![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 6:52:36
Hello everyone, I NEED HELP BADLY!
Please don’t get discouraged by how long this is. I really need HELP! Have been seeing my doc for about 2 months now, and I basically pay my doc to give me pills. I went to him for severe depression and someone to talk to, but he listened to my story in the first visit for about 10 minutes and then wrote me some scripts and gave me samples. The he wrote out scripts for Xanax 1mg (#120 - 6 a day), Seroquel 100mg (#40 - 1 at night) Adderall (30mg - 4 a day) and Effexor XR 75mg (#70-2 a day).
I took the Effexor for about a week until I started reading about so many people having problems with them, and having bad withdrawals, so I just stopped immediately. The first night I took the Seroquel it was unreal how it made me feel. It was like being on LSD but no fun at all! I was having hallucinations, I lost all motor function capability and I couldn't see straight. I thought I was having a sever allergic reaction and tried to get my phone for help but I actually could hold my phone, it kept falling out of my hands and then I passed out on the floor in the bathroom.
When I went back to him I said I needed something else for sleep because the Seroquel was too much and I was afraid of the Effexor XR because of what I had read. So he gave me a sample bottle of Paxil 20mg (#30 -1 a day) and samples of Lexapro 10mg (#46 - 2 a day) and Temazepam 30mg (#60 - 2-4 at night), and then he still wanted me to have Seroquel so he gave me samples of the 25mg. I took the 25mg Seroquel and still had the hallucinations and could walk or see straight. The hallucinations were mostly thinking that there were ants swarming all over the ground and my nightside table. The Tempazepam is okay, but I have to take so many of them to knock me out. For example, one night I actually ended up taking a total of 15 Temazepams (not all together) but I was desperate for sleep because I had been up for 6 days at that time, and I still didn’t get tired!
I am so scared of being this heavily medicated because I am trying to finish up my last year of college and I can't have anything mess me up. What should I do? Doctors are supposed to know what they are doing, right? Has anyone had these same effects from Seroquel? Also, the Adderall keeps me up for days at a time, usually anywhere from 2-7 days, with seven being the longest. Most of the time is about 4 days until my body just gives out without warning. Doesn't matter where I am, and it happens with no warning, I will wake up in the chair at the computer, or on the floor in the bathroom or kitchen, just from severe lack of sleep.
Has anyone had these same experiences with Adderall? By the way, I do not have ADD, he just gave it to me for energy. Now, for some reason all of the sudden both of my feet have swollen to more that half what they normally look like and I can feel a lot of fluid underneath the swelling. Is this a complication of one of these drugs? My father mentioned something about liver failure and it scared me to death.
The upside to all of this is that the Adderall is making me read incessantly. I am reading about 2-3 books a night. It has also, thankfully helped me write extremely in depth and LONG papers for my classes in school, even though I don't have ADD. The only other thing that I have to mention, which has become a problem, is that I have completely isolated myself to my apartment. I don't want to go anywhere unless I absolutely have to. I don’t even want to go on my front porch!
I just sit at the computer and write, or look things up on the internet to learn more about the things I am reading, because it its most all philosophy "type" books, so I like to explore other philosophers by looking them up. I suddenly have this extreme quest for knowledge, and I can easily stay up for days at a time just reading, only stopping to use the bathroom or take a shower. I don't eat but maybe when I force myself every 3 or 4 days, and that usually consists of a piece of bread. I have lost 40 pounds in two months.
Oh, one last thing, I cannot bear to watch television, whereas before I was put on Adderall, T.V. was what ALL I did with free time. I don't know why I can concentrate so well with reading, but not be able to have television occupy me for even 2 minutes. I just am in a great need of advice right now. What should I do? Has anyone had similar experiences with these same meds? Sometimes I feel like I am going crazy, but I can't tell if it is that or just a period of my life when I am becoming enlightened (I am reading Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu right now).
Maybe I just needed to do some in depth reading and soul searching and this is the way that coincidences have allowed me to read continuously. If you can tell, I am writing just like I would be talking...incessantly! Sorry about the long message! But please, if someone could take the time to respond to any of this it would be helpful.
