[Victoria'smom]

On days I know are going to be hard the night before I sometime take an extra 5 milligram of zyprexa. Like last night when I thought I'd be alone for a couple of hours today. I don't have a lot of extra but I didn't want be worried while they were gone so I took my old 15 mg instead of my 10 mg. My pdoc gave me ambien for when I'm not sleeping well but I'm super scared to take it. I don't want to go back up to 15 mg but they help my thoughts stay sane when I'm unsure I can challenge my thoughts. I don't see pdoc for another 2.5 months. I don't want to tell him either. I can't do it often I just do it when the other option is the hospital or I'm worried a situation will leave me scared and unable to rein myself in. Honestly I think I'll abuse the ambien if I try it.

[~Christina]

Why not just take your meds as prescribed? Your always shooting yourself in the foot.

[Cocosurviving]

I’ve had good luck with Ambien. I take it during the week when I have to take my daughter to school and substitute. On the weekends I try to not take it. If I toss and turn for a really long time then I’ll break down and take it. I do not know if it would cause you to abuse it. I have never had problems with abusing meds. I take 20 mgs the lower doses do not work on me. Maybe someone can help you take them. Fill up a pillbox for seven days then they could keep the Ambien save til next fill time. Good luck

[RedDawn]

15mg is well within dosing guidelines.

Why not just ask your doctor to increase your dosage?

Talk with your doctor and tell him about the situations when you need some extra meds. I can understand that it might be difficult because you see him so seldom. When I fear a situation, I do some preparation in advance. I say the words I want to use out loud for myself only until it becomes normal to say what I want to say. I do relaxation exercises in advance of the feared situation and after the situation. In case I feel much worse after the situation I prepared for, I have made myself a note, put on the table, where I have specified a time for doing something else (example: "Will be home at two. At four o'clock I am going to the grocery, and after that I will ..." and so on). May be such preparation may help you as well?

[Victoria'smom]

Originally Posted by RedDawn

15mg is well within dosing guidelines.

Why not just ask your doctor to increase your dosage?

I don't want my dose increased because of the weight gain, constent hunger and sleepiness.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Couldn't you ask to have a PRN dose so you can take it as needed and not run out during the month? I think that's a pretty reasonable request.

[Victoria'smom]

I don't want to admit I may need it. He may up the dose permanently. IDK, I know he works for me and I need to be honest but it's so hard to not think of him as against me. I don't even tell my husband when I take the 15's instead of the 10's and we try to be as open as we can with each other.

[Pookyl]

I'm plain confused why this is something you'd lie about? I don't know, I can't see what you gain by lying?

[Victoria'smom]

I'm not lying really, I'm taking my meds. Just if I'm unsure I can handle my psychosis I take 15 mg tablets instead of my 10 mg. I'm worried that if I admit I'm taking the 15s at times that my pdoc will have me take 15s all the time. I can't deal with the side effects of the 15s.

[Cocosurviving]

I can understand not wanting to have the side effects. I also think PRN is prob the best option

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I think asking for a PRN dose would be considered good self-care, not a bad thing and not a reason to increase you.

I just increased my AD and was concerned it would trigger a manic episode. So I asked for permission to increase my AP if I needed to. My pdoc was really glad that I was taking care of both problems with one contact and that I was being pro-active.

Asking for the PRN is pro-active, especially since it helps you function more normally on tough days. Everyone, pdocs included, know that Zyprexa is hard to tolerate as the dose goes up and most want to keep you at the lowest dose to help prevent metabolic side effects. It's usually quite ok to have a PRN dose and a regular dose to make that happen.

I did Seroquel that way for a long time and it wasn't a big deal.

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I think asking for a PRN dose would be considered good self-care, not a bad thing and not a reason to increase you.

I just increased my AD and was concerned it would trigger a manic episode. So I asked for permission to increase my AP if I needed to. My pdoc was really glad that I was taking care of both problems with one contact and that I was being pro-active.

Asking for the PRN is pro-active, especially since it helps you function more normally on tough days. Everyone, pdocs included, know that Zyprexa is hard to tolerate as the dose goes up and most want to keep you at the lowest dose to help prevent metabolic side effects. It's usually quite ok to have a PRN dose and a regular dose to make that happen.

I did Seroquel that way for a long time and it wasn't a big deal.

I also do Seroquel that way. I'm on a specific dose of Seroquel but I can add up to 100mg per day PRN when unwell.
I also can take 10mg per day PRN Valium. If I take more than that I run out. And the pharmacist refuses to issue any more before a specific date.

[Victoria'smom]

I'll ask, I just worry.

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I'm not lying really, I'm taking my meds. Just if I'm unsure I can handle my psychosis I take 15 mg tablets instead of my 10 mg. I'm worried that if I admit I'm taking the 15s at times that my pdoc will have me take 15s all the time. I can't deal with the side effects of the 15s.

Can't you just explain that to the pdoc? You need to be honest to both your pdoc and yourself. He should understand that some days you need a little bit extra but don't need it all the time. My pdoc is okay with me taking an extra 25-50mg of clozapine when I have more paranoia or agitation than usual.

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I'm not lying really, I'm taking my meds. Just if I'm unsure I can handle my psychosis I take 15 mg tablets instead of my 10 mg. I'm worried that if I admit I'm taking the 15s at times that my pdoc will have me take 15s all the time. I can't deal with the side effects of the 15s.

To withhold the truth is very close to lying! Your problem is so simple as this:

1) Your medication (10mg) functions very well when your life is "normal".
2) The same medication cannot help when you feel that you are in a crisis. Therefore you take 5 mg extra (15mg) in such a situation.
3) You have withheld the truth because you are afraid of side-effects like overweight and problems with sleep if you have to take 15 mg every day.
4) You are scared to admit this.

Tell your doctor all the four points. If that is too difficult write it down and give it to him or print this out.

Honesty is the best!

[Victoria'smom]

I'm going to try my PRN in those situations and see how that works.