Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1009938

Shown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Lutuda one week no change or likely worse

Posted by Beckett on February 10, 2012, at 17:51:49

How long should one expect to give a medication like Latuda to work? In this case for bipolar depression. I have another week at 40mg, and the doctor has a week at 80mg planned.

It's very difficult not to despair. If 40mg feels like sh*t, why 80mg? I didn't have the hutzpah to ask my doctor so directly over the phone last night.

Maybe down is just not quite done yet, and no pill will abbreviate the descent. Except the sort that would make
everything worse in the long run.

Could 80mg have an advantage over 40mg? Wouldn't there be a whiff of improvement already, like someone left a window open somewhere, even if it was a tiny opening in the basement?

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » Beckett

Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2012, at 18:06:16

In reply to Lutuda one week no change or likely worse, posted by Beckett on February 10, 2012, at 17:51:49

No idea you really need to call your doc. Didn't know you switched meds? Phillipa

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » Beckett

Posted by SLS on February 10, 2012, at 21:22:32

In reply to Lutuda one week no change or likely worse, posted by Beckett on February 10, 2012, at 17:51:49

1. How do you know that you are feeling worse? What are you experiencing?

2. How do you know that any worsening is due to Latuda and not to the illness itself?

3. How long can you tolerate feeling this way?

4. Who can guarantee you that 80 mg won't work? I can't.


* Your doctor should know that you are feeling worse. He might feel strongly that this is an indicator of a failed treatment.


- Scott

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » SLS

Posted by Beckett on February 10, 2012, at 21:44:48

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » Beckett, posted by SLS on February 10, 2012, at 21:22:32

> 1. How do you know that you are feeling worse? What are you experiencing?

Painful thoughts. Increasing futility. I'll fold a cereal box and put it in the recycling then sit with my head in my hands. Daily crying.
>
> 2. How do you know that any worsening is due to Latuda and not to the illness itself?
>

I don't. But god, I am so low. So flat.


> 3. How long can you tolerate feeling this way?

I can do the time.

>
> 4. Who can guarantee you that 80 mg won't work? I can't.
>

I have no idea about how these meds work. They don't seem to work like snri's. I guess I was hoping for something more antidepressant.

> * Your doctor should know that you are feeling worse. He might feel strongly that this is an indicator of a failed treatment.
>

I told him over the phone yesterday. I didn't make my case as strongly as here because I thought he would understand when I said suicidal ideation without any intent or danger. Maybe I should have been more prosaic and stuck with cereal boxes.
>
> - Scott

Thanks,

Beckett

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » Beckett

Posted by sleepygirl2 on February 10, 2012, at 21:52:03

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » SLS, posted by Beckett on February 10, 2012, at 21:44:48

(((Beckett)))

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » Beckett

Posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 5:57:26

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » SLS, posted by Beckett on February 10, 2012, at 21:44:48

I don't like the way it sounds.

It might not be a bad idea to perform an experiment once you have been on Latuda for a week or so. If you stop taking it, and your condition improves, then I think you have your answer without having to agonize for weeks on end. You can always rechallenge your system by restarting the Latuda and observing what happens. I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this, but that's what I would do. I have had too many drugs make me worse. Latuda has a half-life of 18 hours. You wouldn't need but a few days to have an answer.

I would confer with your doctor before performing any SLS experiments.


- Scott

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » SLS

Posted by Beckett on February 11, 2012, at 10:56:43

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » Beckett, posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 5:57:26

I appreciate your support and counsel. I don't like the way it feels. It reminds me of another failed med trial but without any physical signs like dystonia or agitation to make it a definite no-go. My doc is away until late next week. I'll be seeing my therapist before then--she's not a doctor, but insightful and pragmatic. I can run the SLS experiment by her first. But maybe by then I'll have turned a corner.

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse

Posted by Beckett on February 11, 2012, at 11:02:02

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » SLS, posted by Beckett on February 11, 2012, at 10:56:43

Phillipa and sg, thanks for the support. I spend so much time buffering my family and hiding my moods. It's an extra layer of stress or exhaustion. It's also a distraction, so it's good. But I am extra alienated than normal. It felt good to squeak out a post. Thanks.

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse

Posted by sigismund on February 11, 2012, at 14:18:38

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » Beckett, posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 5:57:26

>I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this,

I do.

And then there is 'bipolar depression' from which Latuda derives as a treatment. That had me wondering. It's of no consequence but I felt more comfortable with fibro.

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » sigismund

Posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 14:21:29

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse, posted by sigismund on February 11, 2012, at 14:18:38

Hi Sigi.

That's all.