I need anyone’s advice and I need it soon because my feet look are getting worse and starting to feel numb. I will be checking constantly for responses to this post, because all I do is sit here at this computer anyway. By the way, I am now on my 4th day of no sleep. What do I do about all of this? Could I be having liver failure? ANY ADVICE! HELP ME PLEASE! PLEASE SOMEONE RESPOND!
Posted by ed_uk on June 16, 2005, at 7:42:16
In reply to ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 6:52:36
Dear Sarah,
Please get a new doctor ASAP. He seems to have put you on very high doses of many drugs all at once.
>The he wrote out scripts for Xanax 1mg (#120 - 6 a day)..........
6mg/day Xanax is an extremely high starting dose - not appropriate at all. 0.25mg-0.5mg three times a day would be a suitable starting dose for the treatment of severe anxiety.
>Adderall (30mg - 4 a day)
120mg/day is also an extremely high dose. No one should ever be started on such a high dose. In fact, most long-term users of Adderall never take such a high dose.
>He gave me a sample bottle of Paxil 20mg (#30 -1 a day) and samples of Lexapro 10mg (#46 - 2 a day.....
Paxil and Lexapro are not generally taken together. Paxil is usually started at 10-20mg/day. Lexapro can be started at 5-10mg/day. Both Paxil and Lexapro can induce manic episodes in susceptible individuals.
>Temazepam 30mg (#60 - 2-4 at night).....
10mg temazepam at night is a suitable starting dose. Doses in excess of 40mg are not commonly prescribed. Most patients take 10-30mg at night. Adderall can cause causing severe insomnia. The dose in much too high.
>Doctors are supposed to know what they are doing, right?
I am not convinced that your doctor knows what he's doing.
>By the way, I do not have ADD, he just gave it to me for energy.
You might not need it at all........
You need a doctor who will not start you on more than one (at most two) drugs at a time. You need a doctor who will carefully adjust the dose(s) of any drugs prescribed. You need a doctor who cautiously monitors the effects of the drugs that s/he prescribes. You need a doc who waits much more than 10 minutes before writing a prescription. In short, you urgently need a new doctor.
>I don't want to go anywhere unless I absolutely have to.
Adderall can make people paranoid.
>I don't eat but maybe when I force myself every 3 or 4 days, and that usually consists of a piece of bread. I have lost 40 pounds in two months.
That's the Adderall (amphetamine).
>Also, the Adderall keeps me up for days at a time, usually anywhere from 2-7 days, with seven being the longest.
Yep, that's probably the Adderall too. Unless, of course, the antidepressants have induced a manic episode.
>If you can tell, I am writing just like I would be talking...incessantly!
Which antidepressant are you taking at the moment? Antidepressants can sometimes induce mania.
.........120mg amphetamine (Adderall) could quite easily cause these symptoms though.
Kind regards,
Ed.PS. I hope I haven't scared you :-)
Posted by sunny10 on June 16, 2005, at 8:04:58
In reply to Re: ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR » Sarah28, posted by ed_uk on June 16, 2005, at 7:42:16
thanks for responding that way, ed.
Sarah's post scared me, not yours!!!
Sarah, get a new doc asap, PLEASE.
Posted by Jazzed on June 16, 2005, at 8:55:14
In reply to ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 6:52:36
OMGosh Sarah!!!! Get yourself to a new p-doc ASAP!!!! This guy sounds horrible. That's way too much medicine to start with, too much medicine for most people.
When you met with him initially, he listened to you for ONLY 10 minutes before deciding what you needed? I can't comment on most of those meds, other than to say, I'd guess most docs would Rx one thing at a time, to see how it works for you, and then go from there. Or, they'd give you something for depression and something for sleep, which would seem reasonable.
As for the Adderall. I take it for ADD. Sometimes it's Rx'd for depression, but I don't think very often. It would be an off label use, and most docs wouldn't try it firt, and in combo with all thea other stuff. There's just no excuse for a doc to Rx it for you for energy. I"m assuming you're right, he's abusing his priveledge to Rx meds. In any event, I'm assuming the Adderall is the regular release (pills), and not the XR (capsules). Either way, that's WAY too much. You said you DON'T have ADD? If not, that's why it's making you hyper focus (the reading), stay awake, and not eat. Most people with ADD start at a much lower dose, say 10 mg of the regular release 2 or 3 times a day to see how it goes, or 25 - 30 mg of the XR once a day.
