 |
| FAQ/Help |
| Calendar |
| Search |
|
#1
May 19, 2016, 09:23 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Elsewhere on the forum someone mentioned allergy medication and bipolar do not mix. This shocked me and I looked into it... It seems anithistamines and decongestants are stimulants which very well can lead to chemically induced mania. Not sure about you but this scares me - especially as my allergies are bad enough that I triple up on over the counter remedies.
I wonder how many of you were aware of this. Knowing this does this change your behaviour (ie would you continue to take allergy medication anyway)? Have any of you suggestions for alternate remedies? I myself am at a total loss. My own allergies right now are so bad I cannot function but I am now terrified to take anything. |
|
#2
May 19, 2016, 09:26 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I've learned to avoid allergy meds that have a decongestant. So, for instance, I take plain Zyrtec instead of Zyrtec-D. It's the decongestant part that will keep me agitated and unable to sleep. The regular versions don't do that to me.
|
|
#3
May 19, 2016, 09:31 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I'm nervous to take any type of cold medicines with this cocktail. I tend to just stay in bed and ride out the cold. All the cold meds really do is mask the symptoms so you can go about your day.
However, my previous pdoc would prescribe Vistaril for anxiety and/or sleep. I believe that is technically an antihistamine and I never had any issues with it. Not sure with the differences are chemically between each drug, but I never had a reaction with it. Either way, I hope you are able to find some relief with you allergies. They can be absolutely horrible, so I feel your pain! Take care: 
|
|
#4
May 19, 2016, 11:29 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Vistaril/Atarax/hydroxyzine (all the same drug) are fine with bipolar. But don't take them with zyrtec as they are the earlier version of zyrtec and when I did that I wound up extremely groggy. Zytrec will not help with anxiety like the others do as a chunk of the chemical structure is removed from it and it is the sedating part.
I've also been told to take claritin to help with a cold although not for a long time and I think only by urgent care (who don't always know bipolar as well as my family dr). But defiitely avoid anythig -D and Sudafed type drugs. If on lithium or MAOIs cold meds are contra-indicated. I find hot lemonade helps as does a nasal rinse bottle.
__________________
Bipolar 1, PTSD, GAD, OCD. Clozapine 250 mg, Emsam 12 mg/day patch, topamax 25 mg, ,Gabapentin 1600 mg & 100-2 PRN,. 2.5 mg clonazepam., 75 mg Seroquel and 12.5 mg PRNx2 daily |
 gina_re
|
|
#5
May 19, 2016, 11:49 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Zyrtec made me depressed. Now I just use OTC nasal sprays.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
...Out of night and alarm Out of terrible dreams Reach me your hand! This is the meaning that we suffered in sleep: The white peace of the waking. ~Edna St. Vincent Millay, "Song of the Nations"~ Diagnoses: Bipolar 2, OCD, Chronic Worrywart  Meds: Lithium (reducing), Trileptal, Latuda, Risperdal, Klonopin and Xanax PRN |
|
#6
May 19, 2016, 12:18 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I was told by my pdoc to try benedryl for sleep before I found it its not enough for me and got put on Ativan instead.
__________________
Bipolar 1 with mixed and psychotic symptoms & ADHD Meds Latuda 120mg Lamictal 200mg Haldol 5mg (+5mg during mixed episodes) Vyvanse 40mg morning 20mg noon Benztropine 0.5mg |
|
#7
May 19, 2016, 01:51 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Hmm I take Claritan d all the time with no issues
Does anyone know if it's contraindicated with ap's?
__________________
I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning, I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listen as the crowd would sing Now the old king is dead! Long live the king! One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand |
|
#8
May 19, 2016, 01:53 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I know the d part the sudafed makes a lot of ppl not even bp feel wired but as for a real sustained weeks to month long actual manic episode?
__________________
I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning, I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listen as the crowd would sing Now the old king is dead! Long live the king! One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand |
|
#9
May 19, 2016, 01:58 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I don't think there is an interaction, just that the D part can cause mania. If it doesn't for you then you are really fortunate.
Thanks to lithium and then the MAOI I haven't had cold medication in 14 years. My doctor gives me a cough syrup that is liquid vicodin without tylenol and because I have asthma I get a lot of antibiotics when every cold becomes angry lungs/sinus infection. I had whooping cough a few years ago (allergic to the shot so not immune) and getting through that without anything but the hycodan syrup that made me sleepy was a nightmare. I had a work thing that was intense and I was so drugged that I came out of it pretty much knowing only that practicing a technique had made me unable to breathe and now I was afraid to do it with anyone else. Not my outstanding career moment although they were very understanding.
__________________
Bipolar 1, PTSD, GAD, OCD. Clozapine 250 mg, Emsam 12 mg/day patch, topamax 25 mg, ,Gabapentin 1600 mg & 100-2 PRN,. 2.5 mg clonazepam., 75 mg Seroquel and 12.5 mg PRNx2 daily |
|
#10
May 19, 2016, 02:00 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Yep although I was taking it daily for a prolonged period and not yet on meds. But it was definitely bad. That was before diagnosis and if my pdoc hadn't died around that time I might have gotten diagnosed.
