[Maven]

My OCD is getting worse, so my psychiatrist is putting me back on Anafranil, along with the other psych meds I'm on (Xanax-1mg a day, Prozac-forget dosage, and Paxil-60mg a day), working back up to 300mg. Is this safe? It sounds like an awful lot. Is anyone on this many, especially on high dosages? I'm not saying I don't need it, but I've never been on this much before, and the recommended highest dosage for Anafranil is around 200mg, as I recall, and I'll be at 300mg. What do you think?

[still_crazy]

im --not-- an expert, but...id be concerned, just thinking in terms of safety and drug-drug interactions that could=toxicity (tca drugs can be dangerous at times, especially in multi-drug cocktails...).

there are other drugs for ocd. low dose tranquilizers, benzodiazepines, now and then amphetamines.

[Shazerac]

I'm not an expert either. I would discuss your concerns with your doctor. Also meds effect people different ways. Sometimes they can even cause the syptoms they are supposed to allievate.

THat being said. Recommended dosage is just a guideline. I'm on a low dose of seroquel and supposedly that's not enough to be effective but it works for me. If I was on the recommended dosage I would be comatose.

[Sunflower123]

I'm on several medications....a few at high dosages. Having said that, I encourage you to discuss your concerns with your pdoc.

[*Laurie*]

Definitely speak with your pdoc. If you trust him and he prescribes a specific dose, go with it. Try it out.

[eskielover]

Do you have a T? Maybe it would be better to work on figuring the source of WHY it is getting worse instead ofbjustbtryingbto cover up the symptoms with MORE meds. Some meds are good & help....not saying anything bad about that but when symptoms get worse THERE IS USUALLY a reason & the reason needs to be dealt with.

[Maven]

Yes, I have a new T (I've seen him twice), but I don't know how I feel about him yet. I think the reason is, I switched from Anafranil to Paxil, but he doesn't want to drop the Paxil, but add the Anafranil.

I'm going to call my doctor (physician) today and see what he thinks.

[reb569]

Originally Posted by Maven

My OCD is getting worse, so my psychiatrist is putting me back on Anafranil, along with the other psych meds I'm on (Xanax-1mg a day, Prozac-forget dosage, and Paxil-60mg a day), working back up to 300mg. Is this safe? It sounds like an awful lot. Is anyone on this many, especially on high dosages? I'm not saying I don't need it, but I've never been on this much before, and the recommended highest dosage for Anafranil is around 200mg, as I recall, and I'll be at 300mg. What do you think?

One of the other meds may decrease the effectiveness of the Anafranil, requiring a higher dosage to be effective.

I've gone through this with my daughter. Her dosage of one of her meds is double the recommended max, but the Tegratol she's on decreases the effectiveness. Her blood levels are on.

But yes, I would definitely ask your Pdoc.

[Maven]

My doctor said I'm on way too many meds and shouldn't be on Prozac and Paxil.

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by Maven

My doctor said I'm on way too many meds and shouldn't be on Prozac and Paxil.

Sounds like a wisevstatement to me. Was tour pdoc wanting to leave you on all or bring in a new one while reducing a previous one rather than taking you off cold turkey?

I think some pdocs think that because one med works in the brain chemistry in one way & another med works in a different way that it's ok to be on full doses of each never thinking about inter reactions.

I felt that my first pdoc thought I was his guinea pig he could experiment on. That just added to my suicidal feelings & responses to my world around me. My last pdoc (after the first one refused to treat me because of all my suicide attempts) was into alternative treatments because of my horrible side effects. I appreciated him working with me & deciding that meds weren't the answer for me but came up with other natural solutions to take. My body was a lot better without chemicals in it.

[Maven]

Originally Posted by eskielover

Sounds like a wisevstatement to me. Was tour pdoc wanting to leave you on all or bring in a new one while reducing a previous one rather than taking you off cold turkey?

I think some pdocs think that because one med works in the brain chemistry in one way & another med works in a different way that it's ok to be on full doses of each never thinking about inter reactions.

I felt that my first pdoc thought I was his guinea pig he could experiment on. That just added to my suicidal feelings & responses to my world around me. My last pdoc (after the first one refused to treat me because of all my suicide attempts) was into alternative treatments because of my horrible side effects. I appreciated him working with me & deciding that meds weren't the answer for me but came up with other natural solutions to take. My body was a lot better without chemicals in it.

I'm not sure I can function long enough off meds to try the alternatives, but I am working on it. I'm going to be talking with my doctor about this Monday. It doesn't help that my boyfriend is unhappy that my doctor is saying not to take all those meds, and thinks because my psychiatrist is an "expert" on the mind, he knows better.

[eskielover]

If you don't have the horrible side effects there is no reason to turn to alternatives but to find the best level of meds that actually help you without being over medicated

[Maven]

I do have side effects. My emotions are numbed, I can rarely cry, even when I feel like it. I have a very low libido. There are possible physical symptoms in having which may be caused by or contributed to by the meds.

[eskielover]

Im talking about life threstening side effenct or like the parkinsons like reaction I had where I couldnt evrn feed myself or walk. Or like the rash that can come with I think the drug lamictil. I dont even remember what med it was that caused total joint stiffness that forced my pdoc to give me a shot to counter the effect.

Yes the side effects you have are a nuisance & we have to decide whether those irrotatong side effects are worth the good the med may be doing. I was refering to side effects that cant possibly be lived with or tolerated.

Weighing the pros & cons on non-life threatening effecta is an individual choice thet is definitely a concern for each person dealing with them

[Maven]

Oh, sorry, I misunderstood. I have this heart-skipping thing, but my doctor doesn't seem to know what's causing it, except possibly caffeine. I have a cardiologist, but I only see him once a year. The low libido is very serious to me, though.

[eskielover]

If a side effect is serious to you then you need to bring it up as an issue with your pdoc. There may be another med they will work just as well without that side effect but if not brought up as a serious to you problem then they will never know. Sad when we are forced to deal with side effects just to have a med that works. IMO, the drug companies could do a much better job of minimizing ALL side effects.

I thought it was interesting how Prozac said it could either cause weight gain OR weight loss.....I ended up with the weight loss to a massive extent that turned into anorexia. I had always lost weight when stressed....it just made it worse & got down to 83 lbs. serious side effect....definitely could be...lust trying to deal with situational depression that had become MAJOR. Some prices might be worth it....others, the individual needs to decide where to draw the line.

[Maven]

It's just that I've been on so many meds.