Beth's Keeping Track Post

What meds are you currently taking? I'm on two antidepressants...

Quote:

Originally Posted by gina_re What meds are you currently taking? I'm on two antidepressants...

You are?! Thanks for sharing that...it truly makes me feel more hopeful. Right now I'm on Lamictal, Wellbutrin and Pristiq (the AD's), Trilafon (AP), Klonopin (slllowly coming off of it), and a blood pressure med, and one to keep my blood glucose in check.

Which AD's are you on?

I'm on trileptal, effexor (originally pristiq until costs increased), wellbutrin, and abilify as far as psych meds are concerned. The effexor helped the depression originally and I was fine with just trileptal and effexor for years. But the effexor killed my libido and it became obvious at a certain point in time, so a previous pdoc added wellbutrin to compensate. But as life got rocky, both meds have since been increased at different times and for different reasons. From my experience, if you've been on something long enough, in this case the effexor they don't want to take you off of it, they just add to the cocktail, hence the addition of the abilify.

Beth, have you ever been on Emsam? It's an MAOI in a patch form so less restrictive than other MAOIs. It rarely poops out if it works for you and for me it has been pretty amazing. I was on it for about 5 years before clozaril and my depression was improved a lot then; in combination it's much better. I was on everything except for some tricyclics and the other MAOIs before I went on Emsam and it's made a huge difference in the 10 years I've been on it.

Not every doctor will prescribe it but if other ADs don't work for you it might be worth a converstation with your pdoc.

I wish you much luck in this merry go round.
bizi

Quote:

Originally Posted by gina_re I'm on trileptal, effexor (originally pristiq until costs increased), wellbutrin, and abilify as far as psych meds are concerned. The effexor helped the depression originally and I was fine with just trileptal and effexor for years. But the effexor killed my libido and it became obvious at a certain point in time, so a previous pdoc added wellbutrin to compensate. But as life got rocky, both meds have since been increased at different times and for different reasons. From my experience, if you've been on something long enough, in this case the effexor they don't want to take you off of it, they just add to the cocktail, hence the addition of the abilify.

Thank you so much for sharing your med stuff. If I recall correctly, my pdoc said that Wellbutrin works on dopamine, while Pristiq works with serotonin.

Last month my insurance notified me that they would no longer pay for Pristiq unless my psychiatrist filled out paperwork stating that I needed it in order to save my life (lol). Thus far, they accepted her petition- but it concerns me that they even hinted at not covering it anymore.

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Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow Beth, have you ever been on Emsam? It's an MAOI in a patch form so less restrictive than other MAOIs. It rarely poops out if it works for you and for me it has been pretty amazing. I was on it for about 5 years before clozaril and my depression was improved a lot then; in combination it's much better. I was on everything except for some tricyclics and the other MAOIs before I went on Emsam and it's made a huge difference in the 10 years I've been on it. Not every doctor will prescribe it but if other ADs don't work for you it might be worth a converstation with your pdoc.

No, I haven't. And the MAOI drug class is the only one I haven't been on...have often wondered why my pdocs don't prescribe an MAOI. Thank you for the info, Rainbow.

Took 50mg of Pristiq last night in additional to all other meds. Improved today. If I could take more this morning I would, but I'll have to wait until bedtime.

glad that the pristig is working for you.
bizi

Been taking the 50mg. Pristiq for three nights and I'm feeling more stable. Not to where I was, but there's an improvement.

This is great news!
happy for you!
bizi

Pdoc appt. She suggested that I keep the Pristiq at 50mg and give it a chance to work (a week or so). Said don't raise it to 75 unless I absolutely feel like I need to. Well, I absolutely feel like I need to, so I think I'll raise it for a few days and give my serotonin a boost.

do you exercise? That is supposed to raise serotonin.
I don't exercise though I know that I should.
no judgement here.
bizi

I do some kind of exercise every day, but nothing super strenuous because I always feel off balance from med side effects. I feel like I should exercise more than I do.

I'll join that club. When I was walking like crazy I felt great, but it's so hard to get motivated. I can't really blame the weather anymore, so...

I think it's wonderful the way bizi watches out for everyone!

Hope the med keeps working for you Beth

I'm feeling more stable than I was last week at this time, so that's hopeful. This darn tremor, which is from my jaw all the way to the rest of my body, is driving me up the wall. It's not caused by anxiety, but it causes me to feel anxious. I'm hoping the referral to the neurologist will go through more rapidly than I expect it too.

I hope you get some answers ASAP!!!!!
bizi

All meds seem to be working, for the most part...some anxiety/depression I wish I could kick out.

Biggest issue is the tremoring. It's all over my body, but is especially annoying in my hands and jaw. I'm glad to wear a mask out so no one can see the jaw tremor, as it's embarrassing. I have the referral in to see the neurologist; of course, no one has called me. I'm giving them until tomorrow (which will be 1 week), then I'm calling the clinic to follow up on the referral.

I hope they're able to do something quick for you.

I'm a med yo-yo. I hear that a big aspect of BD is that medication frequently needs to be reassessed and changed.

Anyway, it's now
75mg Pristiq,
300mg Wellbutrin XL,
12.5 Seroquel for sleep (I really want to drop this one off the list),
200mg Lamictal,
12mg. Trilafon
Klonopin (continuing titration down)
Because of the severity of the tremor, and until I see a neurologist, adding on 1mg. Cogentin and 100mg Amantadine (yes, again).
Plus Metformin and the blood pressure med. And either ZzzQuil or melatonin for sleep.

*whew*

hi beth, I hope the neuro can give you a heads up/solution/diagnosis and treat your tremors.
I am sorry it is embarrassing for you. (((((HUGS)))))
is the cogentin helping at all? how are you able to sleep?
so sorry that this is happening to you.
(((((HUGS))))
bizi

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Originally Posted by bizi hi beth, I hope the neuro can give you a heads up/solution/diagnosis and treat your tremors. I am sorry it is embarrassing for you. (((((HUGS))))) is the cogentin helping at all? how are you able to sleep? so sorry that this is happening to you. (((((HUGS)))) bizi

Thanks so much for your support, bizi. I'll start the Cogentin tonight, so we'll see. Falling asleep is difficult because of the shaking (my teeth chatter). Once I finally fall asleep, I sleep pretty well. Onward I march....

I take cogentin twice a day with the small dose of haldol.so I take it twice a day.I would tell you the same thing.
bizi

are your shaking/tremors medication induced like tarditive dyskensia?
bizi
did the cogentin help?