[raider26]

I don't know if it's my meds or just my circumstances or am going through a depressive phase but I can't shake this numb blank feeling. Like nothing matters. If anyone has advice for me that would be greatly appreciated. I've had two manic episodes and now I guess I'm in the depressive phase, but I'm wondering how much my medication is helping or hurting me. I'm taking depakote, trazadone, respiradone and hydroxyzine.

[kaliope]

hi raider
well Depakote will give you that numb zoned out feeling. I hated the stuff. trazadone has sedative qualities as well. it should be taken at night. if you are still having problems, this med combo isn't working. talk with your doc about trying something different that doesn't zone you. there are so many bp meds out there, you just keep trying them till you find a good fit. it took me almost three years. I was very persistent and my docs didn't like changing my meds all the time but I valued my brain and functioning and didn't want to tolerate side effects, we eventually found a great combo that fully stabilized me. welcome to psych central. you will find we have several forums where you can post about your concerns and receive feedback from other members. you will get a lot of support here. again, welcome

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by raider26

I don't know if it's my meds or just my circumstances or am going through a depressive phase but I can't shake this numb blank feeling. Like nothing matters. If anyone has advice for me that would be greatly appreciated. I've had two manic episodes and now I guess I'm in the depressive phase, but I'm wondering how much my medication is helping or hurting me. I'm taking depakote, trazadone, respiradone and hydroxyzine.

Risperidone is the generic name of this medication and Risperdal is its brand name in the US. It is a major downer that would cause low energy.

Trazodone is sedative. it is used as a sleep aid.

Depakote is a major downer.

Atarax (hydroxyzine) is used as a sleep aid and against anxiety.

What did you do during your two manic episodes to frighten your psychiatrist so much that he or she put you on 4 medications all causing low energy? Your combo can put a jumping colt into a catatonic state. I don't think that anyone on this board has been on that many downers and sleep aids at once. What is surprising is not that you cannot shake the numb feeling, but that you managed to write this post!

If you got into major trouble with the law or something similarly disastrous while manic, one can see that the psychiatrist is trying to overinsure against repeats. Still, the psychiatrist is overdoing it. If you just had manias without major negative consequences, then it means that your psychiatrist prefers to have the patients subsist in low grade depression forever because such patients have no energy to come pound on the psychiatrist's door and demand a better treatment.

[Victoria'smom]

Depakote made me feel that way.

[~Christina]

Great advice given can't think of anything to add.

Welcome to PC

[raider26]

Originally Posted by kaliope

hi raider
well Depakote will give you that numb zoned out feeling. I hated the stuff. trazadone has sedative qualities as well. it should be taken at night. if you are still having problems, this med combo isn't working. talk with your doc about trying something different that doesn't zone you. there are so many bp meds out there, you just keep trying them till you find a good fit. it took me almost three years. I was very persistent and my docs didn't like changing my meds all the time but I valued my brain and functioning and didn't want to tolerate side effects, we eventually found a great combo that fully stabilized me. welcome to psych central. you will find we have several forums where you can post about your concerns and receive feedback from other members. you will get a lot of support here. again, welcome

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to talk to my doc and ask him to switch up my meds. I don't really like him that much but that's all I got to work with at the moment due to finances. Thanks again