[thinker22]

Hi guys,

My mania/hypomania whatever this is, goes on and on. Waking at 3-4 something lately. Sleeping about 5 hours. Drowsy at times but generally heart and mind racing, hyper energy, silly mood, fast speech, etc.

P-doc has upped my doses but still no luck on getting under control. Do I just enjoy the ride so long as I'm not a danger to myself? I'm not driving long distances or anything, but i know my eyes and reaction time are not doing well with lack of sleep.

Should I continue to talk to the p-doc about changing my meds or just go with it? I sure as hell don't want to go to the hospital, but I'm worried either way I'll have to. I just feel so weird. My appt w/p-doc is next week and appt w/t-doc is tomorrow afternoon. They both say I will crash eventually. So what's the solution already guys?! - that's what I want to ask them.

[bridgie]

Its all trial and error for them. Maybe some new meds are the answer. That and maybe that will be your new "normal" except they will have to figure a way to get you some sleep. I had a major flip in my mood it was the strangest thing bcz I've only been on the ad for 3 days. I'm not sure what's going on for myself either. I hope you find something that works soon.

[thinker22]

So what happened was I had so many questions and the p-doc had an opening, so I took it, but not after a shopping spree! Argh, $100s more. Anyway, she's having me go up on Lamictal to 300mg and got me a new prescription, albeit expensive! It's Risperodol or done. Something like that to gradually replace Abilify. Then next week I'll just be on it and Lamictal and Wellbutrin and maybe even go off WB eventually. Oh, and still with Temazepam for sleep. Freakin' pharmacist wouldn't give me the sleep meds until she spoke to p-doc tomorrow though! She said the dose was too high. Do you realize I'm manic and haven't slept well in 6 weeks lady?!!

Whatever. I have 2 pills left and lorazepam. Hangin' in here.

Thanks all.

[thinker22]

I can't sleep and my vision is blurry and my limbs are heavy, but my body's all fidgety on this Risperodone. At least Abilify gave me enough sleep to survive, but I'm no where near to tired. I've already taken 2 temaz, and nothing. My partner is annoyed at how much I'm tossing and turning so I'm out here until he zonks out. My face has been flushed too. Didn't drink at all tonight. Have been going about every other night these days...and mostly only a little. I'll try to sleep again. I'm going blind anyway.

[guggy]

I took Risperidone for a year and I did not like it, it impaired my thinking processes. Olanzapine is better, although it does cause weight gain if you do not diet or increase physical activity.

[BNLsMOM]

yuck, Thinker. I am sorry you are having a hard time. I take Seroquel for sleep. It knocks me out, maybe too much. Perhaps you need something like that. Benzos sedated me but didn't allow me to sleep.

[cybermember]

Thinker,

I would try Geodon for your mania. It nipped mine. No more spending sprees, racing thoughts, or pressured speech. Best of all, I haven't crashed since coming down. I worked very closely with my pdoc to find the most comfortable dosage where I'm not high or low, but somewhere in between. Perhaps Geodon would work for you too.

[thinker22]

As of this morning I'm at my lowest weight ever since I was probably 12 or 13. So, weight gain is not a major fear at this point. Not sure what's causing it, and my T said I must exercise although I told him it'd make me lose weight (which it has) even thought he argued it'd increase my appetite, which it only slightly has. I still burn off everything.

Anyway, I had to buy new clothes due to this phenomenon, and no, I'm not anorexic or bulimic. I've never thrown up on purpose in my life and if anything I snack and eat too often. I love food. I was so hungry waiting for an Rx that I bought a box of Cheez-its yesterday and inhaled handfuls in the parking lot. And this was after a big lunch, a usual sized breakfast, then for dinner I had a cheesy omelet with the works inside, and cookie and ice cream and my protein choc shake for dessert. This is typical, except for I often eat/snack even more than this.

I love fattening foods and carbs. WTF is wrong with me? I'm not even depressed...it's almost as if the mania is spiking my metabolism too. Oh well. I'll be okay...I just don't want to drop any lower. May have to force myself to eat even when full.

Okay Risperidone, work your magic. Thanks everyone for listening.

[thinker22]

Originally Posted by cybermember

Thinker,

I would try Geodon for your mania. It nipped mine. No more spending sprees, racing thoughts, or pressured speech. Best of all, I haven't crashed since coming down. I worked very closely with my pdoc to find the most comfortable dosage where I'm not high or low, but somewhere in between. Perhaps Geodon would work for you too.

Hi cyber,

I'm sure that's next on the p-doc's list if this doesn't work. I don't care what it is any more...just want to feel less than spend crazy and get real sleep.

[thinker22]

Hi all. BAD sleep last night. The pharmacy wouldn't give me anything to combat the insomnia because in a day and a half, they still couldn't get in touch with my psychiatrist. So no temazepam. I took 0.5 loraz just to play it safe last night, since I was out of temaz. Was still awake after midnight. Woke up at 3. Hard to get any sleep after that. Got out of bed eventually...but really only got 3 hours unbroken sleep and 1-1.5 broken.

Let's hope the pharmacy and the doc can connect today because this is horrible.

On another subject, anyone ever have their p-doc say this when you mention that you've gone off meds before that you didn't think you needed... then have them say they wouldn’t work with you if you weren’t meds compliant?

What if I had a terrible reaction? What if I just needed to be talked out of not doing it? That was kind of mean. I’m a reasonable person, I just get scared sometimes. I feel kind of betrayed or not trusted to think for myself.

[BNLsMOM]

I haven't had a p-doc say that to me, but I can see where the p-doc would see a non-compliant patient as a person who doesn't really want his help. Since most p-docs have long waiting lists of potential patients, it would be hard for them to take time away from a compliant patient to try to treat somoene who isn't going to follow the treatment plan.

However, your p-doc could have explained to you in a nicer way why his/her office holds that policy. I guess sometimes they are used to having to be very blunt because there are so many patients who work in terms of black and white and won't get it if the doctor gives a long explanation.

I am finding that I have to educate my p-doc on how I want to be treated in order to get the services I deserve. It's a pain.

[thinker22]

Last night I only got 3 hours of deep sleep. I mean, I dozed for an hour after that, but I feel terrible. My eyes can't focus, my body is tense. I barely made it through work and I left early.

That was because the stupid pharmacy wouldn't give me my meds (temazepam) yesterday. Now I have them and I'm afraid if I take the dose prescribed that I won't wake up. How much longer can I last this way? With 3-6 hours a night or none at all?

You know that feeling of, I have energy, but I'm not fine. My body is suffering, my brain is high?

[BNLsMOM]

You might sleep for a long time if you take the meds, but you will eventually wake up if you take them as prescribed.

You sound like you are in pain. Will you be safe tonight?

[thinker22]

I'm just exhausted. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. Hoping to get some sleep. Thanks for your thoughts. This is definitely unsustainable. So hard to focus. Maybe I'll go to sleep early for a change. Have to wait until 9 though due to med times.

Crash may be coming, but I've thought that before. 6 friggin' weeks of this!

[thinker22]

So I woke up at 5 and last looked at the clock at 11:30. 5.5 isn't bad. Still not enough. So afraid of 60mg of temazepam though. Anyone else take that much? I only took 30 last night...after my risperidone, abilify, and lamictal. Still was paranoid about not waking up.