[Jennifer1084]

This is something that I have been wondering. Total as of right now I am on 23 different medications, including the temporary, PRN's and regular meds. I have a total of 17 regular medications. Of these my psychiatrist gives me these meds:

Effexor XR 112.5 mg
abilify 15 mg
trilipital 150 mg
lexapro 10 mg
luvox 150 mg
risperdal .5 mg
Provigil 200 mg
zolpidiem 10 mg
Seroquel 25 mg

Is this too many? Should I try to get off some of them?

[misty324]

I would make it a point to talk to my doc and ask them to give you some insight on what you are taking - why they feel it will help, what are possible interractions, side effects, how long do they expect you to be on it, etc. Your pharmacist should also be able to tell you if you should not be combining certain prescription meds either with others or with OTC drugs, herbs, alcohol, etc.

But ultimately, your doc should have a solid reasoning for prescribing anything for you. If you feel that your doc isn't really listening to you or if they try and avoid talking to you about your concerns, I'd see that as a red flag and try to find a new doc.

I wouldn't stop anything just on your own or abruptly. Some doses need to be tapered down and only your doc can tell you about how to properly stop.

Best of luck to you.

Namaste,
Misty

That sounds like quite a cocktail, yeah.
How are you doing on those meds? Better than you were doing on other combinations? I'll admit that I'm a little surprised that a psychiatrist would put you on such a combination in the first place. Was it that the cocktail kind of got added to over the years?

I've heard it said (in medical textbooks) that medication is as much an art as a science (psychiatric medication in particular). Different individuals can respond to the same medication quite differently, and so what holds in the 'general case' might well not hold for a particular individual. That being said.. I'd be interested to know what a combination of risperdal and seroquel is doing for you that either a slightly higher dose of risperdal or seroquel alone wouldn't do for you... I'm not sure why a doctor would have you on two different brands of something where the mechanism of action is meant to be fairly comperable...

How you doing on that cocktail?

[Jennifer1084]

Wow ya know it is really getting me lost and confused. It seem like they started with some and just kept adding and adding, I mean they did take me of some and start another, but it's just as if some things just are not changing. I don't know what to do. Ahhhhhhhhh.

[vulnerome]

Goodness, that is quite a cocktail. It is possible that there is a good reason for it, but I'd imagine it is now very difficult for your doctor to tell what is going on. Aside from anything else it must be costing a fortune.

Personally I'd make a special appointment to discuss your prescriptions. It is possible that you may have to go into hospital to rationalise your meds. Coming off them on your own could be very messy.

Best of luck whatever happens

[Jennifer1084]

Yeah it is alot of meds, ,I started talking to one doctor about them, he took me off the respirdal so that is good. I weill go back to my normal doctor for psychotropic meds on the 7th. I am planning on talking to regular doc sometime too.

thanks for the advice. I have wondered if I am going to h ave to go inpatient for awhile to get off some of the meds.

[youOme]

It's so many that I believe it's to many..is all that completely necessary?? Don't some of those medications actually have the same function? I'm thinking of your liver here hun, maybe some meds can be upped by mgs and others taken away...something. I'd talk to doc for sure.

This is my opinion, it may be the best for you but if you question it then you have the right to get full answers or see if you can change something.

[Danialla]

As far as the question "how many meds are too many" you probably shouldn't count them individually.

What I mean is that I agree with Alex, treating a person with medication is somewhat of an art. Doctors try to find a balance that helps the person with the least amount of side effects (sedation, etc.).

The dose of each of the medications you are taking is relatively low, so that actual number of meds you are taking shouldn't really be an issue.

The question is.....How is it working for you? Are you feeling any better? Any worse? Those are the questions that really are important.

I hope you are feeling better.....take care.