[cybermember]

My T suggested that I up my meds and now I'm not feeling much as far as emotions go. I feel flat. Neither up or down or in between. I just exist. Have your meds made you feel this way too?

[FerretGuy5]

Originally Posted by cybermember

My T suggested that I up my meds and now I'm not feeling much as far as emotions go. I feel flat. Neither up or down or in between. I just exist. Have your meds made you feel this way too?

They have a tendency to work that way. But, if you work at it and stay active, you should end up feeling better.

[Slothrop]

Originally Posted by cybermember

My T suggested that I up my meds and now I'm not feeling much as far as emotions go. I feel flat. Neither up or down or in between. I just exist. Have your meds made you feel this way too?

I was going to answer this question, but I just couldn't get excited enough.

I have definitely had problems with emotional flatness. And it's not always the mood stabilizers at fault. I'd been taking Cymbalta as my antidepressant and it made me tired and flat. I dropped it and started on Pamelor (a tricyclic) and am having more emotions now. Yay!

But, no question that my overall meds combo keeps me away from the destructive swings, and I recognize that it has to cost me some emotional sensitivity. For me it's a matter of striking a balance I can accept.

[Berries]

Abilify did that to me. It killed my manic episode. And left me FLAT as hell! I stopped taking it. Tried something else. It worked better.

[cybermember]

Originally Posted by Berries

Abilify did that to me. It killed my manic episode. And left me FLAT as hell! I stopped taking it. Tried something else. It worked better.

What worked better for you?

[cwap]

I have a family member that is on the verge of loosing her children to the states custody because she refuses to itake meds because of the way they make her feel. What advice can I give her in order to support her through this process.

[Berries]

Originally Posted by cybermember

What worked better for you?

lamictal--and no side-effects either

[Slothrop]

Originally Posted by cwap

I have a family member that is on the verge of loosing her children to the states custody because she refuses to itake meds because of the way they make her feel. What advice can I give her in order to support her through this process.

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but if she can't get past the way she wants to feel, her kids may be better off with someone else.

Is there someone else--someone in the family?--who could take in the kids instead of the state?

I'm fiercely protective of my kids and would do a lot to keep social services away from them. "The system" is not a good place for kids to get pulled into.

Sometimes I don't like the way my meds make me feel. But if they are keeping me competent and stable and alert so I can parent, then I am going to take them.

Make sure your family member knows there are a lot of different meds out there and some will feel better than others. It takes time and a helpful psychiatrist to find the right combo. If she cares about her kids, it will be totally worth it.

OK I am getting off my soapbox!

Originally Posted by cybermember

My T suggested that I up my meds and now I'm not feeling much as far as emotions go. I feel flat. Neither up or down or in between. I just exist. Have your meds made you feel this way too?

I felt that way when I was taking Risperdal. Now my pdoc changed it to Abilify and I feel completely different. I don't feel flat anymore and I can react to things that happen around me. I was on Risperdal the whole 2008 and I can barely remember what happened during that time... I was zombified.

[cybermember]

Originally Posted by cwap

I have a family member that is on the verge of loosing her children to the states custody because she refuses to itake meds because of the way they make her feel. What advice can I give her in order to support her through this process.

If the State feels she can't take care of herself, then they will also think she can't take care of her kids. I would suggest that she work closely with her psychiatrist to find a med that works for her. Also, as Slothrop has suggested, perhaps a family member can take the kids in temporarily until she finds the right med combo.

[noah24]

i take cymbalta at night so no problem being tired
also some docs prescribe a stimulant to offset the lethargy from the anti-psychotic

[cybermember]

Originally Posted by noah24

i take cymbalta at night so no problem being tired
also some docs prescribe a stimulant to offset the lethargy from the anti-psychotic

I would think that adding a stimulant is counterproductive when prescribing an antipsychotic as a stimulant increases dopamine, whereas an antipsychotic decreases dopamine.

[Berries]

Different meds for different folks. Unfortunately what is great for some BITES for others, and you just have to keep experimenting and hoping that someday you'll get it right....

[brokenwhole]

That's been my experience too. I'm on Lamictal, Wellbutrin, and Remeron, and am flat far too often. I'm not sure that it's all that much better than feeling depressed!

Originally Posted by cybermember

My T suggested that I up my meds and now I'm not feeling much as far as emotions go. I feel flat. Neither up or down or in between. I just exist. Have your meds made you feel this way too?

[Berries]

I agree with Broken.

That flat feeling is not ANY better than feeling depressed.

Who wants to live life as a Zombie and who wants to share their life with a Zombie?????