Piece of Advice/Warning

This is kind of a PSA to everyone: BE AWARE OF YOUR MEDICATIONS.
- Know what you're taking
- Know how much of what you are taking
- Know why you are taking the medication
- Know all of the effects of your medication
- Know any foods or drinks not to take while you are on your medication
- Be aware of any changes when starting your medication
- Be aware if your medications are likely to react with any of your other medications.

Why do I say this? Because 3 weeks ago, my BPD was completely under control. Then my doctors made some dramatic changes, and added some new stuff to the mix. All of a sudden, I was taking 12 pills and I wasn't sure why, or what for, or how much. Two of these medications could have potentially killed me because they both affect blood pressure.

But the worst part was that my BPD got WAYY out of control. To the point where therapy wasn't even effective. Then I got way more aggressive than I had ever gotten, and I learned this was a side effect of one of my medications.

This 12 pill concoction cost me my best friend. And almost cost me my graduation. It cost me time wasted, money wasted, and I lost a lot of people who were really important to me. And this could have been prevented if I had chosen to be more aware of what I was taking, why, and the risks of what I was taking.

I feel much better now. But I still have experienced great loss from this. Please, everyone. Be aware of your medication.
Love,
BelleCat

PS. If you are taking Lamictal, and you are beginning to feel more angry, and become more aggressive towards people, tell your doctor right away. Aggression is a pretty serious side effect, according to my Pharmacist and from what I've experienced.

I learned a long time ago to check the side effects of a medicine. If a side effect is depression or anxiety, I can't take it. It makes the depression/anxiety I already have to go completely out of control. Grapefruit is a gigantic culprit of a food you can't take with a lot of meds. It, with a number of meds, causes extreme anxiety, and if you're already prone to it, you could find yourself if a heap of trouble.

I knew about the grapefruit, I did not know that the amount of caffiene I was taking with it could also affect medications. And yeah, had to learn this lesson the hard way...

Geez, that sounds awful! I am fortunate not to have suffered side effects with my meds. If you were under control, why in the world would your doctors be messing with your meds???

Can I ask, what were the exact meds that were added?

I'm on Lamictin and risperidone. When I first started the combo I became extremely aggressive. But after the initial instability I've levelled out to where I'm a lot calmer (read: zombie). I've realised I need to be in a practical vegetative state to control my rage and aggression. So the side-effects are kind of worth it.

From what you are saying those doctors acted highly unprofessionally, did you ask them why they made such a drastic change to your medication?

Sounds like you had a horrible experience.

My medications were always explained to me, plus, I would always ask questions, where possible. Moreover, with any new additions one would usually be monitored closely to see if any harmful side effects. I remember once having an awful reaction to a TCA about 13years ago…it literally turned me into a totally different person. Thankfully, I was inpatient at the time.

That's a good question. You do have the right to refuse them changing your meds. You also have the right to ask them to go back to the original combination of meds i.e. what you were on before this drastic change. Is it 12 different medications or are you talking about 12 pills as in the actual number of pills you are taking in a day?

You would have to take a very high dose of the blood pressure meds in order for them to kill you, more than what was prescribed. They would make you feel pretty awful if they dropped your pressure, but they likely would not have killed you.

Why I don't like doctors: Case in point.

I was suffering night terrors, and was still suffering anxiety now diagnosed as OCD. It was to fix two things, and they ended up screwing with 50 things.

Lamictal, Lexapro, Prazosin, Klonopin, Vyavanse, Risperdal, Hydroxyzine (aka Vistiril or Adarax - probably butchered spelling on that)

I was never aggressive until I started taking Lamictal, and what was worse is that I could never remember my aggressive episodes. I just remember feeling bitter, and so very angry for no reason.

I was one Zoloft, Lamictal, Vyavanse, Lexapro, Trileptal, Klonopin, Chlonodine, Prazosin, Hydroxyzine, Risperdal, Trazedone, Amantadine (I think I butchered the spelling on that), and Atarax (or something like hydroxyzine only not an antihistamine) all at one time.

I was on a REALLY high dose of Chlonodine (given to patients with violent outbursts - which didn't match my symptoms at all to reduce blood pressure) and a relatively low dose, but still enough to affect blood pressure of Prazosin.

I didn't do a lot of asking simply because, I am a bit of a hypochondriac, and I didn't want to hyperfocus on my medication. I also didn't trust my view of what was going on, and had full faith that my idiot doctor at the hospital knew what she was doing, and would take good care of me. That's kind of why I just went with it. It also didn't help they gave me outdated information on my medication...

I'm taking 3 kinds of medication these days with another one as needed or when I get panic/anxiety attacks. I think i'm gaining weight with one of my meds and i'm scared that I might get depressed because of it. I'm already depressed free (as of these days). I need to take some meds for physical stuff and I don't know how to check if its compatible with my current meds and I don't even wanna try them cuz I might get allergies or stuff if I mixed them. So its like I can't get sick physically or else I might sacrifice my "normal" meds and I might get a "little" cranky.

Yikes! No wonder you get ill.

This is called polypharmacy. It can be very dangerous, even deadly.

Did one doctor write those prescriptions? If so, I would consider finding a new one.

I think knowing your meds and what they are used for is always a good rule of thumb. I rarely went on anything without the doctor having to explain absolutely everything about it... and even then, I would ask a million questions. My body tends to respond with the most unlikely side-effects to most everything. Psych meds just ended up screwing me up way more than when I am not on anything. I have found that my symptoms are much more manageable un-medicated, so I chose to remain that way (I still have a whole host of uncomfortable and scary symptoms, but I'm not as likely to act on urges and thoughts when not medicated, and everything passes faster)...

good thing you were able to address the mess, and I'm glad you are more involved in your med decisions now.

Yes. This doctor is no longer my doctor. And I made it clear to anyone who sees a psychiatrist to NOT go to her.

I am relieved to hear you no longer see that doctor.

I just want to reinforce this thread's message:

Sometimes, adverse reactions to medications can cause a psychiatrist to diagnose a new disorder. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, because I reacted to Prozac. It caused elevated mood and delusions. The irresponsible psychiatrist had me on 60 mg. Once, I was taken off it (by another psychiatrist), I returned to normal.

Always know what you taking and why!!!!!!!!!

Another thing to consider:

People metabolize medication differently. Some may be more prone to side effects, even the psychiatric variety. They may require a lower dose rather than the standard recommended dose.