Beth's Keeping Track Post #2

I could hardly read you note after your meds list. something about topamax? and it affecting your eye sight?
go to the eye doctor immediately. sorry if I misunderstood you.

(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

My A1C is normal now that I am on Ozempic and have lost weight. It was in a mild prediabetic range. But my Metformin is prescribed by my psychiatrist as a safety measure against weight-gaining psych drugs. So he will continue to prescribe it even though my A1C is now normal. I gave him the dosage and he obliged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizi I could hardly read you note after your meds list. something about topamax? and it affecting your eye sight? go to the eye doctor immediately. sorry if I misunderstood you. (((((HUGS))))) bizi

Thank you, bizi I'm just keeping those notes so I can refer back to them if I need to. I put them in bright colors so I can find them easily if I need to. But yes, you read it correctly. I am trying not to be scared about my vision but I AM!

I spoke with the eye clinic of a major medical university nearby, a not very friendly woman told me I need a referral from my primary care doctor to be seen at the clinic. So I made an appointment with him for Thursday. Hopefully, I'm not blind by then. My fear is that the weird lights are not from the medication, but that I'm having some other type of vision problem. Of course, doctors don't rush. If it gets worse I'll have to go to the ER.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam My A1C is normal now that I am on Ozempic and have lost weight. It was in a mild prediabetic range. But my Metformin is prescribed by my psychiatrist as a safety measure against weight-gaining psych drugs. So he will continue to prescribe it even though my A1C is now normal. I gave him the dosage and he obliged.

Smart pdoc.

Ooo vision problems are very scary

Side effect

Forgot - Topomax also causes tingling fingers, toes, sometimes tingling palate. Not a big deal.

Gaba - unsteadiness, feeling of being off balance.

Going to my GP today (12/29/22) for a referral to eye clinic.

Referral update
12/29/2022


Stop Topamax


My GP (Dr. B.) put in an urgent referral to UCD Opthamology so I can be seen for the lights at the periphery of my vision. It's all holiday hours, of course, so I've not yet heard from them. Dr. B. checked my eyes with his light (some kind of tool) and said that it's good because he doesn't seen any bruising on my retinas. He told me that I have to rapidly decrease the Topamax, however, then stop taking it.

I am extremely concerned about the severe depression returning and how med dude will handle it. I've done a lot of research on Emsam and will ask him to please review what I'll write down for him. He's very stuck on "not causing a mania" and I really don't believe that's the primary issue at this time in my life; I believe the severe depression is a much more urgent matter.

I really hope you get what you need,

They’re terrified to give me anything for depression and anxiety as well. I guess my happiness and ability to live in my skin is less important than potentially having a raving lunatic on their hands. 🙄

Happy new year, Beth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random 503 I really hope you get what you need, They’re terrified to give me anything for depression and anxiety as well. I guess my happiness and ability to live in my skin is less important than potentially having a raving lunatic on their hands. 🙄 Happy new year, Beth.

Thank you, Random. As often you do, you've given me a good giggle - my first one of this new year! You bring up a valid point: what exactly is the fear of hypo/mania? (For me, I've never reached higher than the top edge of "hypo"). The severe depression is so much more threatening. Odd, how many providers take mania much more seriously, when it's depression that we need to view as a potentially terminal illness.

A happy, healthy new year to you, too, my friend.

Exactly. I don’t understand it either. Hypomania is manageable, severe depression is not…

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random 503 Exactly. I don’t understand it either. Hypomania is manageable, severe depression is not…

You've given me an excellent question to ask med dude. I'd like an answer.

1/6/2023

*Completely off Topomax. Optical problems (peripheral vision lights) have stopped.

* Prescribed 20mg. Prozac + 2.5mg. Zyprexa (except, I looked at the bottle, saw "2" on the side and took two tablets last night & tonight. Spoke w/ pharmacist this morning, she said that 5mg is normal starting dose + the combination is commonly prescribed for BD. It is not "off label" at all - I'm wondering if med dude actually has many other patients who have BD, just because he's so new at his job...possible he has only a few).

