Beth's Keeping Track Post

At least the blood labs will give your doctors some of the information they need to help you. While I know doctors are not miracle workers (some things are out of our hands. ), when my health was really bad, I trusted the decisions they made, but of course, the more we tell them the more info they have to make the best decisions.

Gabapentin 3 times/day (total 900mg.), perphenazine 4mg. day

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Originally Posted by TunedOut At least the blood labs will give your doctors some of the information they need to help you. While I know doctors are not miracle workers (some things are out of our hands. ), when my health was really bad, I trusted the decisions they made, but of course, the more we tell them the more info they have to make the best decisions.

That's a healthy and positive perspective. Thank you, TunedOut

I'm at 4mg. perphenazine, 300mg 3x day Gabapentin. I've been so extremely anxious lately that I can't tell if the Gabapentin is helping. Honestly, if I had the choice I'd stay on the higher dose of perpenazine and never mind Gabapentin. But Dr. W. is feeling cautious about the AP's because she believes I'm showing some symptoms of tardive dyskenesia.

If I had it my way I'd be on the AD's and perphenazine. Never mind Lamictal at this time - and of course, I'm working on slowly coming off Klonopin - but that will take a lot of time and patience.

I'm also going to stop the tiny dose of Seroquel by next week (for sleep). It's 12.5mg - often less, because the pill cutter isn't exact. I don't think it's doing anything for my sleep anymore.

Beth I hope your anxiety calms down soon.

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Originally Posted by Miguel'smom Beth I hope your anxiety calms down soon.

Thank you, Mm. You are so kind

These medications are poisoning my body. No one, no pdoc, ever informed me that they would cause severe weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood glucose, and now liver damage. I need antidepressants, but none of the meds truly help with anxiety, and I'm done with being half-alive due to Lamictal. I'm tired of being told that every time I get the least bit angry "it's an episode." I want to drop some of the poison out of my life.

I think you need a second opinion. Is there a way you can get one?

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Originally Posted by Miguel'smom I think you need a second opinion. Is there a way you can get one?

My insurance won't cover another pdoc, and my Gp is a bi*ch. My therapist will discuss meds to an extent, but she doesn't know that much about them, and she always backs up what my pdoc says (they work together).


I don't know what happens if I just make an appointment with another pdoc. I guess when they run my insurance it would deny payment for the appointment. I definitely don't have the $ to pay out of pocket - sure wish I did.

I can sympathize with you. There was a time when I really enjoyed writing music, fiction, & I dabbled in painting. Since maxing out on mood stabilizers, the muse has left me altogether...or perhaps I'm just blaming the psych meds. Yesterday, however, I shared that the neurologist told me the peripheral neuropathy I have is irreversable, & was likely caused by taking psych meds for so many years. The meds are, indeed, poison, but the thought of being locked down in a hospital again aren't inviting, either. We're stuck between the devil & the deep blue sea...

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Originally Posted by buddha1too I can sympathize with you. There was a time when I really enjoyed writing music, fiction, & I dabbled in painting. Since maxing out on mood stabilizers, the muse has left me altogether...or perhaps I'm just blaming the psych meds. Yesterday, however, I shared that the neurologist told me the peripheral neuropathy I have is irreversable, & was likely caused by taking psych meds for so many years. The meds are, indeed, poison, but the thought of being locked down in a hospital again aren't inviting, either. We're stuck between the devil & the deep blue sea...

I'm so sorry about the neuropathy. That really sucks.


The muse doesn't like psych meds, in my experience. I was always an exceedingly creative person. Now I feel like a blob.

The devil and the deep blue sea, indeed!

Increase Pristiq to 75mg., decrease Lamictal to 150mg. Make use of Klonopin if anxiety is out of control over the week-end.

I have heard that celexa is an antidepressant with anti anxiety properties.
bizi

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Originally Posted by bizi I have heard that celexa is an antidepressant with anti anxiety properties. bizi

Yes, I was on Celexa for a number of years and found it helpful. I was on each of the SSRI's over the years, but they eventually stopped working. That was too bad, because for decades the SSRI's were a miracle. Pristiq has been a blessing for me, and I have no complaints about Welbutrin.

It's possible that the additional Pristiq is starting to take the edge off my anxiety.

Panic levels of anxiety. The Gabapentin, as far as I can tell, is useless, so I've stopped it. There is no reason to be on all these meds if I'm still having such a high, constant level of anxiety. Lamictal is at 150mg. now and I don't notice any negative change.


If I have my way, I'd stop the Lamictal, stop the Gabapentin (useless stuff), and keep the Pristiq, Welbutrin, and perphenazine. Regardless of Dr. W's wishes, the perphenazine (AP) is most helpful for anxiety. I am happy to say that I'm almost off the Seroquel for sleep, with no negative effects as yet.

Beth, please slow down with the tapering you are doing on your own...stopping the gabapenton Which helps with hypomania. all of this anxiety is setting you up to get manic. Please slow down.
pull out your "tool box" for things to help yourself with the anxiety.
I am afraid for you.
bizi

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Thank you, bizi. I'm not stopping the meds on my own, my pdoc is advising me. Sorry, I forgot to mention that. I'm decreasing the Klonopin verrry slowly (with her blessing - she doesn't think it's causing the anxiety because the decrease is so small...I've been decreasing it for several months now). The Lamictal, she has suggested going down to 150mg, which I've done (I'd like to go off of it, but I won't). The Gabapentin, we agreed, isn't working. I'm very hopeful because she is now on the same page as I am with the perphenazine (AP). She allowed me to increase it to 12mg. That's the med I believe may just stop the cycle of this anxiety/panic. The tiny amount of Seroquel at bedtime - again, we've agreed to stop it because of elevated liver enzymes. I haven't noticed any sleep issues without it.

Pristiq is at 75mg., Welbutrin is the same (300mg., I think).

I hope the increase of AP helps.

Dr. W. gave me her blessing to increase the perphenazine (AP) to 16mg daily. Something has to diminish this anxiety/panic., so hopefully the increase will. But now I have to take Cogentin, too. I am entirely off Seroquel; my sleep is no worse without it, and pdoc is fine with me not being on 2 AP's.

So it's Lamictal, Pristiq, Welbutrin, Trilafon (perphenazine), Klonopin, Amantadine, Cogentin. Still a lot, but it's necessary right now.

I hope the APs lift the anxiety, Beth. You've been plagued by it for quite some time, now.

good luck with these med changes, one at a time please.
thank you
bizi

Is the new AP helping with your anxiety at all? It might take some time to have an effect, though.

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Originally Posted by buddha1too Is the new AP helping with your anxiety at all? It might take some time to have an effect, though.

Yes, the AP is helping. I do feel pretty much "numbed out", but that's okay for now. My mind and body need a break from the intense anxiety. The AP brings me more into the moment...instant enlightenment