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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Phillipa on February 20, 2013, at 23:14:12
In reply to Medications that I've been on, posted by Phil on February 20, 2013, at 22:19:15
A lot. What now currently? Phillipa
Posted by SLS on February 20, 2013, at 23:44:31
In reply to Medications that I've been on, posted by Phil on February 20, 2013, at 22:19:15
> Amitryptyline Doxepin Nortriptyline Desipramine Paxil Effexor Prozac Zoloft Serzone Luvox Adderall Dexedrine Vyvanse Concerta Provigil Nuvigil Lamictal Serzone Seroquel Klonopin Xanax Ambien Straterra Wellbutrin Buspar Celexa Lexapro Cymbalta Reboxetine Lithium Imipramine Zyprexa Abilify Vivactil Ritalin Clonidine Buspar Remeron Pristiq
>
> I'm missing some but you get the idea.MAOI?
- Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 21, 2013, at 0:11:09
In reply to Medications that I've been on, posted by Phil on February 20, 2013, at 22:19:15
Have you pushed them all to the top of their doseage range
For example, some people need 300mg per day of imipramine to get a theraputic response. Many doctors are too conservative in their dosing.
What is your diagnosis, and what are your most most troubling symptonms?
Posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 7:02:43
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » Phil, posted by Phillipa on February 20, 2013, at 23:14:12
Seroquel Lamictal Clonazepam Adderall Lithium
Posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 7:09:49
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » Phil, posted by SLS on February 20, 2013, at 23:44:31
Nope. Probably should have been at some point. I know my first doc tried me on, I think two meds before Amitriptyline worked but I've forgotten what they were. Vivactil stands out because of the myoclonic jerks and the seriously funny story it caused. Wasn't funny then.
The first appt with my current doctor he wanted a list of meds I had been on. "Write on the back of the page if needed." I still remember his face when he turned the page over.
Posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 7:45:42
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on, posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 21, 2013, at 0:11:09
My original dx was MDD. Also dx ADD, GAD.
I've always taken very high dosages unless some some SE stopped it.
2004 manic episode BPII, BPI, BP NOS, back to BPI. I've been ADD and bipolar my whole life, they missed it.
Amitrip for 5 years at 250 mg is a friggin high dose. Not many people can tolerate that. One doc said she hadn't seen anyone handle the dosages I take but I'm sure many have.I'm 'stuck' now, I don't feel depressed and I'm not manic. Since I'm on disability, I don't 'have' to do a damn thing, and I don't. I'm on the computer from a.m. to bedtime and am totally engaged. I try things but I drop them very fast.
I see my odd therapist next week and all I'm going to do is pepper him with questions of where he thinks I'm at. Believe it or not we haven't discussed that in 3 years. He's not charging me but I pay $40 an appt anyway.
Many years ago I would have gone crazy not getting out but to some extent I've always been a loner/hermit. Seems a family trait. Dysfunction really.
My psychiatrist, in ten minutes can ask a few questions and I have stuff to think about. My therapist can go 50 minutes and I walk out no better off than when I went it. But OTOH, he's someone to talk to and that may be all I can handle right now. I like him like a friend and we can go the full appt talking music. He also advocates for me when I know a med will work at a higher dosage but my doc won't write it. He sends a 'love note' to my doc and it's a done deal.
I need, want to lose weight and was looking for help from Topamax even though it could be a bad move. 6' 250# is "not me" 6' 195# is. I want me back.
Sorry this is so long.
Posted by bleauberry on February 21, 2013, at 12:13:03
In reply to Medications that I've been on, posted by Phil on February 20, 2013, at 22:19:15
Well, two things come to mind....
First, it was time to try the MAOIs a long time ago. Do that. Looking at the list of meds tells me it is a complete waste of life and time to spend any more of your months in that category of drugs. That would be called insanity. If any psychiatric med stands a chance of helping you, it is either Parnate of Nardil.
Second, because I view all this stuff we deal with through different glasses than most, what I see here is that the real problem is not the neurotransmitters, or you, it is something else foreign inside of you doing it. So at this point, I believe it becomes number one priority to test a few things and see what happens, in an effort to gather clues, rule things in, rule things out. Stuff isn't black or white, so we have to do some probing for answers.