I'd RUN, not walk, to a new doc, and just forget about this one! And use your better judgement as far as what you take. If the sleeping meds are making you hallucinate, don't take them! '
Jazzed
Posted by Bill LL on June 16, 2005, at 9:46:15
In reply to ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 6:52:36
Sarah- Since you are trying to get through the school year, you might be better off not switching doctors right now. Here are my thoughts:
1) Effexor- it's a shame that you were scared from trying it. Effexor is very safe and very effective. It was the 3rd most prescriped drug for anxiety and depression in 2003 (the most recent year listed). The first 2 were Zoloft and Prozac. There are horror stories on all drugs and it's a shame that these are the stories that so many people see first when they research drugs.
2) Seroquel is a great sleep medication, and your doctor did the correct thing by having you try it, but it's not for everyone. If I were you, I would ask the doctor for Lunesta for sleep. It's very safe, effective, and no side effects. With Lunesta, you probably would not need the Triazepam either.
3) Definitely stay on the Adderal, especially with school work at stake. Don't worry about whether or not you are officially "ADD". It's a very inexact diagnosis. But your dose sounds like it might be too high. I'm not sure. Don't lower your dose of Adderal unless your doctor tells you too. It sounds like you have good concentration and motivation to do school work right now. I'm afraid that if you don't take enough, your grades could suffer.
4) Now for the depression and anxiety. You probably don't need Paxil and Lexapro together. I think that either one is ok. Lexapro is the one that I take and it would probably be less sedating than Paxil. Most people start with 10 mg Lexapro. Or you could start with 20. I think that you should double check with your doctor about the xanax dose. There might have been a misunderstanding about how much to take. It sounds way too high.
> Hello everyone, I NEED HELP BADLY!
> Please don’t get discouraged by how long this is. I really need HELP! Have been seeing my doc for about 2 months now, and I basically pay my doc to give me pills. I went to him for severe depression and someone to talk to, but he listened to my story in the first visit for about 10 minutes and then wrote me some scripts and gave me samples. The he wrote out scripts for Xanax 1mg (#120 - 6 a day), Seroquel 100mg (#40 - 1 at night) Adderall (30mg - 4 a day) and Effexor XR 75mg (#70-2 a day).
> I took the Effexor for about a week until I started reading about so many people having problems with them, and having bad withdrawals, so I just stopped immediately. The first night I took the Seroquel it was unreal how it made me feel. It was like being on LSD but no fun at all! I was having hallucinations, I lost all motor function capability and I couldn't see straight. I thought I was having a sever allergic reaction and tried to get my phone for help but I actually could hold my phone, it kept falling out of my hands and then I passed out on the floor in the bathroom.
> When I went back to him I said I needed something else for sleep because the Seroquel was too much and I was afraid of the Effexor XR because of what I had read. So he gave me a sample bottle of Paxil 20mg (#30 -1 a day) and samples of Lexapro 10mg (#46 - 2 a day) and Temazepam 30mg (#60 - 2-4 at night), and then he still wanted me to have Seroquel so he gave me samples of the 25mg. I took the 25mg Seroquel and still had the hallucinations and could walk or see straight. The hallucinations were mostly thinking that there were ants swarming all over the ground and my nightside table. The Tempazepam is okay, but I have to take so many of them to knock me out. For example, one night I actually ended up taking a total of 15 Temazepams (not all together) but I was desperate for sleep because I had been up for 6 days at that time, and I still didn’t get tired!
> I am so scared of being this heavily medicated because I am trying to finish up my last year of college and I can't have anything mess me up. What should I do? Doctors are supposed to know what they are doing, right? Has anyone had these same effects from Seroquel? Also, the Adderall keeps me up for days at a time, usually anywhere from 2-7 days, with seven being the longest. Most of the time is about 4 days until my body just gives out without warning. Doesn't matter where I am, and it happens with no warning, I will wake up in the chair at the computer, or on the floor in the bathroom or kitchen, just from severe lack of sleep.
> Has anyone had these same experiences with Adderall? By the way, I do not have ADD, he just gave it to me for energy. Now, for some reason all of the sudden both of my feet have swollen to more that half what they normally look like and I can feel a lot of fluid underneath the swelling. Is this a complication of one of these drugs? My father mentioned something about liver failure and it scared me to death.