Fingers crossed for this combination. Also, if Zyprexa works for sleep, I can drop Seroquel.

I was on that combo for awhile when I finally switched to abilify and thorizen and prozac.

How is thorazine different than haldol in terms of side effects?

The only side effect I had from thorazine was TD that went away a few days after stopping it (I stopped it the first time I noticed an involuntary movement). Haldol gives me akathisia. Only side effect.

Med Update
1/10/23

No w/d effects from stopping Topamax & optical problem is gone.

Prozac and Zyprexa combination feels very good so far. Sleep is excellent (I am taking 10mg melatonin, but may not need that after a while - no Seroquel).

I feel a little bit loopy from the Zyprexa and a little bit agitated, probably from the Prozac. I've always been so sensitive to meds, may be smart to do what I used to do years ago, which was to start a med like Prozac at 10mg for a week then go to the 20mg.

Appt. with S. tomorrow, I hope he doesn't get pissy about anything because I believe the current meds are good, so let's give it a week with no changes.

Appointment with S. was irritating. He asked me if I stopped taking the Topamax (yes), but didn't ask a word about whether my vision had returned to normal. He "read about" Emsam like my butt did (i.e., he didn't), and I'm feeling pretty decent on 2 meds that I researched and told him about.

All that, plus I listened to his music online, it sucks, and I think he has VeryLargeEgo.

So. I have an appt. with Dr. K. at the end of February. My expectations are certainly not high, but at least this one is a pdoc.

S. was insistent about me taking 2.5mg of Zyprexa. Why, when 5mg is working? I'll give 2.5 a try tonight, then it's a 3-day week-end. My sleep has been excellent on the 5mg and damned if I'll go all week-end without good sleep to please the man-child's ego. So I'll do 2.5 IF I can sleep on it and IF I don't feel agitated. Otherwise, it's 5mg and he gets a phone call on Tuesday. My body, my life.

I take 10mg of zyprexa when I can't sleep or have restless legs. I also take remeron a sleep aid if I can sleep and requipt for the restless.I am so tired. I have to only see one person tomorrow and get my hair colored and return the rental car before noon. hopeing that the requipt works. moving all night is impossible to sleep.
bizi

Gave 2.5 Zyprexa a try Friday night. It was impossible to fall asleep enough to stay asleep. Got up & took another 2.5. I'm taking 5mg and will call the clinic on Tuesday to tell S.

Yeah, 2.5mg is nothing. I was started on 10mg and increased to 30 last time (but we already knew I wouldn't have any sort of reaction).

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Originally Posted by MuddyBoots Yeah, 2.5mg is nothing. I was started on 10mg and increased to 30 last time (but we already knew I wouldn't have any sort of reaction).

Yeah, 2.5 is why even bother to swallow it ridiculous.

I haven’t followed discussion about olanzapine here, but for me 2,5mg worked. For a long time. Before I crashed last year in late September that means due to heavy and abnormal stress. Then they rise my olanzapine to 25mg, then 10 and now I’m on 5mg.

I think - and this is a big hint and help from me to You guys - IF You notice that You’ll get that dip down (or up), seek out first doctor (psychiatrist) to give You new medicines with higher dose. Don’t wait for the impact - or, as in worse case scenario - a meltdown.

Skickat från min iPhone med Tapatalk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hexagon ... I think - and this is a big hint and help from me to You guys - IF You notice that You’ll get that dip down (or up), seek out first doctor (psychiatrist) to give You new medicines with higher dose. Don’t wait for the impact - or, as in worse case scenario - a meltdown.

Thank you, Hex. Your suggestion is wise. My current prescriber is too inexperienced, therefore I have made an appointment with a new psychiatrist.

1/14/2023

med update:
Raised Prozac to 30mg./day