Jump to content
CrazyBoards.org

Rapid starting/stopping mood stabilizers- IE: trying new meds

susieb
 Share

Recommended Posts

susieb

susieb

Posted
Posted

Hi-- I have a question. I am trying to re-start a mood stabilizer after 5, (almost 6 now!) months of NO meds except Wellbutrin and Benzos prn (as needed).  (I am freaky about side effects, which is the reason for the question, honestly).  Does anyone/ Can anyone offer insight as to the potential 'issues' with trying a new med-- then having a side effect.. so... after two days (if I'm lucky) tops, I want to try a different one? This can't be good for me-- Leave aside the fact that it's just plain... idiotic. I mean..does anyone know about the possible   physical repercussions/effects?    Here's what is happening- I try a med- as I mentioned-- if I am lucky- for 2 days- & if I have a reaction, usually rapid heartbeat/trouble swallowing... I stop. Yes- I've called my p-doc... and yes, I've tried to re-start (Lamictal- no go, unfortunately) So- after I stop.. At this point- six mos w/o mood stabilizers & horrible panic/anxiety... I want to start a diff. drug... the next day? Most recently it was: Lamictal- then Risperidone, now I want to try Gabapentin (again, after 4 1/2 mos. first try for 2 days.) 

 

Thank you so much for any insight/advice/comments.  

 

Diagnosis: Bi-polar II, severe depression, GAD, panic/anxiety disorder/social phobia, possible ADHD & SAD. Also- Hashimoto's disease/ aka: Hypothyroid disorder. & currently- Cholestasis/Gallstone. 

 

Drugs: For Mood: current: Wellbutrin 150mg 1x daily. Ativan ) 0.5 mg PRN, Xanax 0.5mg PRN,

           For Other: current: Levothyroxine 100 mg daily, 

Drugs I've tried in past: Depakote (for 20+ yrs) Klonopin, Lamictal/Lamotrigine,  Prozac, Celexa, Ambien, Zoloft, Seroquel, Gabapentin, Risperidone.. Hydroxyizine, &.... I am sure I am forgetting a bunch of others? which, yes-- proves I am:  very sensitive to side effects, both real & panic induced.  :wub:  :blink:  :( 

 

Thanks again. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
susieb

susieb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks!! I also should have mentioned-- All this panic nonsense RE: side effects is.. mostly brand new for me. I've been on Mood stabilizers/had my diagnosis... for.. well... years.(& years). I never acted so panicky about med side effects, but--- since I had a yucky reaction to Lamictal at the end of Dec 2013--- Yeah. I'm a mess. physically- & mentally.(panic/anxiety x100) I 'cold turkeyed' Klonopin, (because I didn't know how dangerous it was) & the Lamictal. yeah-- about that. I've been so.. sick- dizzy, stomach upset, various other stuff too weird to mention- just... yuck.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
melissaw72

melissaw72

Posted
Posted

It takes a couple weeks for a side effect to go away (if you do get one or 2 or however many).  I would give the new med a try for at least a few weeks to see how it does.  In general it takes about 6-8 weeks for a med to be fully in your system and giving you the benefit (or not) of it.  2 days isn't enough time.

 

Which mood stabilizer are you trying to start?  Does your pdoc know about you doing all this (med changes)?  If it is the lamictal you are referring to, you really need to titrate up slowly, and be done under a DRs supervision.

 

I hope you can talk to your pdoc about all this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
susieb

susieb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

OH-- oops- I just made an 'Emergency' appt for next week- put in a call to my p-doc/voicemail at the same time- today-- after 12 hrs in the ER-- fun stuff. The ER DID let me stay there while I took Risperidone for the 1st time... :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
susieb

susieb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Oh-yes.. definitely I am doing this w/ her knowledge/ supervision. I tried Lamictal  back in Aug 13.. worked great (after years of depakote/wellbutrin cocktail-- then.. depakote stopped working) However, when my old p-doc tried to titrate me up(this was Dec 2013) to what HE considered "therapeutic" dose- IE: 100 mgs-- I started throwing up... non-stop. But-- I may have had the flu bug too... So.. after much nonsense-- But NO manic episodes.. I asked new p-doc if I could just try Lamictal again before trying Risperidone.. which I a) know nothing about about b) have read lots of baad stuff about/known people with nothing but bad experiences on it... 

 

So-- I tried Lamictal again, & ws very hopeful. After two days... I had weird sores inside my nose/mucous membranes, but on top of that.. on the second day, & only on 1/2 a tab of 25mgs--- the sores came back/got bigger/then I threw up-- yeah... no good.

 

Risperidone- tried in ER last night. I had.. after 3-4 hours: really fast heartbeat... Raging insomnia, restlessness... & yeah.. I was twitching. I admit- I was twitching about ummm... 30-40 minutes after taking the dose? I don't know the dosage they gave me... but they 1/2'd it as well... 

 

Again- I have call into the p-doc.. hopefully she will call tomorrow. 

 

The reason I asked original question because I am well aware how 'not ok' this type of medicating/ trial/what have you is. It borders on the stupid.. & I am not stupid, just irrational about meds- (recent development.) I have always been compliant and well informed- perhaps too informed!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MiaB

MiaB

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hi - just letting you know that I moved this post because it didn't really belong under Bipolar.  I've put it in Miscellaneous Questions About Meds because you mention side effects, a mood stabiliser and an antipsychotic.  You should continue to receive good input from a wide variety of members here.

Edited by miab
can't spell today
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Phoenix_Rising

Phoenix_Rising

Posted
Posted

Do you think its possible that your anxiety about taking a new med could be manifesting itself as what you think are side effects?  Or at least your anxiety might be making it worse? I'm not trying to minimize what's happening to you.  Not at all.  Side effects suck.  I'm glad you have an appt with your pdoc next week.  You might ask him/her if it would be all right to take a benzo when you are taking a new med.  Just a thought.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
susieb

susieb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yes! Thank you, and yes.. I do think some of it is definitely (a lot of it??) is as you say. So yes, I asked all those questions/agreed with the conclusion, and... my feeling on the benzo... yes I will take them, but oh gosh I am so... not jazzed to have to. I had the absolute worst time going off the klonopin cold turkey. I honestly think it's what started all this horrible stuff with how I am feeling- both physically and mentally (the constant panic/dizziness) My stomach is soo messed up.. Im just... so frustrated. But- yes.  I am so very aware that the anxiety is so over riding, it's making me think everything is a side effect- until.. I take the benzo, along with the med. I think I will truly know the difference. However- & this sucks... but it's how my mond works, unfortunately- then I will start thinking: "Well.. how do I know that the benzo isn't interacting with this new mood stabilizer, & so now what I'm feeling is a... side effect?!  :wall:  :blink: .  thank you very much though... I am appreciative of all the help.. that's why Im on here. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
melissaw72

melissaw72

Posted
Posted

 

I had the absolute worst time going off the klonopin cold turkey.

 

Klonopin is hard to go off of weaning down slowly, let alone going cold turkey.  I can see why you had a rough time doing that.  If you go off a benzo and wean down, it *usually* isn't too bad, at least IME.  It's the going off cold turkey (of almost any med) that will cause you to go through hell.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...