> The upside to all of this is that the Adderall is making me read incessantly. I am reading about 2-3 books a night. It has also, thankfully helped me write extremely in depth and LONG papers for my classes in school, even though I don't have ADD. The only other thing that I have to mention, which has become a problem, is that I have completely isolated myself to my apartment. I don't want to go anywhere unless I absolutely have to. I don’t even want to go on my front porch!
> I just sit at the computer and write, or look things up on the internet to learn more about the things I am reading, because it its most all philosophy "type" books, so I like to explore other philosophers by looking them up. I suddenly have this extreme quest for knowledge, and I can easily stay up for days at a time just reading, only stopping to use the bathroom or take a shower. I don't eat but maybe when I force myself every 3 or 4 days, and that usually consists of a piece of bread. I have lost 40 pounds in two months.
> Oh, one last thing, I cannot bear to watch television, whereas before I was put on Adderall, T.V. was what ALL I did with free time. I don't know why I can concentrate so well with reading, but not be able to have television occupy me for even 2 minutes. I just am in a great need of advice right now. What should I do? Has anyone had similar experiences with these same meds? Sometimes I feel like I am going crazy, but I can't tell if it is that or just a period of my life when I am becoming enlightened (I am reading Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu right now).
> Maybe I just needed to do some in depth reading and soul searching and this is the way that coincidences have allowed me to read continuously. If you can tell, I am writing just like I would be talking...incessantly! Sorry about the long message! But please, if someone could take the time to respond to any of this it would be helpful.
> I need anyone’s advice and I need it soon because my feet look are getting worse and starting to feel numb. I will be checking constantly for responses to this post, because all I do is sit here at this computer anyway. By the way, I am now on my 4th day of no sleep. What do I do about all of this? Could I be having liver failure? ANY ADVICE! HELP ME PLEASE! PLEASE SOMEONE RESPOND!
>
Posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 14:00:53
In reply to ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 6:52:36
Thank you so much for all of your comments, they have been very helpful. I feel like I have always know he wasn't a very good pdoc. I felt like a lab rat to him. About a month and a half ago he actually prescribed me Ritalin LA 40mg (2 a day) and wanted me to take it along with my Adderall 30mg (4 a day)! I thought it was crazy but I decided that I would just try the Ritalin and see if I liked it, but I was not about to use them together. To make it short, I had a horrible reaction after being on the Ritalin La for 2 weeks. I began to feel like I didn't really know who I was anymore, I couldn't smile or laugh because I really just felt no emotion at all. Then I satyed up two nights in a row and I wasn't doing too well. I haven't ever had problems with staying up numerous nights on Adderall. My heart was beating out of my chest, so hard that my chest was vibrating. I could do nothing but lye very still on my bed because if I moved at all, it would beat harder. I decided that I needed a xanax, because it was making me have an anxiety attack and so when I tried to get up to get them, I took two steps and collapsed. I really felt like it was about to be the end for me. Forsome reason my whole left arm went numb. I know it is supposed to hurt if you are having a heart attack,but mine went completely numb and I couldn't feel it at all. I ended up just biting the bullet and I took 200mg of Seroquel so I could just knock myyself out. At that point I was so miserable, that I didn't care if I died in my sleep. I woke up the next morning and could barely move my legs. I actually had trobule walking for the whole next day. It was WEIRD. So I just got back on Adderall. I really like the Adderall but sometimes I take more than I am supposed to because I don't really want to sleep some nights. Until it gets to be about the 4th night and then I start to feel like I have an obligation to myself. Is it harmful to stay awake for that long? No one ever answered me about my feet that have become suddenly swollen. My father has got me scared to death that it's a sign of liver failure from the Adderall. Does Adderall have any effects on the liver?
