder form, a kind of middle degree of Bp. Social Phobia, in your case seems not severe form, ... but as seeing 'not holding any job outside home' is not mild form, either.
In my suggestion, try to take a VERY small dosage of Risperdal and it seems to help your SP and mania aspects, then go up to the level where your symptoms could be alleviated.
I know that most of M.I. folks are quite suspicious to any of AP med., however AP med. are not only schizophrenia also other form of M.I. For my Bp, I take Zyprexa 5 mg. that actually turned the corner. Without Zyprexa, I must be more likely not able to function enough to hold any work whether full/part time job. For me, one of the most effective AP, Zyprexa is 'Life-Saver.' Risperdal is quite commonly used AP among Bp.It seems your pdoc. weights your M.I. more on Bp, rather on Social Phobia. Your pdoc.'s tx strategy is that with Risperdal, try to get your Bp keep from aggrevatingm and under control, and after finding your prognosis, ... the next, goes to Social Phobia. Because, multiple M.I. is not easy for any pdocs. to rx appropriately. He/she needs more time to find appropriate med. combo.
H.S.
Posted by Metalblade on January 4, 2004, at 4:41:28
In reply to Re: Social Phobia and bipolar, posted by HappyGirl on January 3, 2004, at 23:50:52
> Hi:
> First off, in regard to 'Risperdal' ... In Bipolar, atypical meds. such as Zyprexa, Risperdal, Seroquel and other newer AP are widely prescribed. Those AP meds. are designed certainly for 'Schizophrenia,' however AP also has a terrific result on Bipolar as well, such as 'manic,' espeically cycling/rageous form, some effect for depression along with all other annoying BP symptoms you could list of.
>
> Probably, the reason why your pdoc. rxed Risperdal is because he/she suspects you have Bipolar, ... neither severe nor milder form, a kind of middle degree of Bp. Social Phobia, in your case seems not severe form, ... but as seeing 'not holding any job outside home' is not mild form, either.
> In my suggestion, try to take a VERY small dosage of Risperdal and it seems to help your SP and mania aspects, then go up to the level where your symptoms could be alleviated.
> I know that most of M.I. folks are quite suspicious to any of AP med., however AP med. are not only schizophrenia also other form of M.I. For my Bp, I take Zyprexa 5 mg. that actually turned the corner. Without Zyprexa, I must be more likely not able to function enough to hold any work whether full/part time job. For me, one of the most effective AP, Zyprexa is 'Life-Saver.' Risperdal is quite commonly used AP among Bp.
>
> It seems your pdoc. weights your M.I. more on Bp, rather on Social Phobia. Your pdoc.'s tx strategy is that with Risperdal, try to get your Bp keep from aggrevatingm and under control, and after finding your prognosis, ... the next, goes to Social Phobia. Because, multiple M.I. is not easy for any pdocs. to rx appropriately. He/she needs more time to find appropriate med. combo.
> H.S.
Thanks for the reply. There are still concerns I have about the risperdal. I'm down right afraid of it to be totally honest with you. What if it causes me to have panic attacks? Man I hate those things. Plus I read some where that risperdal quits working for Bipolar people after a few months, and the makers of it are no longer trying to market it for this purpose. It just seems to me that the good doctor is taking me down the wrong road here. Its like doctors do there best to not give you anything that you think will help you. I don't know if this is an ego thing with them or what where they feel there not the one playing doctor. I'm tired of being like this and I want the tried and true methods for helping people with my problem, and those two drugs are lithium and klonipin.
Posted by HappyGirl on January 4, 2004, at 9:01:36
In reply to Re: Social Phobia and bipolar, posted by Metalblade on January 4, 2004, at 4:41:28
Hi:
I totally understand 'not want to take this kind of med. Risperdal.' It's a quite strong med., in a way, more potent than Zyprexa I've been on. To be honest and frank myself, ... me too, puzzle about why in the world, your pdoc. rxed such a potent med. as seeing you got a *good* help from Lithium 300 mg. that is a way, way low dosage. The standard dosage is 900 mg. Also, the other med., Klonopin is widely used among Social Phobia along with sleep-well effect, I believe. Some saying, Paxil CR(new version of Paxil) is a good med. for SP with lesser side-effect.
