[FaithlessCat]

Hi all. ... warning possible triggers ...



I have a dx of pure O OCD, Intrusive music and Bipolar II.

I was on lamictal 200mg and carbamazepine 600mg but found My memory and ability to recall words when trying to speak , was just horrible and distressing.

Just before Christmas I went into a deep depression. So bad I reached 'that' rock bottom for the first time ever in my 41 years. Also my intrusive music was so bad I was no longer able to bypass it with my usual coping mechanisms and so was unable to sleep.
Pdoc took me off the carbamazepine and put me on 150mg Seroquel for a number of reasons
1. To help me sleep
2. To pull me out of my depression
3. There is some research that suggests it works to reduce/eliminate intrusive music.

It's been approx 3 weeks and I haven't really noticed a huge difference in the musical hallucinosis or my sleeping.
My memory is back to normal and I seem to have a bit of spark back in my personality.

However the last couple of nights at exactly the same time I seem to be getting very irritable.

I also got so wound up I started clawing and digging my fingers into my arms ... so much so I left bruises.

I have Dermatillomania but never have I picked to harm myself before ... NEVER. Nor have I attacked my arm in anyway like that.

I've tried experimenting with the time I take the seroquel and 10pm ( around 2 hours before bed time ) seems to work best not in getting me to sleep but reducing the god awful tiredness the next day.

It's almost impossible to get out of bed !!

And then all I think about during the day is getting back into the bed.

I have heard that upping the dose reduces the sedating effects .... and in all honesty it isnt significantly working for my sleep because I've heard people say they pass out on just 25mg.

I'm seeing pdoc tomorrow and just really would like to know of others experiences with it so I can make an informed decision on what to do.

There seems to be mixed ideas of wheather or not caffeine helps.
I had cut caffeine from my diet years ago but finding a cup or two now helps somewhat with the tiredness but could be the reason behind the irritability and SH.

I completely understand every drug affects everyone differently and most seem to indicate the tiredness doesn't improve. But I'd love to hear if anyone has stuck with it and gotten over the side effects.
because there is no known 'cure' or treatment for intrusive music and I'd like to give this a really good shot.

Thanks all

[Moogieotter]

Hi FaithlessCat,

Wow - sounds like you are having a time with it. I am tired a great deal, not sure if it's the lamictal. For the side effect is livable and does not outweigh the benefits. Seroquel is also known to make people sleepy, but many report that it gets better over time. I tried Seroquel, and while it is a great drug for many, it was just not for me.

I hope you find a solution. Best of Luck,

moogs

[InsideBlackBox]

Originally Posted by FaithlessCat

Hi all. ... warning possible triggers ...



I have a dx of pure O OCD, Intrusive music and Bipolar II.

I was on lamictal 200mg and carbamazepine 600mg but found My memory and ability to recall words when trying to speak , was just horrible and distressing.

Just before Christmas I went into a deep depression. So bad I reached 'that' rock bottom for the first time ever in my 41 years. Also my intrusive music was so bad I was no longer able to bypass it with my usual coping mechanisms and so was unable to sleep.
Pdoc took me off the carbamazepine and put me on 150mg Seroquel for a number of reasons
1. To help me sleep
2. To pull me out of my depression
3. There is some research that suggests it works to reduce/eliminate intrusive music.

It's been approx 3 weeks and I haven't really noticed a huge difference in the musical hallucinosis or my sleeping.
My memory is back to normal and I seem to have a bit of spark back in my personality.

However the last couple of nights at exactly the same time I seem to be getting very irritable.

I also got so wound up I started clawing and digging my fingers into my arms ... so much so I left bruises.

I have Dermatillomania but never have I picked to harm myself before ... NEVER. Nor have I attacked my arm in anyway like that.

I've tried experimenting with the time I take the seroquel and 10pm ( around 2 hours before bed time ) seems to work best not in getting me to sleep but reducing the god awful tiredness the next day.

It's almost impossible to get out of bed !!

And then all I think about during the day is getting back into the bed.

I have heard that upping the dose reduces the sedating effects .... and in all honesty it isnt significantly working for my sleep because I've heard people say they pass out on just 25mg.

I'm seeing pdoc tomorrow and just really would like to know of others experiences with it so I can make an informed decision on what to do.

There seems to be mixed ideas of wheather or not caffeine helps.
I had cut caffeine from my diet years ago but finding a cup or two now helps somewhat with the tiredness but could be the reason behind the irritability and SH.

I completely understand every drug affects everyone differently and most seem to indicate the tiredness doesn't improve. But I'd love to hear if anyone has stuck with it and gotten over the side effects.
because there is no known 'cure' or treatment for intrusive music and I'd like to give this a really good shot.

Thanks all

I am Bipolar 1 and on Lamictal and Seroquel. I take 100mg lamictal in the morning and 200mg at night. I take the Seroquel 50mg at night as well. I become completely lethargic by bedtime. Sometimes even amnesic.
The weight gain has been ridiculous. Any suggests would help.
I really like what the improvement of my moods the next day but, have a drug hang over almost until noon.
I hate to ask for something different with my pdoc.

[FaithlessCat]

With respect to the weight gain. I recently had a food allergy test and found out I'm Intolerant to mammalian fat proteins ( basically if it has 4 hooves I can't eat it or drink it's milk )
I'm also intolerant to wheat.

So I'm left with Turkey and chicken. Some grains and a whole load of veggies .... which I hate.

But over the past few days I've discovered I'll eat almost any vegetables raw ! ... Im eating sugar snap peas;, carrots and swede/turnip all cut into sticks and dipped in houmous as I'm typing.
I defy my body to put weight on while I'm eating like this !! Seriously it's absolutely delicious.
And at night when those seroquel munchies kick in its definitely a great alternative to chips and candy !

I also recommend getting out for a walk. I know it's easier said than done but once you're out there ... pretty much guarantee you'll feel good and serotonin levels will increase naturally.

A contributing factor to my current dip in mood is I've just had one knee operated on and due to get the other one done in a few weeks.
I was walking 10k and / or going to the gym 5 days a week because I'm very over weight already. Thou I went from the size of a small house to maybe a 2 bed apartment ( lol !) So I was fat but fit.
Going from all that to not even being able to walk 500 yards to the local shop since last August has been very hard.
.... ... and my weight is a massive trigger for me.
In spite of many changes in diet nothing has helped me shift any more weight. But tbh I figure given the meds and zero exercise I'm doing great having not gained any weight.
Fingers crossed cutting out the meats/dairy and wheat might finally make a difference.

It's not easy and our mental health and the meds etc
... yep it all sometimes feels like just swapping one set of challenges for another !