Oh, by the way, you know how I said Ihave been reading a lot lately? Well, I just read something that might make everyone on this site feel a lot better if their problems involve any type of mental confusions. I just finished a book on chaos theory, which is titled "Chaos: Making a new Science" by James Gleick. Although it isn't a new science anymore, because this book has been out since 1987, so much of what it dicusses has now been proven as fact and not theory anymore. Well, there is a part. For anyone who does not know, Chaos theory means, simply put, there is chaos all around us with the with examples such as the waves in a turbulent sea, or fluctuations in wildlife populations, and the way clouds form their different and ever-changing shapes. The whloe meaning behind all of this, is that the theory of chaos is defined as: Deep within the chaos all around us are patters, and in essence, ORDER! The quote it in the book by states it better than me by saying 'order masquerading as randomness'. As I read on, I found that they began speaking of the human mind and, that some people who have, what would be termed as mental disorders, are possibly moving into a higher level of awareness that the average human mind is not ready to expereince. The complexities of the human mind,as these systems become sufficiently complex, the deleop new forms of behavior called emergent phenomena. As this happens, they transform themselves into a new, higher level of organization, through what "normal" people see as chaotic. So, if you can imagine, those of us who are termed as 'mentally disturbed' in many ways are possibly just evolving at a fater rate than other people and are moving toward a higher spiritual evolution. These scientist have determined that this is journey through chaos, is actually allowing us to experience a higher level of wisdom, awareness, and eventually lead us to attaining true peace, joy and harmony in our lives and the world around us. This can only happen if we stop seeing our minds as "problematic", and realize that we are just evolving at a higher rate than most other people. We are more enlightened. What do you think about that? I would say that I am just crazy, but I read it for my own eyes and something tells me that it might be absolute truth.
Sarah
Posted by ed_uk on June 16, 2005, at 14:55:02
In reply to Re: ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LE, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 14:00:53
Hi Sarah,
>....he actually prescribed me Ritalin LA 40mg (2 a day) and wanted me to take it along with my Adderall 30mg (4 a day)! I thought it was crazy.........
IT IS!
>My heart was beating out of my chest, so hard that my chest was vibrating.
Ritalin is sympathomimetic. I'm glad you didn't have a heart attack :-)
>I took two steps and collapsed. I really felt like it was about to be the end for me. Forsome reason my whole left arm went numb........
>.......completely numb and I couldn't feel it at all.........
>I woke up the next morning and could barely move my legs. I actually had trobule walking for the whole next day.
It almost sounds like a transient ischemic attack.
>.......I really like the Adderall but sometimes I take more than I am supposed to.......
Don't! 120mg/day is already a massive dose.
>Is it harmful to stay awake for that long?
Yes. Psychosis can develop due to profound sleep deprivation. You need to make sure that you're sleeping every night.
>No one ever answered me about my feet that have become suddenly swollen.
I think that's something that you need to discuss with your new doctor. I'm not sure what the cause is. PLEASE get a new doctor ASAP, your current pdoc is dangerous.
Kind regards,
Ed.
Posted by ed_uk on June 16, 2005, at 17:39:09
In reply to Re: ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LE, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 14:00:53
Hi Sarah,
I just read my post. I didn't mean to scare you, I hope I haven't. I just don't have any confidence in your pdoc at all. I hope I haven't offended you :-)
~Ed
Posted by Jazzed on June 16, 2005, at 18:12:37
In reply to Re: ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR, posted by Bill LL on June 16, 2005, at 9:46:15
Hi Sarah, glad to hear I'm moving to a higher level of awareness! Sounds like interesting reading!
Before combining any meds, you need to know their interactions. Just as a starting point, you might check out:
https://www.aidsmeds.com/cmm/Interactions.asp?Do=AfterSearch
There are drug major/moderate drug interactions between the Paxil and Effexor, the Paxil Effexor and Adderall, and the seroquel paxil and effexor. Between the SSRIs there's the risk of serotonin syndrome. I would say from what you've written that you're seriously questioning this docs judgement, as you well should. He does not sound like he's acting responsibly or in your best interest. Were you taking any meds before you saw him? Have you taken any psych meds before, any combos?Taking 3 SSRIs at the same time seems be pretty unusual, not to mention unsafe? I'm not a doc, but it doesn't seem safe to me. If you're already having bad reactions to some of the meds, and not sleeping for nights at a time, then I'd say you really need to look for a doc who knows what he's doing. When you start out on so many different things, who knows what you're reacting to? And, no it's not safe to go without sleep for that long.
Isn't seroquel an atypical anti-psychotic? Are you psychotic? I don't know, you didn't mention any form of psychosis. From what I've read, seroquel causes excessive sleep, weight gain because of a slowed metabolism, and a hangover. I've never taken it, and I understand it's used for sleep disorders, but if you're having hallucinations, I think I'd say get off the stuff. Also grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of Seroquel, just a heads up. I know I've seen seroquel mentioned in the boards, you might look through the past posts to see what people have said.
