Posted by Unh on October 26, 2005, at 7:51:33
Hello, I'm new here, if you have some spare time, please read this.
I'm currently taking:
- 7,5 mg of abilify (I'd really would like to
stop taking it, since I really don't know how
it could help me (I'm more anxious, my mind
seems more disperse, fogged or blocked, my
instant memory seems worst, my emotions
seem flattened, yet I still feel "distressed",
I'm too focused on how I physically am, I still
don't feel like doing anything at all, etc.).
I've been taking it for a week and a half: how
much longer should I wait to see positive
changes?- 200 mg of Lamictal. I've been taking it
for about three years, and the one time I dropped
it I had a manic episode, though I've had one of
them while on it.- 150 mg of Lyrica. I've been taking it for
three months. Its problems have been an
increased appetite, sedation and more frequent
visits to the bathroom (does this have anything
to do with it being metabolized in the
kidneys?). My doctor suggested to rise the
dose another 75 mg, but I'm afraid of taking
any more medication because of my liver (some
enzymes showed slightly high in one recent
blood exam) and of the weight gain.- 20 mg of Ambien. I took 10 mg for years, but
the insomnia caused by abilify forced me (the
doctor "suggested" it) to rise the dose.- 20 mg of Isotretinoine for acne. I've been
noticing myself more depressed after starting
it, but I don't want to stop taking it, since it
has helped it with my skin, and I will stop
it in a few months anyway.- 2000 mg of Vitamin C. For preventing respiratory
problems.- A Multi-Oil Formula from GNC (three pills a day,
180 mg of EPA, 120 mg of DHA, 222,9 mg of
linoleic acid, 63,9 mg of alfa-linoleic acid and
50,4 mg of gamma-linoleic acid in total.My psychiatrist suggested that I started
taking Lexapro for my depression (I'm bipolar
II with a hight anxiety factor) and ocd, but
I'm afraid of what I've read here about
SSRI antidepressants, specially the weight
gain part (I'm not overweight, but I just finished
a program for losing weight and gaining it
back really scares me, since I've been going up
and down for the past 8 years) since my confidence
and self-steem seem to depend too much on that
(I suffer from social anxiety too).I've read about Cymbalta, and on how some
people lost weight on it and that it was also
activating. I'm worried though, that it could
erase the little motivation I currently have,
cause me to have more anxiety or affect me on
the opposite way (get sleepier, gain weight, feel
my head "cloudier").Which one, Lexapro or Cymbalta, has less effect
on weight, is lighter on the liver, is easier
to withdraw and has less side effects? (I'm
concerned about getting mentally numb too,
getting an even worst memory yet.)Another thing, I was thinking of changing
the antipsychotic for the antidepressant (or
should I keep it both?) for preventing further
damage to my liver.Aside from that, what would you recommend me,
that's light for the liver (my liver enzymes
are a little high right now) and it's not a
stimulant (I'm afraid of getting manic, too
anxious or that it may damage my heart, which
hasn't been working at its best lately) for
my memory, focus and general mental capacities?
I would like to know which of the medications
I'm currently taking could affect that in a
negative way.Thanks! Have a nice or at least a better day.
Bye.
J.
P.S: Sorry for my bad English and for the length
of this message, I hope you were able to read
it complete.
poster:Unh
thread:572014
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051024/msgs/572014.html