Specifically, it would extremely worthwhile in my opinion to read the book Healing Lyme by Stephen Buhner.....not for Lyme,....but because it has in it a lot of info and approaches for the stuff I am thinking of....neurotoxic substances. Where are they coming from? We don't know. Bacteria? Could be. Fungi? Maybe. Virus? Less likely, but maybe. Mercury, lead? Could be. Inflammation? Almost for sure.
The herbs in that book will probably do more good for your psychiatric symptoms than a backpack full of meds. In the event you have unsuspected Lyme or similar situation, you'll be nailing that at the same time.
Lyme patients have three distinct profiles when it comes to psychiatic meds....
1. Some require extremely high doses.
2. Some require extremely small doses.
3. Some are made worse or not helped much by any psych meds.These people rarely do well with common meds or common doses. Among the ones that are usually more helpful than others, are the stimulants and the antipsychotics. SSRIs usually are worthless to them. If you are in any of those 3 categories, it appears to me you are in #3.
Make the problem go away, the symptoms go away. The long history of meds looks obvious to me and tells me a lot....none of them touched the actual problem....it wasn't low neurotransmitters, it wasn't a chemical imbalance, it wasn't an over/under active receptor, whatever, on and on. No, more likely, what's causing the entire profound resistant mess is a poison of sorts wreaking havoc in the brain. Anti lyme strategies just happen to deal with all angles...toxins, inflammation, infection, immune system, hormone balance/support....that kind of stuff cannot help but get you feeling better.
When we've been stuck in the psychiatric bubble for so long, we forget or even totally block out, that there is a lot more going on that cause depression than just the things a psychiatrist is thinking about. They only attempt to "manage" symptoms. That doesn't sound very promising to me. Because it basically assumes the problem, whatever it is, will live on, and that the best we can do is try this or try that. It's hard to get one's mindset out of the psychiatric bubble. It is kind of a trap that closes a lot of useful doors. People don't know where to turn, the choices out in the world are so vast and confusing, where does one begin, and it is hard for a depressed person to do the research they need to do. That is why I suggested that book in particular. While it explains through the eyes of Lyme disease the fascinating details of inflammation and toxins, the same applies to someone who does not have lyme disease. So either way,...there is good stuff to improve your outcome, maybe a lot. In my case, it was a lot. I still have my backpack full of meds though, just as a reminder in case some day I forget how aweful that journey was. And I'm still not out of the woods, because I take Savella and it helps me....I am in category #2....my highest dose is 1/4 of the smallest dose they make.
Posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 13:44:27
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on, posted by bleauberry on February 21, 2013, at 12:13:03
I've just read the first two lines and I'm stopping there.
My dx is bipolar I. I don't like your attitude. Alright?
Don't post to me.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 21, 2013, at 16:45:48
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on, posted by bleauberry on February 21, 2013, at 12:13:03
Agree with what others have said
I think its time to try Parnate, both by it self, and if need be, combined with nortriptyline.
If Parnate doesnt work, then Nardil/Nardil + nortriptyline would be the next step.
Posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 19:23:08
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on, posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 21, 2013, at 16:45:48
This thread went totally out of control. I made a blog post on all the meds I've taken, cut and pasted it here. For fun. I think I'm stable but I know that it would be good to be more active. I'll get there.
I don't think I need to drop my whole combo and get on nardil/nortrip. Is that even good for bipolar?
I was not saying that no med has worked for me over the past 30 years! It was a list guys. Of course I've had good treatment. I'm not the only one with MI that has gone thru that many meds in 30 years. I went thru SSRI's, Luvox, Serzone, Effexor, Reboxitine and others like sh*t thru a goose. I'm ok.
Posted by Phillipa on February 21, 2013, at 19:25:33
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 19:23:08
Phil you just want to lose weight? Phillipa
Posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 19:50:39
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » Phil, posted by Phillipa on February 21, 2013, at 19:25:33
It would be a good thing to do. I used to run a lot but now 50 lbs later I don't want to do anything. I'll figure it out.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on February 21, 2013, at 20:57:59
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » Phillipa, posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 7:02:43
I take 3 of those
:-)
Klonopin, lamictal, seroquel
I take Effexor too.
I think I take a lot of medication.
What do you think of the lamictal?
Do you think it helps you?