Sarah, it seems to me that if you need something to help you sleep, you might want to first seriously cut the dose of the Adderall. You poor thing, that's just way too much Adderall, and ludicrous that the doc wanted you on Adderall and Ritalin together. I take Adderall, I've taken Ritalin, and I'd never take them together.
Do you have any of the symptoms of ADD? If you don't know what they are, check out www.amenclinic.com and take the self test. Did the doc give you the Adderall just for energy, and you really don't think you have ADD? Or do you think you might possibly have ADD? Either way, IMHO, that dose is just too high. Go to www.addforums.com and talk to some of the folks over there who have ADD if you think you might have it. Very knowledgeable and supportive community.
f you're hyperfocusing (able to read several books in one night, where you couldn't do that before), and not sleeping for nights on end (which is not at all good for you), then this is too much stimulant.
I don't think there's an interaction with Adderall and the liver, I don't know, but it's my understanding that most drugs are metabolized through the liver, and if you're taking all of these meds, your liver might be having trouble metabolizing all of it. I don't know what the swelling is from. Should probably get it checked out by your GP, NOT the p-doc. I understand you're not supposed to take ibuprophen and tylenol together because they're hard to metabolize together, just an analogy.
I wouldn't take the Effexor, Paxil, and Lexapro together. They're all SSRIs and from what I understand, can cause serotonin syndrome when used together. Also, when I was on Lexapro, I started on 5 mg, not 10, not 20. That is just way too much, esp. with all the other stuff.
If you need one of the 3, decide which one, and take that. www.addforums.com has a lot of med info, as does www.crazymeds.com Or just do a google search. You might want to know the side effects, drug interactions, or how difficult it is to get off of.Sarah, get yourself to a new doc. You don't want to create problems that you didn't have before. You might have depression, ADD, anxiety, trouble sleeping, etc., but go to someone who won't overprescribe, and someone who's interested in your well being.
Jazzy
>
Posted by blueberry on June 16, 2005, at 18:46:00
In reply to ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 6:52:36
The number of meds and the high starting doses were rather aggressive.
Personally, I would maybe think what's best to finish school. Adderall could be a real friend for you there. I would keep that one, but probably adjust doses down.
I would skip the benzos for now. Could always revisit them. Would try 2.5mg zyprexa instead of the seroquel. Whether it be zyprexa or benzos, I would try to go one way or the other and not do both. Would take low dose lexapro or paxil in the background, though my personal favorite is prozac.
A little bit of adderall, a little bit of zyprexa or benzo, a little bit of ssri, and go from there. But that's just me. I think the key is to reduce the amount of drugs, choose just 2 or 3, and start with low doses, like a half or a quarter of whatever the doctor tells you. But again, that's just my opinion. I've been on all of these meds before and I just try to think of ways to take combos without harsh side effects.
As for the doctor, it actually could work in your favor to have one like that. The reason is, it should be very easy to ask for whatever meds and whatever doses you want. Another doctor might not be so easy. At least with this one, he sounds happy to cooperate in any way you might want, in terms of med choices and doses.
Posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 18:50:04
In reply to Re: ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR, posted by Jazzed on June 16, 2005, at 18:12:37
> Hi Sarah, glad to hear I'm moving to a higher level of awareness! Sounds like interesting reading!
>
> Before combining any meds, you need to know their interactions. Just as a starting point, you might check out:
> https://www.aidsmeds.com/cmm/
Thank you for the website information!
Interactions.asp?Do=AfterSearch
> There are drug major/moderate drug interactions between the Paxil and Effexor, the Paxil Effexor and Adderall, and the seroquel paxil and effexor. Between the SSRIs there's the risk of serotonin syndrome. I would say from what you've written that you're seriously questioning this docs judgement, as you well should. He does not sound like he's acting responsibly or in your best interest. Were you taking any meds before you saw him? Have you taken any psych meds before, any combos?