But I'm sensitive to meds in general. Quote:
__________________
Bipolar 1, PTSD, GAD, OCD. Clozapine 250 mg, Emsam 12 mg/day patch, topamax 25 mg, ,Gabapentin 1600 mg & 100-2 PRN,. 2.5 mg clonazepam., 75 mg Seroquel and 12.5 mg PRNx2 daily |
|
#11
May 19, 2016, 02:09 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Anyone who has tried Promethazin (Phenergan)??
I have allergies and used to take Desloratadine but my pdoc wanted me to stop... Don't know why, really!? I think she questioned my allergies. Well, today my gp prescribed me Phenergan to help with sleep (and maybe quit seroquel) and my allergies (2 in 1  ) I'm just not sure if it's okay to take when also taking lithium and lamotrigine? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
|
#12
May 19, 2016, 02:17 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Word of caution with phenergan (but know that I get all the really rare, nobody actually has this happen side effects): I was given phenergan to help with nausea/vomiting when I had lithium toxicity. It made me hallucinate. I was so out of it I didn't put it together until the next day or so and then I read the drug profile where it says that the drug can cause psychosis in those who are at higher risk for psychosis to begin with. I'm looking it up and it appears to be really rare. I was not on an AP back then and probably should have been but was refusing them after a few unpleasant (and also rare) reactions. I also was very, very sick from the lithium toxicity and was undoubtedly dehydrated and my electrolytes were messed up. I'd taken it before without any problems.
Like I said, this probably only happens to me but neither my dr nor my pdoc were aware of the notation about those prone to psychosis so it's good to know that going in. Quote:
__________________
Bipolar 1, PTSD, GAD, OCD. Clozapine 250 mg, Emsam 12 mg/day patch, topamax 25 mg, ,Gabapentin 1600 mg & 100-2 PRN,. 2.5 mg clonazepam., 75 mg Seroquel and 12.5 mg PRNx2 daily |
|
#13
May 19, 2016, 02:44 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I feel like on this ap shot I couldn't go manic or even hypo to save my life. Like I wish it let in a tiny bit of hypo but no nothing lol
__________________
I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning, I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listen as the crowd would sing Now the old king is dead! Long live the king! One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand |
|
#14
May 19, 2016, 02:45 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
But I don't think I'm very sensitive to meds anyway. I do well on them and if anything seem to have a huge tolerance
__________________
I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning, I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listen as the crowd would sing Now the old king is dead! Long live the king! One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand |
|
#15
May 19, 2016, 02:47 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Wow. I can't imagine feeling like that. I think Clozaril may actually do that eventually but I'm still feeling it out and working through the sedation. I can't do either Abilify or Invega (nor the old APs) so injections aren't an option for me but that sounds amazing. (I wouldn't struggle with missing hypos because mine are miserable).
I'm so glad you are doing so well although I know it's hard to miss the highs. Are you still doing the night shift job?
__________________
Bipolar 1, PTSD, GAD, OCD. Clozapine 250 mg, Emsam 12 mg/day patch, topamax 25 mg, ,Gabapentin 1600 mg & 100-2 PRN,. 2.5 mg clonazepam., 75 mg Seroquel and 12.5 mg PRNx2 daily |
|
#16
May 19, 2016, 02:48 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Thanks! Sorry you had that terrible experience! I haven't had psychosis, but given my bipolar, I guess I'm in risk (small risk, I think!) But I'll certainly wait with taking phenergan till I've spoken with my psychiatrist! I'm happy with my gp and trust her very much, but her specialty isn't psychiatri, so I'll wait. |
|
#17
May 19, 2016, 02:50 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Thx! No I quit it was making me dysphoric and depressed. Boooo won't even ever try that again. Like ever.
I hope this clozaril works well for you as pull through the sedation!
__________________
I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning, I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listen as the crowd would sing Now the old king is dead! Long live the king! One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand |
|
#18
May 19, 2016, 03:02 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Don't suffer through sleeplessness because of my weird story. I can't even find that warning anymore although hallucinations are a possible rare side effect (but are on so many meds too). I didn't want to scare you off, just let you know it is possible. I've never heard of phenergan being used for sleep. I don't know why not but usually they use hydroxyzine (atarax/vistaril) first or drugs like gabapentin.
__________________
Bipolar 1, PTSD, GAD, OCD. Clozapine 250 mg, Emsam 12 mg/day patch, topamax 25 mg, ,Gabapentin 1600 mg & 100-2 PRN,. 2.5 mg clonazepam., 75 mg Seroquel and 12.5 mg PRNx2 daily |
| Reply |
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
|
My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.
Linear Mode
