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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 2, 2011, at 10:28:34
I have been very anxious. I am taking 750mg Lithium, 30mg Parnate(down from 60mg) and 15mg Ambien. I stopped the Abilify about a month ago.
I have been very productive because I am afraid to be still and alone. I have lost a few pounds (still wearing my cymbalta weight gain form last year). Basically I am functional and frightened (of everything). Sadly, I have decided, with my pdoc, to stay like this another week of two while I increase the Lithium. How strange the trade-off. Deciding to face every day with fear so that I can get a few more things taken care of. The pdoc thinks this may be a prolonged withdrawal from Abilify.
Posted by Phillipa on February 2, 2011, at 11:26:26
In reply to Abilify or Parnate Withdrawal?, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 2, 2011, at 10:28:34
Eleanor don't know what to say but can relate to the fear. I also have same. Not from withdrawal though but fear is fear. Hang in Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on February 3, 2011, at 15:49:23
In reply to Abilify or Parnate Withdrawal?, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 2, 2011, at 10:28:34
I'm very sorry, Eleanor, you are feeling this way with the prospect of one or two weeks more. Fear and anxiety are wearing and uncomfortable. How long were you on abilify and at what dosage?
I was on abilify for a few months w/a max of 10mg and did not notice withdrawal.... In your situation, it could be difficult to know which is causing which.
Am I remembering correctly, you have pain issues you need to address. Did parnate help w/pain initially? I'm curious because I am tapering off Cymbalta now. Worked incredibly well for pain, however the sides were intolerable.
What is your next step?
Best regards,
fb
(Btw, I love your screen name.)
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 13, 2011, at 12:23:01
In reply to Re: Abilify or Parnate Withdrawal? » Elanor Roosevelt, posted by floatingbridge on February 3, 2011, at 15:49:23
Did parnate help w/pain initially? I'm curious because I am tapering off Cymbalta now. Worked incredibly well for pain, however the sides were intolerable.
>
fb,
Did you gain weight on the Cymbalta? My pdoc is still unsure if it was the Cymbalta or the Abilify that caused my weigh gain. I did gain from 25 to 30 pounds rapidly. This is a great deal of weight for someone is 5'4"After a long time on Parnate and Abilify and then just on Parnate, the pdoc started to reduce my dose as I was despondent when I considered I was as good as I would ever get again. Now that I am at 30mg of Parnate and nervous as all out, I am losing a little weight and my pain is abating. I've been exercising to stay strong and limber but I'm not convinced that exercise was an actual solution. I am also on 750mg of Lithium.
While working up in dose with the Parnate I did not experience these effects.
So now I am nervous and edgy and have yet another week I will put off changing meds as I have a job interview and I don't want any personality surprises.
I'm also wondering if I should try to hang in there and lose some weight as it's so impossible on most meds.
Sorry this is so convoluted. It reflects the way I form thoughts these days.
The short answer is yes, I do think the Parnate at 30mg lessens joint pain.
I do think low-dose Parnate allows weight loss through dieting.
However, I have not found sufficient relief from the depression (sigh)I found the same to be true several years ago.
Good Luck FB
Posted by floatingbridge on February 13, 2011, at 14:38:09
In reply to Re: Abilify or Parnate Withdrawal?, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 13, 2011, at 12:23:01
ER,
Thanks for the well wishes. Abilify, I'm 99% sure caused any rapid weight gain. It just does that. Some neuroscience savvy person once explained how it happened. I am 5'4" myself, and gained 20 pounds in two months when my abilify went to 5mgs and higher.
I am now trialing Lyrica, the more potent younger relation to neurontin. It isn't helping pain much, BUT it has helped my mood. Not that I'm near remission yet.
Have you tried it? I'm sorry to hear that you've been despairing your med situation, and glad you have, what seems to me, a good doc working with you.
Very best on your interview. Yes, and away with any personality surprises. Not necessary at all.
Personally, I'd love to hear an update sometime.
fb
Posted by floatingbridge on February 13, 2011, at 14:45:25
In reply to Re: Abilify or Parnate Withdrawal?, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 13, 2011, at 12:23:01
Oh. Your question.
Cymbalta did not cause weight gain because I was almost unable to eat while on it. I fall into the 25% (I think) that experience GI discomfort (understatement). But I've heard it rumored to cause weight gain. Frankly, it cut my pain by such a large percentage, I'd have lived with the extra weight.
fb
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 13, 2011, at 21:33:27
In reply to Re: Abilify or Parnate Withdrawal? » Elanor Roosevelt, posted by floatingbridge on February 13, 2011, at 14:45:25
You stopped the Cymbalta cause it was tearing up you gut?
Posted by floatingbridge on February 14, 2011, at 11:47:52
In reply to FB why stop the Cymbalta, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 13, 2011, at 21:33:27
Did I use 'tearing'? My apologies. That implies bleeding, which I did not experience. I did have bouts of incredible pain (meaning fetal position on the bed, nobody touch me, not daring to move). Constant dyspepsia, and fear of eating lest it trigger another trip to bed.
So yes. Unfortunately, that's why, because it helped fibro and bone type pain (spinal injury). Though it did create quite a bit of brain fog. Then again, I was always sick to my stomach, so that makes it more difficult to gauge.
Many folks do well on this med. I, darn!, didn't.
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 16, 2011, at 9:12:49
In reply to Re: FB why stop the Cymbalta » Elanor Roosevelt, posted by floatingbridge on February 14, 2011, at 11:47:52
you didn't use "tearing" I did
what other meds work for the pain?
I noticed a reduction of pain once I stopped the abilify and stayed on the parnate--for a while.
Posted by floatingbridge on February 20, 2011, at 15:20:28
In reply to Re: FB why stop the Cymbalta, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on February 16, 2011, at 9:12:49
Woo-hoo! 3 days cymbalta free. Lyrica really is doing something to stop head zaps.
So for pain, if you have insurance or are relatively wealthy :( , I find significant relief from a transdermal nsaid patch, Flector. It is supposed to work better as a transdermal than by ingestion. Voltaran is the same nsaid in a prescription gel. I have up to 30mg norco in my 'treatment bag'.
Lyrica is providing moderate, but incomplete relief. It doesn't get at the bone pain I have, esp in SI joint. For that, do far I have my treatment bag.
Both new gp and (same old) pdoc suddenly pointed out that with everything I take, I am guaranteed withdrawals each night. Great. I never was a morning person.
I'd absolutely love a 24 hour pain patch, but don't know much, except for heavyweight meds, do you? Emsam, maybe, if you report some relief from parnate.
Studies have been done with topical amitriptyline showing excellent results.
Too bad about Cymbalta. Norco was down to 10mg and falling. Darn sides.
My gp mentioned a tca. My pdoc cringed; he's seen me through many med
trials. She also mentioned a patch that had an ending that sounded scary, like in a narcotic type way. I just looked at her with my eyebrows up and mouth open, and she kinda' did an uh-huh, which I interpreted as a we-don't-want-to-go-there-sister kinda' look.I gotta go now. Oh yeah. Gp said Google norco rebound. She said that's my mornings : /
What do you know?
(Doesn't pain just skew the treatment plan?)
Sorry it's an issue for you,
fb
Hope your week went well. No personality surprises.
> you didn't use "tearing" I did
>
> what other meds work for the pain?
>
> I noticed a reduction of pain once I stopped the abilify and stayed on the parnate--for a while.
This is the end of the thread.
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