> I have tken Serezone long ago, and Wellbutirn. Both at seperate times in my life. I have been taking Xanan for 10 years at .25mg. It was only until I came to this doctor, he actually asked what milligram I wanted for each of the medicines that he was giving me. I knew I wanted to take a higher dose of Xanax after the same dosage for so many years, so I told him 1mg but I never believed he would want me to take 6 of them a day. I don't and can't do that. Other than that, I really haven't been on anything else.
> Taking 3 SSRIs at the same time seems be pretty unusual, not to mention unsafe? I'm not a doc, but it doesn't seem safe to me. If you're already having bad reactions to some of the meds, and not sleeping for nights at a time, then I'd say you really need to look for a doc who knows what he's doing. When you start out on so many different things, who knows what you're reacting to? And, no it's not safe to go without sleep for that long.
> I am worried about the sleep deprivation. I read on one website just a minute ago, actually that you can die.
> Isn't seroquel an atypical anti-psychotic? Are you psychotic? I don't know, you didn't mention any form of psychosis. From what I've read, seroquel causes excessive sleep, weight gain because of a slowed metabolism, and a hangover. I've never taken it, and I understand it's used for sleep disorders, but if you're having hallucinations, I think I'd say get off the stuff. Also grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of Seroquel, just a heads up. I know I've seen seroquel mentioned in the boards, you might look through the past posts to see what people have said.
> He told me he was giving me the Seroquel for sleep, because he told me that he knew I would be having trouble sleeping with the Adderall. I am not psychotic. Maybe co-dependant, but that hardly qualifies. I didn't know it was an antipsychotic until I saw the insert and it said that it was primarily used to treat schizophrenia. I was shocked, because there are so many medicines available that are specifically for sleeping. I don't know why he hgave it to me. And on top of that I can't believe he started me on 100mg.
> Sarah, it seems to me that if you need something to help you sleep, you might want to first seriously cut the dose of the Adderall. You poor thing, that's just way too much Adderall, and ludicrous that the doc wanted you on Adderall and Ritalin together. I take Adderall, I've taken Ritalin, and I'd never take them together.
> I knew something sounded wrong about it when he told me to take them together. Thank God I didn't because I probably wouldn't be here today.
> Do you have any of the symptoms of ADD? If you don't know what they are, check out
No,I don't have any symptoms of ADD, I can concentrate very well usually. I made all A's and B's up till now, and it's my senior year in college. I have never used anything before to help me study. But it actually doea make me concentrate more, although I don't think I really needed it for school. He said he was giving it to me for energy. Because I was depressed and I didn't really feellike doing anything.www.amenclinic.com and take the self test.
Did the doc give you the Adderall just for energy, and you really don't think you have ADD? Or do you think you might possibly have ADD? Either way, IMHO, that dose is just too high. Go to www.addforums.com and talk to some of the folks over there who have ADD if you think you might have it. Very knowledgeable and supportive community.I asked him if he thought I had ADD after he gave it to me, but he told me no. He said that it just a pill that will kind of pepe me up, and get me going. Well it definitly got me going, but I just can't stop!
>
> f you're hyperfocusing (able to read several books in one night, where you couldn't do that before), and not sleeping for nights on end (which is not at all good for you), then this is too much stimulant.
> I think you are probably right about that. I do miss sleeping a lot. But I have begun to deal with it. It's been three months mow.
> I don't think there's an interaction with Adderall and the liver, I don't know, but it's my understanding that most drugs are metabolized through the liver, and if you're taking all of these meds, your liver might be having trouble metabolizing all of it. I don't know what the swelling is from. Should probably get it checked out by your GP, NOT the p-doc. I understand you're not supposed to take ibuprophen and tylenol together because they're hard to metabolize together, just an analogy.
>
> I wouldn't take the Effexor, Paxil, and Lexapro together. They're all SSRIs and from what I understand, can cause serotonin syndrome when used together. Also, when I was on Lexapro, I started on 5 mg, not 10, not 20. That is just way too much, esp. with all the other stuff.
> If you need one of the 3, decide which one, and take that. www.addforums.com has a lot of med info, as does www.crazymeds.com Or just do a google search. You might want to know the side effects, drug interactions, or how difficult it is to get off of.
> I have decided that I am going to skip the antidepressants alltogether. I don't think I really need them anymore at this point in time. I will stay with the Adderall but cut the dose in half,and other than that I just need somthing good for sleep that isn't an antipsychotic.
