[Victoria'smom]

So my therapist wants me on a full time AP . I'm stable but parinod and visually hallucinating occasionally while stable. I'm apparently on the more severe side if even considered bipolar anymore. I have a slight eating disorder and refuse to take an AP that can cause weight gain. Any suggestions of an AP would be apressiated. If your on a PRN how long can you take it before its no longer a PRN?

[~Christina]

Invega works for me . Its weight neutral which was very important to me ..

Ap's that cause weight gain I refuse ! I can not be " fat but stable" that does not work for me at all.

[Curiosity77]

Some weight neutral APs are abilify (usually), saphris, latuda, and ziprasidone. Hope thar helps

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[Victoria'smom]

Can you take it PRN?

[Curiosity77]

I think saphris would, i'm not sure about the others

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[wildflowerchild25]

Oh I disagree with zyprexa...I've heard that's a bad one for weight gain but I guess it's different for anyone.

I might agree at this point that a full time ap might help your paranoia. I mean you could try it for a set amount if time, like a month...and if you see no improvent or have side effects you can stop. Commit to a month. Or two weeks if a month is too much.

[r010159]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

So my therapist wants me on a full time AP . I'm stable but parinod and visually hallucinating occasionally while stable. I'm apparently on the more severe side if even considered bipolar anymore. I have a slight eating disorder and refuse to take an AP that can cause weight gain. Any suggestions of an AP would be apressiated. If your on a PRN how long can you take it before its no longer a PRN?

I am sorry but IMO you are definitely not stable. Lose the paranoia and hallucinations and then you would be stable. There are APs that are not associated with weight gain as some have mentioned here.

Good luck!

[BipolaRNurse]

Geodon is weight neutral for most---in fact, I lost weight on it. Of course, now that I'm on Zyprexa along with it, those pounds are coming right back and they're bringing FRIENDS!!

I've also heard Latuda is good for people with weight issues (or who don't want them). Frankly though, as UNstable as you've been over the past several months, I think you need a full-time AP, if not more than one. While my symptoms are pretty severe, they don't rise to the level of yours; but even though my pdoc is conservative in his prescribing habits, he's got me on two APs (not prn) because I don't seem to be able to manage without them.

You are not managing well. Please consider allowing your pdoc to prescribe a full-time AP for you and take it for a few weeks to see if having a steady dose in your blood helps you. I'm worried about you.

[Victoria'smom]

I am sorry but IMO you are definitely not stable. mood wise I'm stable. Which sucks really. I see pdoc tomorrow. I have to explain why my husband called.

[r010159]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I am sorry but IMO you are definitely not stable. mood wise I'm stable. Which sucks really. I see pdoc tomorrow. I have to explain why my husband called.

Schizoaffective?

[Victoria'smom]

If he suggests an AP he'll give me a choice of three . I trust him and he leaves at the end of June. I leave at the first week of july and don't see a new pdoc at least until the end of September . so I'll be 3 months without a pdoc. I'll be with my parents for 6 wks that don't really think/know I'm unwell.

[r010159]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

If he suggests an AP he'll give me a choice of three . I trust him and he leaves at the end of June. I leave at the first week of july and don't see a new pdoc at least until the end of September . so I'll be 3 months without a pdoc. I'll be with my parents for 6 wks that don't really think/know I'm unwell.

Sorry to hear that. It sounds like you patience will be tested by your parents.

[Victoria'smom]

Schizoaffective? I don't know if my DX will change to Schizoaffective or if it already has. Quite honestly my team has worked very hard in not telling me my DX except for my initial assessment. They, family and here has worked really hard on slowly easing me into willingly taking medication and accepting help. I think this is the first time I've been stable mood wise to see how my other issues effect me.

I'll be without a pdoc for 3 months and with my parents that really have no idea so I need to be stable. I'll be without my husband, son and dog for 6 wks and be in a stressful situation all 6 wks. I really don't need to be parinod about what my husband is doing while gone.

[r010159]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

Schizoaffective? I don't know if my DX will change to Schizoaffective or if it already has. Quite honestly my team has worked very hard in not telling me my DX except for my initial assessment. They, family and here has worked really hard on slowly easing me into willingly taking medication and accepting help. I think this is the first time I've been stable mood wise to see how my other issues effect me.

I'll be without a pdoc for 3 months and with my parents that really have no idea so I need to be stable. I'll be without my husband, son and dog for 6 wks and be in a stressful situation all 6 wks. I really don't need to be parinod about what my husband is doing while gone.

Great news!!! It took me years to get to a stable mood. Those doctors are doing you a disservice by not revealing there diagnosis and revealing their treatment plan.

Hang in there! Sorry for posting so much. I am out to do something right now. So I guess this is it.

PS: I need to find something else to do for a change.

[Nammu]

You will probably not want to hear this but inadequate nutrition can also destabilize people and cause paranoia and hallucinations. No such thing as a little anorexic. When I was underweight I had hallucinations all the time.

[Victoria'smom]

Those doctors are doing you a disservice by not revealing there diagnosis and revealing their treatment plan. My treatment plan is to keep me in the mental health system, volenterilly on meds, and out of the hospital and jail.

