Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 31, 2003, at 11:19:55
In reply to Re: SCARED !!! Need advice on safety of drug regimen., posted by Ima on August 31, 2003, at 9:22:26
> Im really concerned about having to go through a process that may require multiple withdraw scenarios.
Well, many of the medications don't cause any appreciable symptoms upon withdrawal. Amongst the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications, it's mainly the SSRIs (with the possible exception of Prozac) and Effexor that are notorious for their hellish withdrawal. (Yeah, yeah, I know -- benzos and stimulants too, but unlike those antidepressants, one can be withdrawn from these rather painlessly, provided the doctor knows what he/she is doing... and I'd take benzo withdrawal over SSRI withdrawal any day!)
> How difficult was it for you to change so often from one med to another. Was it disruptive to your ability to function?
I wasn't able to function at all as it was, so all the med-switching didn't really disrupt my non-existent ability to function :-). But had I been someone who was able to carry out a fairly normal life without medication, I'm sure that the side effects, especially, would have interfered severely.
> I have young children at home and I home school. Going through so much trial and error could be quite difficult for me, (more specifically for my children)
All the more reason to find the best doctor you can, bring in research on medications that may be helpful, and just push and push and push until you get what you need to recover.
> Can I ask you why you are taking ultram? I have been prescribed it as a pain reliever. I have seen info that it effects serotonin levels, and therefore has the effect of an anti-depressant. Was it prescribed for your mood disorder or for pain? At the moment, I think it is adversely affecting my BP, increasing mania..etc. I am not on a mood stabilizer. I think no one has figured out Im BP yet.
I take the Ultram for depression and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. It actually inhibits reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine, in addition to being a mu-opioid agonist, albeit a mild one (a potency about 1/6,000 of that of morphine; its active metabolite is more active at the mu-opioid receptors though). I do have fibromyalgia though, and the Ultram helps a bit, especially because I'm allergic to all OTC pain meds.
I could certainly see how Ultram could trigger mania... why don't you tell your physician this and try a different narcotic? Tylenol #1-4 or codeine sulfate tablets (w/o acetaminophen) are very good and about as effective as Ultram; Vicodin, Vicoprofen, Norco, Anexsia, Lortab, Percocet, Percodan etc. are also quite similar in their pain-relieving effects. Though others may disagree with me on this, this is my personal experience. I can't take Vicodin, Vicoprofen, Lortab, Percodan etc. because of the APAP and NSAIDs they contain, but I have tried oxycodone and hydrocodone alone; I honestly don't feel they're any stronger than the Ultram for relieving pain. People looking for a high though are usually fairly disappointed with Ultram, except at very high doses (400mg+), so they'll tend to say that it's a pretty crappy drug.
> By lurking about I feel almost certain that Im BP2 and will reguire a multiple med regimen.
Well, if BP II ends up being the case, at least two meds is most likely... one for mood-stabilization and one for depression (though you may be lucky enough to do just fine on a mood-stabilizer alone). A pretty popular combination these days is Lamictal (for depression) and lithium (as an anti-manic).
> I have been through 2 pdocs with no accurate diagnosis.(Both recomended ADS). I ended up with serotonin syndrome. So Im trying a third(doc) this week.
Good luck! :-)
> Many here have found good docs and sucessful treatment because of it. Good docs dont seem to be part of my karma. I feel I need to be prepared with ideas, to help eliminate so much guess work and spare my family (and myself) a plethora of trials.
Oh, believe me, I totally understand. I went through all 13 psychiatrists in my area, and now finally found one who is just incredible -- he'll listen to anything you have to say, he's never judgmental, and he's always open to new ideas. Unfortunately, his office is 50 miles away, lol.
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:255194
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030828/msgs/255879.html