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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cloudydaze on September 20, 2007, at 16:46:58
So, Last month I started seeing a pdoc again for the first time in years.
He started me on Lamictal, and it immediately threw me right into a manic episode. By the time I went back, I hadn't slept in about 2 weeks, I was all twitchy, and was having severe anxiety, weird bursts of energy, rapid thoughts & speech, and weird OCD type symptoms (a cup was hanging about a centimeter off the edge of a table, and it freaked me out so bad - I obsessed over it).
Well, because of all this, he added abilify to my Lamictal - and it's GREAT. I am sleeping and doing much better - but I just realized the other day that the strange Vertigo sensations (I feel like I'm gonna black out!) Are actually panic attacks, and not related to the cyst in my sphenoid sinus (supposedly, its not causing any problems - i thought the vertigo was because of the cyst).
So, to make a long story short, I have been having SEVERE panic atttacks since May, and I didn't know that's what they were.
So, in addition to my Lamictal and Abilify, i am now as of today taking Xanax also. We will see how this works.
Posted by Jimmyboy on September 20, 2007, at 16:55:58
In reply to My medication **UPDATE**, posted by cloudydaze on September 20, 2007, at 16:46:58
Has the Abilify helped with the anxiety and panic attacks?
I think I am about to switch to Lamictal from Lithium because I've been very depressed with lots of social anxiety/ panic. If the abilify has been helpful for this I would love to know what dose you take.
Glad you are doing better
JB
Posted by Phillipa on September 20, 2007, at 20:19:28
In reply to My medication **UPDATE**, posted by cloudydaze on September 20, 2007, at 16:46:58
Wow what a wierd reaction to the lamictal. And I've heard good things here about abilify. And panic since May . If vertigo wonder if that was what caused my vertigo many years ago although I was on a benzo at the time. It totally knocked me out. Hope the xanax works for you well. Were you med free or stable before seeing the pdoc? Phillipa
Posted by cloudydaze on September 21, 2007, at 14:35:04
In reply to Re: My medication **UPDATE**, posted by Jimmyboy on September 20, 2007, at 16:55:58
The Abilify immediately calmed down my manic state (not completely, but enough to let me sleep - now i'm sorta hypomanic maybe), but I did have a panic attack while on it. My doc wants to raise the dose in 2 weeks (i'm on 5mg now), and maybe it will help even more.
I'd rather be hypomanic than depressed, but I can't take this panic attack thing.
The day before I went to see the pdoc again, I had run out of Lamictal and dropped my last dose of Abilify on the floor. By the next morning, I was freaking out again (full blown manic). This shows me how big of a difference the meds are making!
Phillipa, I had been off meds for about a year and a half...maybe two years until a month ago, when I started Lamictal. I hadn't been to see a pdoc or therapist since then. I'd like to get back into therapy too.
Haven't needed the xanax as of yet today -
I'll keep y'all posted on my progress :)
Posted by cloudydaze on September 21, 2007, at 14:40:30
In reply to Re: My medication **UPDATE**, posted by cloudydaze on September 21, 2007, at 14:35:04
Here are my meds and the dossges:
Abilify, 5mg at bedtime
Lamictal 100mg in the morning
Provigil 100mg in the morning
Xanax 0.25mg as neededThe provigil might have been adding to my anxiety as well, but i need it to be alert because of my awful sleep apnea.
Posted by Phillipa on September 21, 2007, at 20:31:50
In reply to oops - forgot to mention..., posted by cloudydaze on September 21, 2007, at 14:40:30
Cloudydaze good luck and you have sleep aphnea? Did you have one of those sleep studies done? Phillipa ps how does panic and manic differ in how you feel?
Posted by cloudydaze on September 26, 2007, at 18:40:22
In reply to Re: oops - forgot to mention... » cloudydaze, posted by Phillipa on September 21, 2007, at 20:31:50
Mania makes me shaky, jittery, sometimes angry or short tempered, sometimes excited, fast speech, etc.
I rarely get the delusions, but i have before. I also become impulsive - with my speech, and spending.
Panic attacks when i was younger felt like asthma attacks - shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, maybe a bit of pain in the chest, and a feeling of panic.
Now, they feel like vertigo, like i'm gonna black out. That's the main symptom. Then i get a cold sweat, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and even chest pain sometimes. It comes on VERY suddenly.
Posted by cloudydaze on November 23, 2007, at 13:52:21
In reply to oops - forgot to mention..., posted by cloudydaze on September 21, 2007, at 14:40:30
Ok so I am still in about the same place i was, except in a depressive state rather than manic. I've noticed the panic attacks arent as frequent when I'm not manic.
I am still on the same medication, only the doc tried to raise my Abilify, and it was too sedating, so i went back to my old dosage of 5 mg.
I am still unemployed and finding it hard even to function at home, with everyday stuff. I have applied for SSI, and hopefully i will get it. My school loans are due for repayment(unless i get the deferment I applied for).
So things are kinda crappy right now, in other words. Also, since the medicaid program has changed, i got screwed on my health insurance for awhile, and havent been able to see some of my doctors, including my general heath doc. So I am feeling awful because I no longer have any provigil - it was really helping me stay awake and alert, despite the sleep deprivation (from insomnia and apnea).
So I hope things will start looking up for me. I'm still alive i guess, and that counts for something.
This is the end of the thread.
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