Beth's Keeping Track Post

Hugs and love

I love the quote by Camus

One more thing.. if there is a med you need prior-auth for and it comes time for the prio-auth to be renewed pay attention. Start that process a month or two prior to its expiration. I've showed up to the pharmacy and had it denied for lack of a prior auth and had to scramble to get the auth at the last minute/had to go without the medication in the past.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahsweets One more thing.. if there is a med you need prior-auth for and it comes time for the prio-auth to be renewed pay attention. Start that process a month or two prior to its expiration. I've showed up to the pharmacy and had it denied for lack of a prior auth and had to scramble to get the auth at the last minute/had to go without the medication in the past.

Thank you, Sarah. Good tip!

4th day of Lamictal increase. I keep falling asleep. Have a small rash (the usual Lamictal increase rash) on my upper chest. I'm not sure how I feel, except exhausted.

(((((((((((((((((((( Beth )))))))))))))))))))))))))

(mistake)

Dr. W. raised the Amantadine dose to 200mg/day. Suggested I split Lamictal & Amantadine to AM/PM to try to control the tremor. It has already improved, after just 2 doses.

Great news Beth

Forget taking Lamictal in the AM. Spent the day yesterday asleep while awake. So back to PM Lamictal.

Dropped Trilafon dose from 16mg down to 12mg. with the goal of stopping it - if I don't experience a higher level of anxiety than I'm already feeling, which is too high. (Side-effect, gi upset.)

SO glad I consulted with Dr. W. I had come to a point of losing my judgment. She definitely wants to increase the Trilafon to 20mg/day. That sounds like a relief to me. My mind is so noisy, non-stop music and other sounds, I'm close to tears from the relentless racing.


The doubled Amantadine is helping with the tremor, which would be further helped if I could calm down.

Sounds/music slower, but still nagging at my brain. Anxiety? I'm not even sure whether it's lower, or not. I don't think there's anything else she can suggest. I feel very sleepy all the time. Some... I don't know what to call it...a swimmy feeling in my brain. Off-balance. That med thing. Plus, it's so warm still. I think Thursday is finally supposed to drop down to 80. Please, Universe, no more fires.

I am pretty sure my anxiety level would feel lower if I was shakey. Not exactly the same as hand tremor, but shakey arms, shoulders, jaw. It reminds me of being anxious, so I feel anxious. I am quite sure the shakiness comes from Lamictal, pdoc thinks not.

Poor stamina, shakiness (jaw, shoulders, arms), tight muscles (back of neck). body temperature can't regulate well. So sleepy I could sleep for a full day and night. Can't stay awake for more than 90 mins. It's unfortunate, because mentally I feel stable. Such is life.


Dr. W:
Decrease Lamictal to 350mg.
Decrease Trilafon to 18mg.
Add small dose of Cogentin

BethRags

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear BethRags

Thank you so much for your support, Fuzzy.

Meds decreased as prescribed. No more Seroquel for sleep.

Upper body shaking is still happening, but it's decreased. Back of neck pain/rigidity is gone. Slept a lot, but also had to get up several times to pee. The perphenazine might cause frequent peeing.

Still tired.

350mg Lamictal
18mg perphenazine (Trilafon)
2mg of cogentin

I'm feeling substantially better. The shaking of my upper body has not entirely disappeared, but it is improved. My legs aren't quite as unsteady.


I'm not taking Seroquel for sleep. For me, it has been such a damaging med. Of course, I sleep for just a few hours, then awaken. But it's okay, better some insomnia than some Seroquel.

BethRags

The upper body shaking is much improved. I don't know if the improvement is due to the decrease in Lamictal and perphenazine, or if the Cogentin is calming the shaking. Or maybe both.

Same as above re. upper body tremors. The Cogentin is probably helping.


I've been sleeping much of the day for weeks. I literally cannot keep my head up. I finally decided that falling asleep while folding laundry (or any activity) is unacceptable. So I switched my perphenazine from an A.M. dose of 6mg/ P.M. dose of 12mg to a morning dose of 2mg., bedtime dose of 16mg. I'm slightly sleepy today, but not nearly as much as I have been.

Keeping perphenazine at bedtime and definitely don't keep falling asleep all day. I tried taking 2mg this morning (pdoc suggested it to reduce daytime anxiety). Sure enough, I had to sleep for 2 hours. So bedtime it remains.

The rest of my meds are status quo and at this time I feel pretty stable. A little bit of depression that I attribute to the time change. Pdoc wants me to use the light box. I'll try it.

BethRags, first of all, thank you for sharing. I've been on Lithium, Lamital, Adderall, and Seroquel for years. But, a slight adjustment can send me into oblivion. Too much Lilthium makes me break out in psoriasis, too much Lamital makes me groggy, too much Seroquel carves out my sinuses and keeps me awake all night. Too much Adderall makes me shake and quake, unable to do anything. I've got a good balance now, but...as you need it (I forget the term)...if I even add 25mg of Seroquel or 5mg or Adderall, I'm over the edge. I truly empathize for what you are experiencing. It has taken me over a decade to balance my meds properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolftrap BethRags, first of all, thank you for sharing. I've been on Lithium, Lamital, Adderall, and Seroquel for years. But, a slight adjustment can send me into oblivion. Too much Lilthium makes me break out in psoriasis, too much Lamital makes me groggy, too much Seroquel carves out my sinuses and keeps me awake all night. Too much Adderall makes me shake and quake, unable to do anything. I've got a good balance now, but...as you need it (I forget the term)...if I even add 25mg of Seroquel or 5mg or Adderall, I'm over the edge. I truly empathize for what you are experiencing. It has taken me over a decade to balance my meds properly.

Yes. Finding the best meds, then finding the best med doses, is an enormous challenge. But so worth it when it happens!

BethRags

350mg. Lamictal
2mg. Klonopin
16mg. Trilafon
200mg. Amantadine

Pristiq increased last night (from 75) to 100mg. due to depression.

Seroquel for sleep on some nights. ZzzQuil on some nights.

Haven't been taking Cogentin, haven't noticed any upper body shaking.

Angry, not so much depressed.