> Sarah, get yourself to a new doc. You don't want to create problems that you didn't have before. You might have depression, ADD, anxiety, trouble sleeping, etc., but go to someone who won't overprescribe, and someone who's interested in your well being.Thank you so much for yourtime and information. I sincerely appreciate it.
> Jazzy
>
> >
>
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2005, at 18:58:08
In reply to Re: ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LE, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 18:50:04
Listen to the others. You need a new doc now! Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Jazzed on June 16, 2005, at 20:27:47
In reply to Re: ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LE, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 18:50:04
Hi Sarah,
It sounds like you know what you can and can't handle, and that you have great judgement. I guess whoever commented that at least the doc will give you what you think you need, had a point. I'd agree, if you stay with him take you think will help, and skip the rest.
> > I am worried about the sleep deprivation. I read on one website just a minute ago, actually that you can die.Yep, my doc put me on a sleep med because I didn't sleep for 3 - 4 nights, he said, "you have to sleep". I know I was a mess after going w/o sleep.
> > He told me he was giving me the Seroquel for sleep, because he told me that he knew I would be having trouble sleeping with the Adderall.
Weeeelllll, yep, if he wants you to take that much, sure you'll have trouble sleeping, that's for sure! LOL Some of it depends on your weight. I take 30 mg. of the XR (extended release), and that's fine for me. I know people who take more, but I don't know anyone who takes much more than 80 mg. and that's for a big guy.
>>But it actually doea make me concentrate more, although I don't think I really needed it for school. He said he was giving it to me for energy. Because I was depressed and I didn't really feellike doing anything.
Well, that's true, I didn't really think about that, some docs will prescribe it for depression. It's not a first line drug, but hey, if you're not depressed when you take it, who knows?! I'd rather take Adderall than the SSRIs too, fewer side effects, no withdrawl. And, if it helps you concentrate, who can argue with that? If you find yourself hyperfocusing, you might see that as a sign that you have too much, and cut back. I got to the point with mine when I was up to 60 mg XR where I couldn't stop doing whatever it was I got started on. Didn't like that, hard to prioritize.
> > I think you are probably right about that. I do miss sleeping a lot. But I have begun to deal with it. It's been three months mow.
How often, and for how long are you going w/o sleep? From what I've read most people find that they can't take Adderall past a certain time of day or they can't sleep. Usually the regular release lasts 4-6 hours, so depending on how long it lasts for you, you can time it so you can sleep. Asking for Ambien or Lunesta instead of the seroquel sounds like a good idea, so you can get some sleep.
I hope you get it all figured out, and get some sleep. Good luck to you!
Jazzy
Posted by Nutjob on June 29, 2005, at 8:28:48
In reply to ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR, posted by Sarah28 on June 16, 2005, at 6:52:36
Sarah,
Wow, that's one of the craziest stories I've ever heard! What kind of a doctor is this guy? He really shouldn't be practicing medicine. You could very easily have died from taking all of those medications in such high dosages. The MAXIMUM recommended dose of Adderall for adults is 100 mgs, but I've never heard of anyone being prescribed that much, and it's always recommended that the patient be started off at a very low dose to allow their body to adjust--and this applies to all medications for that matter. Staying up for days and not eating is extremely unhealthy. Going without sleep and food can cause your heart rate to increase dramatically, which is not a good thing when you're taking Adderall(especially 120 mg). Furthermore, sleep and food deprivations will only exacerbate your mental condition. I suggest that you go to a different doctor immediately to make sure that all of your vital organs are still functioning properly. It would probably be a good idea to wean off of all the medications, and then slowly add/adjust as seen fit--but only under the close supervision of a psychiatrist. And if I were you I would report this doctor to the proper authorities. The bastard could kill someone. I mean, three SSRI's at once!? Along with 120 mgs of Adderall and 40 mgs Ritalin combined!??Hope everything works out for you.
Love,
Nutjob
Posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 8:37:46
In reply to Re: ADDERALL,SEROQUEL, XANAX, TEMAZEPAM, PAXIL, LEXAPR, posted by Nutjob on June 29, 2005, at 8:28:48
Hi,
>Wow, that's one of the craziest stories I've ever heard!
LOL, what did I tell her!! I hope she listened!
Kind regards
~Ed
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.