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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lalapurple on April 15, 2009, at 15:10:52
not sure where to begin, but I am bipolar, OCD etc and I became tired of taking 900 mg of lithium and 10 mg of abilify. When I was taking them I felt like a zombie with no emotion (couldn't even cry if I wanted to), I was also always so tired to were my eyelids were always in danger of closing no matter how much sleep I got . . . I stopped taking both meds about a week ago . . . no side effects except major major depression . . .I just don't know what to do . . . at any rate should I get back on the lithium and abilify??? I don't want to play around with my body but I just keep going deeper and deeper into a dark hole . . .I lost my job, I lost my insurance which means I would be running out of the pills anyway (I've already applied for state assistance). . . help
Posted by Jeroen on April 15, 2009, at 15:27:05
In reply to off lithium + abilify cold turkey- no doc, posted by lalapurple on April 15, 2009, at 15:10:52
Hi, as long your not having a condition like psychosis where you get psychotic the moment you stop the anti psychotic then you're fine
try to enjoy life even with that depression, because my situation isnt exactly happyness but madness
go to a doc and ask for a new medicine, have you tried Seroquel? i suggest trying 100 mg twice a day and start with 50 mg twice a day for 2 weeks might help or not.. it did for me
Posted by Phillipa on April 15, 2009, at 21:09:19
In reply to off lithium + abilify cold turkey- no doc, posted by lalapurple on April 15, 2009, at 15:10:52
Welcome to babble. Can you apply for assistance to get back on your meds as not a safe idea if bipolar to stop your meds seriously. Love Phillipa
Posted by Ceres on April 16, 2009, at 4:15:52
In reply to off lithium + abilify cold turkey- no doc, posted by lalapurple on April 15, 2009, at 15:10:52
Hi, LLP
Do you think your previous MD might call in some Lithium refills, might give you some Abilify samples to tide you over?
If you go up very slowly, you might get beyond the Lithium fatigue, though it might take a couple + mo's.
I heard hospital emergency rooms will give one some meds for "major" psych. dx's when one is without.
I hope you get seen by your County clinic soon. Even if you get lithium for cheap, there are still the labs. One can go through a long application process for other health services, & frequently be turned down. But, I think w/ bipolar dis, one is taken in fairly quickly for psychiatric services (if you meet their income criteria), as it costs them more if one is hospitalized & unable to pay.
Especially with the stress of the job loss, you'll need to take extra good care of yourself.
I'm sorry you're going through this difficult time.
Posted by Zyprexa on April 16, 2009, at 19:28:17
In reply to off lithium + abilify cold turkey- no doc, posted by lalapurple on April 15, 2009, at 15:10:52
Could you take an anti-depressant like citalopram? Its on the cheep list. $10 for 100 at costco, and probably every other cheep list. Its probably better for depression and very low in side effects. I've taken it and it stoped my crying.
Posted by desolationrower on April 17, 2009, at 23:27:58
In reply to off lithium + abilify cold turkey- no doc, posted by lalapurple on April 15, 2009, at 15:10:52
lithium at least is very cheap, you could stay on that if you can get the prescription.
-d/r
This is the end of the thread.
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