[Victoria'smom]

I doubt they'll let me weal out of this sighting it as a side effect of my eating disorder because my husband's been pushing for IP for about 2 months now. My ED rears its head only when in severe mood episode and meds.

[Victoria'smom]

Sorry for posting so much. Don't be sorry it really helps.

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

... I trust him and he leaves at the end of June. I leave at the first week of july and don't see a new pdoc at least until the end of September . so I'll be 3 months without a pdoc. I'll be with my parents for 6 wks that don't really think/know I'm unwell.

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

Schizoaffective? I don't know if my DX will change to Schizoaffective or if it already has. ...
I'll be without a pdoc for 3 months and with my parents that really have no idea so I need to be stable. I'll be without my husband, son and dog for 6 wks and be in a stressful situation all 6 wks...

Oh, MM, I don't even know where to begin. I am very worried for you. These sentences just by themselves…. ring hauntingly familiar BUT EXPONENTIALLY MORE potent than the factors that led into the worst episode I ever had -- I don't know if you remember, but I do -- because you were such a help to me through that time.

I'm not always the most accurate assessor of my own stability sometimes, so it's not for me to declare with certainty about anyone else's…… but….I have to admit that I've had a lot of trouble following your posts for quite awhile now. Which, I guess is to say that even if your mood's feeling stable to you, something's going on. There's instability/not managing well/whatever. Something. Paranoia, hallucination, the very somethings that APs are specifically for helping with. I'm very inclined to agree with BipolaRNurse, to please consider doing full-time AP.

Here's the thing. It is possible that someday a point may come where thinking in terms of PRN is reasonable. BUT NOW IS NOT THAT TIME. I don't mean to be harsh about it, but sweetie, you've got some serious stuff going on and are heading into a maelstrom.

You'll be needing all the armor you can get. The whole extended time frame of out-of-element stress, no pdoc, lack of the familiar and routine, trying to keep up "normal" for others….don't underestimate it. I did. And know how bad it got. Even going in pretty darn stable. That is why I am so scared for you. Please take care. You know that I only say these things out of care for your well-being and can only be but a token of reciprocity for the care you showed for me when I'd underestimated these very sorts of factors

I agree with Innerzone. Your posts for several months have seemed seriously unstable. You have seemed far beyond PRN treatment for a long while. Nothing about your posts has indicated any stability.

[Victoria'smom]

I've had a lot of trouble following your posts for quite awhile now Guys please let me know when this happens. Its usually not a good sign, even if its in a pm.

even if your mood's feeling stable to you I've been hoping that my mood was off but my t has been very clear that my mood is stable and even clearer that it is not the medication but stress.

thinking in terms of PRN isn't reasonable. BUT NOW IS NOT THAT TIME. everyone except pdoc has wanted me on a full time AP for a good 2+ years. As my husband gains more faith in the mental health system we butt heads more about my symptoms. He's become less comforting more use your damn resources. To be fair I have far more resources then most and his team has changed 3x. What if my new team doesn't let me switch to PRN? What if they're not accepting of my complete fear of drugs, taking drugs, and wishy-washy ness of believing I have mental illness and in complete denial that its severity?

Except pdoc has wanted me on a full time AP because he waits until I get sick of something and request a med change. Probably because that way he knows I'll take it at least until I see him again. I think he'll be a bit more heavy handed about this because my husband actually called him.
And I yet again didn't do a walk in.

I don't mean to be harsh about it, I really don't feel you or anyone else is being harsh but honest. Like I said you guys know me so your opinions I hold heavier than anyone particular person IRL

The whole extended time frame of out-of-element stress, no pdoc, lack of the familiar and routine, trying to keep up "normal" for others….don't underestimate it. I'm not, I'm so scared.

You guys have worked so hard over the years( especially looking over at bpnurse ) at even excepting the fact I many need an AP full time ( I'm not ready to say or two) now its up to my Dr which one. Its better now with a pdoc that I trust then halfways around the country in a locked psych unit I guess.

I haven't slept well because I'm always terrified when I have pdoc, now more then most, even though each and every time he shows me how caring he is. I completely wish my t didn't say I have more coping skills then could be taught and the only other thing that could help is medication. When asking what I can do about my symptoms . I honestly think "medication" accidently flew out of her mouth before I could finish my sentence.

[moremi]

Have you tried geodon? I had no weight gain and had great success with it the first time I took it.

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[moremi]

I gained 60 pounds on abilify but it got me out of the longest depression I have had. Til this day I have only lost 20. Im a plump girl now as to where I was very thin all of my life. It bothers me a great deal.

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[Victoria'smom]

We went over how schizophrenia works. How they think AP works. The possibility of brain shrinkage. Whether or not my psychosis is at the point that I want an AP. How much it is effecting me. We have decided to decrease my welbutrin. If that doesn't work abilify will be added.

[TheatreKid]

I was experiencing a lot of psychosis a few years ago and once I went off Wellbutrin it got a lot better. My doc said Wellbutrin can exacerbate psychosis. Of course, then I had the problem of depression and I still haven't found anything that really helps. I started abilify, I hope it helps.