Which med did you really dislike??I've also taken abilify, neurontin, Ativan, Zoloft, Sonata (Luv that name)
Posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 21:23:07
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » Phil, posted by sleepygirl2 on February 21, 2013, at 20:57:59
What do you think of the lamictal?
Do you think it helps you?
Which med did you really dislike??_________________________
Yo! I have absolutely no idea what Lamictal does or what the side effects are. I guess that's good. I've been on it so long in one combo or another, who knows? Don't know if it helps, weird.
Vivactal with the myoclonic jerks was interesting.
Effexor made me itch really really bad from 8 till 10 at night then stopped. Goodbye.
First day I took Reboxitine I thought I was having a heart attack. so long.
Zyprexa put me in the hospital for 6 days, my doc thinks it was nms, potentially fatal.
Serzone made me into a raving lunatic.
Luvox I had to call 911 for bradycardia.
Amitriptyline constipation was legendary, I lived on Senokot.
Zolimp-self-explanatory
Lithium has given me cankles :)
Seroquel and Zyprexa are weight gain champsI'd have to look at the list again to remember some others.
I reached over a ladies desk to shake her hand and my arm suddenly flew to the right at about 200 mph and I knocked everything off of her desk. That's a myoclonic jerk.Fun stuff :)
Posted by Phillipa on February 21, 2013, at 21:36:24
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » sleepygirl2, posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 21:23:07
Phil would that be considered assault if your arm smacked her? Phillipa
Posted by sigismund on February 21, 2013, at 21:57:12
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » sleepygirl2, posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 21:23:07
Is this a real name?
:)
Posted by sigismund on February 21, 2013, at 22:00:06
In reply to Zolimp, posted by sigismund on February 21, 2013, at 21:57:12
Oh, is that Zoloft?
Not Zolpidem?
They say people who don't post are getting better.
Pure assumption....I have just had a big tequila.
Posted by Phillipa on February 21, 2013, at 22:02:09
In reply to Re: Zolimp, posted by sigismund on February 21, 2013, at 22:00:06
Sigi so you are not getting better? PJ
Posted by sleepygirl2 on February 21, 2013, at 22:31:04
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » sleepygirl2, posted by Phil on February 21, 2013, at 21:23:07
Yikes!
And cankles, I love that word
But I don't want you to have them!But you've got me thinking.... The myoclonic jerk defense...
That could work ;-)
Posted by sigismund on February 21, 2013, at 23:40:53
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » Phil, posted by sleepygirl2 on February 21, 2013, at 22:31:04
>The myoclonic jerk defense
The name for a band? Sounds OK. I used to be keen on Summoners Grace (from Lear).Part of this (at least for me) is age....just not being well.....which is why I do what I can to help with that.
Posted by tensor on February 22, 2013, at 5:20:04
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » Phil, posted by SLS on February 20, 2013, at 23:44:31
> > Amitryptyline Doxepin Nortriptyline Desipramine Paxil Effexor Prozac Zoloft Serzone Luvox Adderall Dexedrine Vyvanse Concerta Provigil Nuvigil Lamictal Serzone Seroquel Klonopin Xanax Ambien Straterra Wellbutrin Buspar Celexa Lexapro Cymbalta Reboxetine Lithium Imipramine Zyprexa Abilify Vivactil Ritalin Clonidine Buspar Remeron Pristiq
> >
> > I'm missing some but you get the idea.Incredible with such a list and people still points out what you have not taken..
Posted by Phil on February 22, 2013, at 7:55:31
In reply to Re: Zolimp, posted by sigismund on February 21, 2013, at 22:00:06
Zoloft. Noloft.
Posted by Phil on February 22, 2013, at 8:06:01
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on » Phil, posted by sleepygirl2 on February 21, 2013, at 22:31:04
I didn't hit her your honor, my arm did.
Posted by Phil on February 22, 2013, at 9:56:05
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on, posted by tensor on February 22, 2013, at 5:20:04
Probably the one I should have taken I guess. Or may yet, who knows?
Posted by CamW on February 26, 2013, at 17:12:03
In reply to Re: Medications that I've been on, posted by sigismund on February 21, 2013, at 23:40:53
>The myoclonic jerk defence
I thought that because they were using this, the 49's lost the Super Bowl.
=^P
- Cam
This is the end of the thread.
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