[Seth412]

So my new doctor and I have not been seeing eye to eye.

After recently deciding to go rogue and stop taking meds altogether, I had a tidal wave of returning OCD and bipolar II symptoms that ultimately led to my hospitalization.
I was put on Lithium 1200mg and Zyprexa 10mg.

Prior to that, I was on Lexapro and Lithium, a combination which saved my life at age 18 and worked wonders for me the following 4 years. Lexapro eliminated the worst of my often troubling, usually crippling OCD.

Due to my disclosure of a manic episode induced by Luvox at 16, my doc is absolutely terrified of SSRI anything, despite my success in taking Lexapro. He put me on Cymbalta, an SNRI not approved for treating OCD, and he’s left it at half the standard dose for months and months. Why he chose Cymbalta is a mystery, but I suspect it may have something to do with the piles of free samples that he keeps in his drawer. I think Lilly has been visiting.

I am now on a substandard dose of a barely-OCD med, 1200mg Lithium, and 5mg zyprexa. I’ve been here a long time, and my doc doesn’t want to budge or do anything.

It just seems we differ on treatment goals. I would like to find a good OCD med that won’t cause an adverse reaction, and stay on that and lithium for the rest of forever. He seems to want me to remain on Zyprexa and gain weight, while half-dosing an off-label OCD med.

I guess I’m just frustrated. Am I being foolish, or should I find a new doctor?

[perseverance11]

I think that he should have keep the Lexapro for if you said you felt better with that combination. Talk to him about that and if you want, you can change of pdoc also.

[Seth412]

Originally Posted by perseverance11

I think that he should have keep the Lexapro for if you said you felt better with that combination. Talk to him about that and if you want, you can change of pdoc also.

Funny thing about the Lexapro, after I had been off it i tried to get back on it, I had some problems.

It made me feel "high" and agitated. The thing about that is it might have been all in my head. My OCD is so bad that I can manifest symptoms of various kinds just by Obsessing over them.

So idk :/ best to try something new I think. The cymbalta seems to work pretty decently with my OCD. Not as well as Lexapro, but I can at least function. I would be content with just upping the dose and trying that.

[perseverance11]

Originally Posted by Seth412

Funny thing about the Lexapro, after I had been off it i tried to get back on it, I had some problems.

It made me feel "high" and agitated. The thing about that is it might have been all in my head. My OCD is so bad that I can manifest symptoms of various kinds just by Obsessing over them.

So idk :/ best to try something new I think. The cymbalta seems to work pretty decently with my OCD. Not as well as Lexapro, but I can at least function. I would be content with just upping the dose and trying that.

Ok, therefore, something new could help you.

[Augusta_A]

Hi Seth,

I'm sorry to hear you've been having all these difficulties. I have no expertise in any of these meds or disorders but I do know that lots of pdocs really are idiots. It seems to me inexcusable that he keeps you on a sub-clinical dose of a medication in a category that you obviously need. If he's not willing to give you a real shot at feeling and doing better, then yes -- I would encourage you to go elsewhere and find a doctor who is willing to give you genuine help, not just minimal maintenance.

Again, I should say that I have no expertise in these matters. Even so, you are entitled to feel some confidence in your doctor and to feel that he's really helping you to do better (not helping himself to qualify for the next free cruise).

[layla11]

Hi, you have every right to ask the doctors about these concerns and I would. I'm thinking maybe he didn't put you on the lexapro again because you stopped taking your meds while you was on it and then the problems also that followed, not saying you did anything wrong, just that in his thinking maybe the Lexapro wasn't agreeing with you.. I don't know if this makes since. I think about my doctors instructions all the time and why she did this and did that. So, your not along. hope this help. I have to agree with the previous posting also, alot of the pdocs are idiots. If you feel you need to change docs, then consider that.

[Gus1234U]

it's been my policy to try to remember that i live with me every day, all day, and even in the night, which i rarely remember; and the Pdoc sees me for 20 minutes every few months and i am only one of thousands, so he aims for the middle,, like a target shooter.

in sum, trust yourself,,, ok, so you made a mistake and went off your meds,, that happens, you feel fine, don't remember what it was like, think maybe you're well,,, but ,,, ooops,, nope~! so get a second opinion,, change docs~! look for someone unlike the one you have.... ~~ and good luck, best wishes~ Gus

[-jimi-]

Some docs think all SSRI's are the same. I don't think they get it. Celexa made me pretty manic but I tolerate Luvox and I'm glad no idiot doc is taking this life saving med away. So yea, it is very possible for you to be the other way around, not tolerating Luvox but tolerating Lexapro. But what can you do? Every doc has their take on things.

[Tsuki632]

SSRIs can do weird things to teens.