![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SheilaC on December 7, 2009, at 10:18:43
Why do I have side effects with everything I have tried? Is it because I am a slow metabolizer? Or I am a bad patient who just conform?
Anti-psychotics make me swell up and gain weight
SSRIs or any med that is too serotonin heavy hurts my bladder
Pristiq ok at 1/2 dose, but told not to split it - full dose caused intestinal bleeding
Cymbalta caused IBSTrileptal & Tegretol made me sweat terrible (even though it's 30 degrees outside)
Emergency stop on Lamictal - caused mouth sores and gum blisters
Wellbutrin causes hypomania
I am so frustrated and so tired of living this way. Why can't I find a baby dose of some med that I can take that will take away the irritability, anxiety and give me some motivation?
I know I stump my psych nurse whenever I see her. I am dreading having to see her this week because I know she is frustrated. But at the same time, it shouldn't be this difficult.
Am I doomed to spend the life on my sofa, wasting my day away and feeling blah and irritable?
Posted by SLS on December 7, 2009, at 10:30:44
In reply to Why side effects?!, posted by SheilaC on December 7, 2009, at 10:18:43
> Wellbutrin causes hypomania
How would you describe your hypomania?
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2009, at 10:31:09
In reply to Why side effects?!, posted by SheilaC on December 7, 2009, at 10:18:43
Sheila I don't know seems like the board everyone has disappeared? Phillipa
Posted by SheilaC on December 7, 2009, at 10:53:31
In reply to Re: Why side effects?!, posted by SLS on December 7, 2009, at 10:30:44
> > Wellbutrin causes hypomania
>
> How would you describe your hypomania?
>
>
> - Scott
My hypomania from Wellbutrin is rage and irritation. My hypomania from SSRIs would be shopping sprees, spending a lot of money and generally being the life of the party. Great for other people, not good for me. I find I came "come down."When I am not on meds, I am just blah and irritated. Not very nice to be around.
Posted by SheilaC on December 7, 2009, at 10:56:43
In reply to Re: Why side effects?! » SheilaC, posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2009, at 10:31:09
Years ago when I tried 250mg of Depakote it made me hot, flush and sweaty. Is this something I should try again at an even lower dose?
I have not tried Lithium in any form.
My mother has a history of kidney issues and I have some bladder issues, so I don't want to damage them.
There has got to be a small dose of something to life me out of a funk without causing hypomania.
Posted by RocketMan on December 7, 2009, at 11:41:22
In reply to Re: Why side effects?!, posted by SheilaC on December 7, 2009, at 10:56:43
Hi Sheila,
If you have problems taking meds at the therapeutic dose, maybe try low levels such as lithium 150mg along with depakote or lamictal at minimum dose. Other options would be available as well, just aim for the lowest available dosage provided by the drug manufacturer. You might avoid unwanted side-effects as experienced in the past.
Take care,
Rick
Posted by SLS on December 7, 2009, at 15:24:56
In reply to Re: Why side effects?!, posted by SheilaC on December 7, 2009, at 10:56:43
Perhaps Trileptal would help with the irritability and impulsivity. It might even offset SRI induced hypomania, allowing you to take one of these drugs and gain an antidepressant effect. I don't usually suggest this, but perhaps St. John's Wort would help you feel better without producing mania. I would first try the Trileptal to evaluate how well it works to reduce irritability, anxiety, rage, and depression. I found Trileptal to be very tolerable.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2009, at 19:30:36
In reply to Re: Why side effects?! » SheilaC, posted by SLS on December 7, 2009, at 15:24:56
I also did at very low levels didn't increase as insurance didn't pay and couldn't afford it. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on December 8, 2009, at 17:16:44
In reply to Why side effects?!, posted by SheilaC on December 7, 2009, at 10:18:43
I'm not at all suggesting anything here, just that you should read "What Psychiatrists Should Know About Lyme Disease". One of the key hints to look for is exaggerated sensitivities to meds, exaggerated side effects, and bizarre side effects. Those are all indications that something else in the body is haywire. Again, not that you have Lyme disease, though it's not out of the question, I just think you are looking in the wrong place when thinking about it being the fault of meds or the fault of your own or whatever. The side effect pattern you have demonstrated is a strong clue there is something else involved here that neither you nor your doctor have considered. Side effects like that don't happen for no reason. Something's up.
Posted by Phillipa on December 8, 2009, at 21:32:01
In reply to Re: Why side effects?!, posted by bleauberry on December 8, 2009, at 17:16:44
Blue IGM of 2.5 and IGG normal post lymes mean what any idea thought would try to catch you here. As that is just what my Western blot turned up? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by Bob on December 11, 2009, at 23:08:59
In reply to Re: Why side effects?!, posted by bleauberry on December 8, 2009, at 17:16:44
> I'm not at all suggesting anything here, just that you should read "What Psychiatrists Should Know About Lyme Disease". One of the key hints to look for is exaggerated sensitivities to meds, exaggerated side effects, and bizarre side effects. Those are all indications that something else in the body is haywire. Again, not that you have Lyme disease, though it's not out of the question, I just think you are looking in the wrong place when thinking about it being the fault of meds or the fault of your own or whatever. The side effect pattern you have demonstrated is a strong clue there is something else involved here that neither you nor your doctor have considered. Side effects like that don't happen for no reason. Something's up.
Bleauberry -What if you've had the Lyme's panel 2 or 3 times and it comes up completely negative? What if you have exhaustive general blood panels and there is no sign of infection and no inflammation indicators?
- Bob
Posted by bleauberry on December 12, 2009, at 19:14:12
In reply to Re: Why side effects?! » bleauberry, posted by Bob on December 11, 2009, at 23:08:59
>
> What if you've had the Lyme's panel 2 or 3 times and it comes up completely negative? What if you have exhaustive general blood panels and there is no sign of infection and no inflammation indicators?
>
> - Bob
>It depends on which "panels" you are talking about, which lab did the work, what specific immune markers were studied, but more importantly the clinical picture, history, symptoms, and presentation. Lyme or Lyme spectrum diseases are first and foremost a clinical diagnosis, not a lab diagnosis. Since Lyme or Lyme-like can mimic just about any major disease you can name, it is possible to not have inflammation as part of the clinical picture. My LLMD said a few of his Lyme patients had only depression/anxiety as their only symptom.
It's fairly tricky stuff. I think the one biggest thing that keeps people sick permanently is over-reliance on lab test interpretations, at the expense of the overall clinical picture. That, in combination with overbooked physicians who don't have the time to keep up with the latest news on every disease.
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.