[SamuelAdams1313]

My p-doc increased dosage by 10mg and so far my social anxiety, gad, ocd, and focus have all gotten worse. Especially the SA. Is this possible? What are some good alternatives?

[Moose72]

Are you on a mood stabilizer?

[BlackPup]

Can you ring your pdoc and let them know. Don't know what to suggest other than a friend with OCD was on tricyclics which worked for her. Good luck.

[SamuelAdams1313]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Are you on a mood stabilizer?

400mg lamictal

[SamuelAdams1313]

it's so frustrating bc I know the tapering off process will be awhile since i'm on 40mg

[belledisastre]

You can take 40mg of Lexapro? I thought the highest was 20.
Regardless, Lexapro just might not be the med for you. It can work wonders for some people apparently, but it did absolutely nothing for me either. It didn't give me positive effects, side effects, it was just like being on no medication at all. Granted I took the medication alone, back when they thought I was suffering from a unipolar depressive disorder as opposed to a bipolar disorder, and antidepressants alone usually don't have great results with people that have bipolar disorder.
Since you're presumably taking it for anxiety, I'd talk to your psychiatrist about other good anxiety meds. Explain how your symptoms have worsened. Hopefully you'll find a good medication for you. Good luck!

[~Christina]

Just my opinion .. you have been on and off and having dose changes on Lots of medications in the past few months... Maybe the waters are to "muddy" right now and it's impossible to really see what is helpful and what is not.

If it were me I would sit down with my Pdoc and agree to stop most medications and just "start over"

Just a thought. Good Luck

[SamuelAdams1313]

Originally Posted by belledisastre

You can take 40mg of Lexapro? I thought the highest was 20.
Regardless, Lexapro just might not be the med for you. It can work wonders for some people apparently, but it did absolutely nothing for me either. It didn't give me positive effects, side effects, it was just like being on no medication at all. Granted I took the medication alone, back when they thought I was suffering from a unipolar depressive disorder as opposed to a bipolar disorder, and antidepressants alone usually don't have great results with people that have bipolar disorder.
Since you're presumably taking it for anxiety, I'd talk to your psychiatrist about other good anxiety meds. Explain how your symptoms have worsened. Hopefully you'll find a good medication for you. Good luck!

I've heard of 20 being the highest also. My p-doc says sometimes goes up to 60mg. crazy huh? What meds are you on now?

[belledisastre]

Hmm. Strange haha! And right now I'm on 600mg Lithium, 50mg Seroquel & 50mg Pristiq. They're all for my bipolar disorder; Pristiq was also prescribed back when they thought I had unipolar depression. Neither Seroquel nor Pristiq really did anything for me but give me side effects, I felt hopeless in regards to medications until they put me on Lithium. Lithium is perfect for me, I feel great now.
I have GAD and OCD as well but for some reason none of my psychiatrists have really focused on that in regards to medications. I'm not sure how it would sound if I asked to be put on anxiety meds on top of my 3 bipolar meds. So as of right now I'm trying my best to manage it using coping skills and what not. I seem to be doing pretty well with my GAD but not so much with my OCD.

[SamuelAdams1313]

Originally Posted by belledisastre

Hmm. Strange haha! And right now I'm on 600mg Lithium, 50mg Seroquel & 50mg Pristiq. They're all for my bipolar disorder; Pristiq was also prescribed back when they thought I had unipolar depression. Neither Seroquel nor Pristiq really did anything for me but give me side effects, I felt hopeless in regards to medications until they put me on Lithium. Lithium is perfect for me, I feel great now.
I have GAD and OCD as well but for some reason none of my psychiatrists have really focused on that in regards to medications. I'm not sure how it would sound if I asked to be put on anxiety meds on top of my 3 bipolar meds. So as of right now I'm trying my best to manage it using coping skills and what not. I seem to be doing pretty well with my GAD but not so much with my OCD.

I've been wanting to try lithium for the longest time. Hopefully my p-doc will listen this time. My lamictal helps but not enough. I wonder if lithium could possibly help with with social anxiety

[Victoria'smom]

I'd really try a different AD. The only one I've not had severe side effects from is viibryd. It doesn't sound like your pdoc is giving things a chance to settle though.