:-)


- Scott

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse )Bec

Posted by sigismund on February 11, 2012, at 16:34:31

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse, posted by sigismund on February 11, 2012, at 14:18:38

What happened with Saphris anyway?

I recall you saying it normalised your sleep patterns.

There was something you didn't like about it?

What I was wondering was whether your acceptance of a bipolar depression diagnosis had you trying a whole lot of AAPs that are not suitable for you?

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » SLS

Posted by sigismund on February 11, 2012, at 16:55:27

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » sigismund, posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 14:21:29

Hi Scott,

I was thinking about how you have been helped by something not normally felt to be in the toolbox for your condition.

There's the bipolar that everyone understands (manic depression), and there is cyclothymia or whatever it is called where people have highs and lows and (allowing for the normal difficulties of life) function well enough.

I never understood how you could have bipolar depression without some up side to it.

I can recall a couple of people in an acute manic state which was then called schizophrenia.

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse )Bec » sigismund

Posted by Phillipa on February 11, 2012, at 20:27:29

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse )Bec, posted by sigismund on February 11, 2012, at 16:34:31

Sigi I feel exactly the same way and also got the same impression. Fibro fit the profile also. Common also with thyroid illness. PJx

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » sigismund

Posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 20:54:01

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » SLS, posted by sigismund on February 11, 2012, at 16:55:27

> Hi Scott,
>
> I was thinking about how you have been helped by something not normally felt to be in the toolbox for your condition.
>
> There's the bipolar that everyone understands (manic depression), and there is cyclothymia or whatever it is called where people have highs and lows and (allowing for the normal difficulties of life) function well enough.
>
> I never understood how you could have bipolar depression without some up side to it.


I am either Bipolar III or Bipolar V.

http://voices.yahoo.com/rare-bipolar-disorder-types-iv-v-vi-754271.html?cat=70

- Scott

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse

Posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 20:59:11

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » sigismund, posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 20:54:01

> I am either Bipolar III or Bipolar V.

Oops. Sorry.

According to this article, I am either Bipolar IV or Bipolar V.


- Scott

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » SLS

Posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 21:03:43

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse, posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 20:59:11

> > I am either Bipolar III or Bipolar V.
>
> Oops. Sorry.
>
> According to this article, I am either Bipolar IV or Bipolar V.


If one does not limit the severity of mania to make a diagnosis, Bipolar IV is probably the best fit for me.


- Scott

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse )Bec » sigismund

Posted by Beckett on February 12, 2012, at 10:58:19

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse )Bec, posted by sigismund on February 11, 2012, at 16:34:31

sigi, I don't understand the Saphris. It worked for about a month. I slept with normal glitches and felt better until I began to feel too good. Then I finally had to call the doc and beg for elephant darts. Anything to slow me down because nothing in my prescriptive bounds could make a dent. So the Saphris was increased. When I slowed down it was like I was in molasses. After the Saphris was dropped back down, it didn't feel the same. I was heavily sedated on the same initial dose. So the doc says Latuda causes less sedation which is true. But I still feel leaden and maybe less sedated enough to despair. I don't know.

I have had success with risperidone at a tiny dose. But it did not prevent a depression from starting which is why Saphris was introduced to begin with. I don't know why the doc is
wanting to go so high this time. He never has before.

Fibromyalgia and BP are not mutually exclusive unfortunately. I was dx'd cyclothymic years ago, but the depressions have gotten more rigorous as have the highs and lows. I am trying the aap class because I haven't as I have been afraid of it. It may not suit me.

 

Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » SLS

Posted by Beckett on February 12, 2012, at 11:14:09

In reply to Re: Lutuda one week no change or likely worse » sigismund, posted by SLS on February 11, 2012, at 20:54:01

Scott, this article said that some doctors will purposefully give a patient they suspect is bipolar an AD to provoke a manic response. This seems unethical. Have you heard this elsewhere?

Recently I met a man who is unipolar manic. He has never experienced a depressive episode. He was celebrating his 50th birthday and sent out a cheer to all the people who predicted he would never make it this far. While I admired his amazing energy (hyperthermic?), he had been hospitalized many times for manic episodes and takes his treatment quite seriously.

 

The thoughts are gone, getting better (nm)

Posted by Beckett on February 14, 2012, at 11:48:42

In reply to Lutuda one week no change or likely worse, posted by Beckett on February 10, 2012, at 17:51:49

 

Re: The thoughts are gone, getting better » Beckett

Posted by SLS on February 14, 2012, at 13:42:12

In reply to The thoughts are gone, getting better (nm), posted by Beckett on February 14, 2012, at 11:48:42

Woohoo!
Woohoo!
Woohoo!


- Scott


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] 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.