Since you have suspicion, even a bit offensive on this med., Risperdal, ... then to be honest, you may need to search for other pdoc. in the town.
In my oopinion along with personal experience, *Trust* is #1 once coming to psycho.-med. rx. Otherwise, with a fear and doubt, ... probably your brain does not like, ... means simply, ... might not work on the symptoms you have.
This is my opinion, .... you need to think more about this subject seriously. Because, once switched pdoc., you may not able to go back to this pdoc. any more. Be cautious! This is all 'Human Things' to deal with, as we all know.
Hopefully, more helpful and realist responses comes pretty soon. Usually, it takes about a couple of days to get more responses.
H.G.
Posted by HappyGirl on January 4, 2004, at 11:30:44
In reply to Re: Social Phobia and bipolar, posted by Metalblade on January 4, 2004, at 4:41:28
Hi:
One more thing I need to add to my previous response on 'Risperdal,' .... in your pdoc.'s view, he/she might classified your Social Phobia being more close to 'paranoia,' because the length of years you've been sufferring, ... since Kindergarden(?)or SP due to the fact of having small percentage of paronia you have, in his professional view, as the pdoc. If this is to be the case, then I feel strongly this med., Risperdal is legitimated to rx for your condition.
Also, the conversation/description you explained to your pdoc. might have convinced your pdoc. to rx Risperdal. You have Social Phobia along with Bipolar that in turn has been disabling you to work outside, .... is for the pdoc. 'pretty serious form of M.I.' For this, your pdoc. seems to have taken 'DRASTIC measures, ... in other words, 'aggressive med. regimen.'
In my knowledge along with my personal experience with the pdocs., they prefer to rx a stronger med. for the case like yours. Because, they seems to not like to be labelled 'a non-helper' to their patients, especially under the age of 30', particulouly for the male group, ... just in view of social standpoint.
This is just my opinion, ... then I'm curious to hear other opinions on this regard.
H.G.
Posted by Metalblade on January 4, 2004, at 17:02:27
In reply to Re: Social Phobia and bipolar/Addendum , posted by HappyGirl on January 4, 2004, at 11:30:44
Well, I'm probably just over reacting about the whole rispudal thing. I'm going to go ahead and take it. If it doesn't work at least I know that the lithium/ paxil combo does and will just have to find a doctor that will prescribe it to me unless I can convince this one otherwise. I sincerly believe he does want to help me though. Seems like a legitimately caring person.
Posted by HappyGirl on January 4, 2004, at 22:08:47
In reply to Re: Social Phobia and bipolar/Addendum , posted by Metalblade on January 4, 2004, at 17:02:27
Hi:
I totally agree with you, in regard to taking Risperdal.
In my experience, I had four or five different pdocs. in the past six years since I was dxed Bp. Then, in my opinion along with experience on all of those pdocs., they are all 'caring individual' for being there. However, their approach to the med. combo. are somehow unique. Female pdoc. is more lenient/good listener to patient's pleas what med. her patients desires. For instance. I asked Effoxer when my Bp depression was so bad, ... she gave right off, even knowing that this med. does not help me that was true, I needed to quit after two-three dosages. This is my personal experience, ... maybe all of female/lady pdocs. aren't so nice to their patients. But, if you want that route of asking exact meds. in your choice, ... probably female pdoc. might be more compassionate to your plea than male pdoc. ... just in my personal experience, ... so don't believe everything on this.
In my experience on AP, such as Zyprexa and Risperdal, there are a lot of 'fuss' going on among patients, especially from their parents. Once when I was in meeting at the local M.I. Support Group, one lady was so upset about her daughter having on Risperdal. Then, you are definitely not alone on this subject along with reaction. Probably, the name of AP might has some 'stigma' because of its relation to schizophrea that makes people so upset about. But, what matters you most is 'work/effectiveness,' ... if this med. Risperdal works on you 'wonder,' then it makes you happy ... that is all matters to you.
Just glad to know that you finalized your mind on regard to Risperdal.
H.G.
This is the end of the thread.
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