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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by scribble'ntweak on August 5, 2005, at 20:05:34
I am taking 15 mg abilify, 1000 mg depakote er, .5 mg klonopin, and 20 mg celexa. Does this seem a bit excessive, or are there others out there who have a regiment like this? My diagnosis was schizophrenia, but has been switched to Bipolar after my last hospitalization. At this point I am feeling very depressed and am worried that everyone hates me. People who were my friends before hospitalization are now distant and strange toward me. Even my own family, I feel very alone. Maybe a hospital is the best place for me, at least I am able to relate to people there.
Posted by willyee on August 5, 2005, at 20:49:21
In reply to scared and lonely, posted by scribble'ntweak on August 5, 2005, at 20:05:34
> I am taking 15 mg abilify, 1000 mg depakote er, .5 mg klonopin, and 20 mg celexa. Does this seem a bit excessive, or are there others out there who have a regiment like this? My diagnosis was schizophrenia, but has been switched to Bipolar after my last hospitalization. At this point I am feeling very depressed and am worried that everyone hates me. People who were my friends before hospitalization are now distant and strange toward me. Even my own family, I feel very alone. Maybe a hospital is the best place for me, at least I am able to relate to people there.
You can always message me,youre very much not alone i promise!
Posted by Jenn445 on August 5, 2005, at 21:12:18
In reply to Re: scared and lonely, posted by willyee on August 5, 2005, at 20:49:21
Take heart. Every one of us here understands. You are not alone. I understand. May God grant you strength and joy. He understands.
Your friend,
Jenn
Posted by 4WD on August 5, 2005, at 22:04:05
In reply to scared and lonely, posted by scribble'ntweak on August 5, 2005, at 20:05:34
> I am taking 15 mg abilify, 1000 mg depakote er, .5 mg klonopin, and 20 mg celexa. Does this seem a bit excessive, or are there others out there who have a regiment like this? My diagnosis was schizophrenia, but has been switched to Bipolar after my last hospitalization. At this point I am feeling very depressed and am worried that everyone hates me. People who were my friends before hospitalization are now distant and strange toward me. Even my own family, I feel very alone. Maybe a hospital is the best place for me, at least I am able to relate to people there.
Hi Scribble.
You're not alone. I'm scared too. And I feel alone. I think we all worry about our meds. Sometimes I think I'd like to be in the hospital. I could just quit trying and let someone else worry about it. I'm sorry you are feeling so bad.
Marsha
Posted by seanincanada on August 6, 2005, at 0:04:06
In reply to Re: scared and lonely » scribble'ntweak, posted by 4WD on August 5, 2005, at 22:04:05
you are not alone and you never will be. Take comfort that there are many people around the whorld who feel the same way that you do at this very time, probably wondering the same lonely thoughts,and feeling that there is no one out there that understands. But even if your friends and family dont seem that they dont understand u, its not u they dont understand, its the illness.So take the time to move past the anxiety it will take, and pick up the phone and call that one friend you know you can talk to about just anything, even if its just about the weather it will feel good to connect with someone. And i know its hard sometimes but put on thosse walking shoes and go for a nice walk in your neighbourhood and enjoy the warm air and sunshine and hopefully that will pick up your spirits a bit. I wish you all the best!!!
Posted by med_empowered on August 6, 2005, at 0:12:32
In reply to Re: scared and lonely, posted by seanincanada on August 6, 2005, at 0:04:06
hey! Try not to feel so bad; this feelnig will pass. In time, you will strengthen and re-build your social support system (meds are important, but *nothing* beats good social support). Hospitalization may sound appealing but please...avoid it unless you feel its absolutely necessary. Hospitalization takes you out of society and into a controlled environment...it is *not* the way to adapt to a condition; at best, mental hospitals are comfortable holding cells where docs keep patients until they're "OK enough" to go back into the world outside. Now, as for your meds...my only big problem is w/ the low-dose Abilify mixed with a pretty heft dose of Depkote. I think you might do better upping the Abilify to 10-15mgs (the doses for schizophrenia...also effective for mood-stabilization) and ditching or greatly reducing the Depakote. BUT...if you're sensitve to antipsychotic side effects (EPS, apathy, etc.) you may want to avoid this. I'm super-sensitve to antipsychotics and I dont really like them, but Abilify was pretty tolerable for me, even helpful at lower doses. Another option would be Symbyax; you'd get a mood-stabilizer and an anti-depressant in one, which would simplify things *and* reduce medication costs on some insurance plans. After I did a Trileptal and Abilify combo for a while, my doc decided to taper off the Trileptal...it was a good move. Anyway, good luck, and you really will feel better. :-)
Posted by ed_uk on August 6, 2005, at 10:55:52
In reply to scared and lonely, posted by scribble'ntweak on August 5, 2005, at 20:05:34
Hello,
>I am taking 15 mg abilify, 1000 mg depakote er, .5 mg klonopin, and 20 mg celexa. Does this seem a bit excessive?
No :-) ....not if it's helping you.
I thought your diagnosis was changed to schizoaffective disorder?
Kind regards
~ed
Posted by Phillipa on August 8, 2005, at 0:26:37
In reply to Re: scared and lonely » scribble'ntweak, posted by ed_uk on August 6, 2005, at 10:55:52
There's always someone here for you. You are definitely not alone Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by tug_slug on August 9, 2005, at 19:35:29
In reply to scared and lonely, posted by scribble'ntweak on August 5, 2005, at 20:05:34
I cant speak for the other medications your taking but when I was taking klonopin I felt the same way in terms of being depressed and constantly worrying, ten months off and I still have those symptoms.
IMO Klonopin and any other benzo should be banned they might be good for the short term but once you stop taking them you'll suffer for a very long time
Posted by denise1966 on August 12, 2005, at 14:53:51
In reply to scared and lonely, posted by scribble'ntweak on August 5, 2005, at 20:05:34
Hi,
I know you're not happy about taking the amount of medication that you are taking but don't feel bad about taking it if it's helping you at all.
Is the medication not helping you at all? Are you feeling worse or better than before you took it?
And like the other poster you are definately not alone. Don't give up.
Denise
Posted by Jedi on August 14, 2005, at 0:11:51
In reply to Re: scared and lonely, posted by tug_slug on August 9, 2005, at 19:35:29
> I cant speak for the other medications your taking but when I was taking klonopin I felt the same way in terms of being depressed and constantly worrying, ten months off and I still have those symptoms.
>
> IMO Klonopin and any other benzo should be banned they might be good for the short term but once you stop taking them you'll suffer for a very long timeHi,
Everyone reacts a little differently to medications. What might be a nightmare to you could be a lifesaver for someone else.
What is your diagnosis and what dosage of clonazepam were you taking? I've been using clonazepam off and on as an augmentor to MAOIs(mostly phenelzine) for nine years. I currently take 1mg daily to augment 75mg of phenelzine. I've taken up to 6mg daily for short terms. I have never had trouble weaning off of the drug during the times I didn't feel I needed it. Everyone is different. IMO the high-potency benzodiazepines are a very valuable tool in treating many anxiety disorders. Of course, like most medications, they have side effects that affect some people more than others.
JediJ Clin Psychiatry. 2004;65 Suppl 5:7-12. Related Articles, Links
Issues in the clinical use of benzodiazepines: potency, withdrawal, and rebound.
Chouinard G.
Centre de Recherche Fernand Seguin, Psychopharmacologie, Departement de Psychiatrie, Universite de Montreal, Hopital Louis-Lafontaine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. psychopharm.unit@mcgill.ca
Low and medium potency benzodiazepines were initially introduced for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety. Their therapeutic actions as anxiolytics, sedative hypnotics, anticonvulsants, and muscle relaxants (with their low toxicity) have led to their use as first-line treatments, and they have become one of the most prescribed classes of drugs. Novel therapeutic uses of benzodiazepines were discovered with the introduction of the high-potency benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, clonazepam, and lorazepam). They were found to be effective in treating panic disorder and panic attacks with or without agoraphobia, as add-on therapy to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorders, and as adjunctive therapy in treating patients with acute mania or acute agitation. High-potency benzodiazepines have replaced low and medium potency benzodiazepines in all benzodiazepine clinical indications due to their greater therapeutic effects and rapid onset of action. Differences in distribution, elimination half-life, and rate of absorption are important considerations when choosing a high-potency benzodiazepine. Typically, a benzodiazepine with long distribution and elimination half-lives is preferred. A maximum dose of 2 mg/day of any of the high-potency benzodiazepines when given for more than 1 week is recommended. Although as a class benzodiazepines act rapidly and are well tolerated, their use presents clinical issues such as dependence, rebound anxiety, memory impairment, and discontinuation syndrome.
Publication Types:
ReviewPMID: 15078112 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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