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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 20, 2014, at 14:40:16
I know, I know; at the end, its up to me and my doc. I get that.
But..its like...I have very mild what I call "quasi-hallucinations," despite the current combo (30/Abilify, 100/Lamictal, 1200/Trileptal), plus massive doses of select supplements (Orthomolecular...check out www.doctoryourself.com if you're curious. Or read up on Dr.Abram Hoffer).
Anyway, its like...I require my current meds, but an AD feels like...excess? Too much? An easy way out? Like I'm hiding from pain as I go through a rough patch?
And yet...I think I may need to do *something*, you know, if only for a period of time, like 6 months or so.
I'm physically slowed down. I feel like I'm just going through the motions when I interact with people. Since I'm unemployed, I have the luxury of lying in bed, just thinking. I've gained a considerable amount of weight, although that has fortunately stopped. I'm stable at the fattest I've ever been, lol.
I go for days without brushing my teeth. Luckily for me, my somewhat affluent parents took me in and give me leeway. They're basically well-educated hippies, lol. My hair gets greasy. I find doing simple things to be an incredible chore. I smoke heavily, like 2 packs/day of my beloved Camels.
What to do? Any AD suggestions? Would the dosage of Abilify need to be adjusted?
I should add...I have 2 PRN meds. 2mgs/Risperdal tablets (my shrink pulled it out of his desk, lol) and low-dose neurontin. When I really need to simmer down the voices and agitation, I take a few neurontin, plus 1-3 Risperdal, plus some taurine and b-6 (not on and empty stomach, for obvious reasons). Knocks me out cold, I wake up fuzzy brained, but calm. This is not a long term solution, obviously.Thoughts? Advice?
Posted by rjlockhart37 on October 20, 2014, at 16:49:25
In reply to how do you know when you need an AD?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 20, 2014, at 14:40:16
i think wellbutrin or effexor will help....they should get you out of low energy, but wellies are known to cause anxiety in some people.....vary much,
you have to get used to the antidepressant to notice the benefitcial effects.....
i've been on prozac for years and it has helped me, but lately i've noticed body adapted to it, and it's difficultto notice the effect.....
talk to the doctor
r
Posted by Hugh on October 20, 2014, at 17:00:16
In reply to how do you know when you need an AD?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 20, 2014, at 14:40:16
I don't have any AD suggestions, but the addition of two probioitic strains might enhance the effectiveness of your Abilify and Risperdal, and they might do something for your depression too. This clinical trial was recently completed:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01242371
These two strains of probiotics are available in a product called USANA Probiotic Plus.
http://www.usana.com/webhosting/product?page=page3
BB12 lowers Interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels. The following is from http://crohns.net/Miva/education/articles/Probiotics_Research.shtml
IL-2 production from PBMC in the Bb12 group was significantly lower compared with the other groups.
The following is from http://www.cytokines-and-depression.com/chapter7.html
Interleukin-2 (IL2) and Interferon-Gamma (INFγ) INFγ and IL2 are primarily secreted by T-lymphocytes. Low doses of IL-2 produce symptoms of depression. Severe lethargy, impaired memory, slowed responses, impaired attention, anorexia, lack of interest and irritability are found with most volunteers after receiving low doses of IL2. High doses of IL2 provoke very severe symptoms of schizophrenia, including hallucinations, delusions, disorientation in time, place or person. These observations have prompted the development of a macrophage-lymphocyte model of schizophrenia.
Since you're so familiar with supplements, you probably know most of the following, but maybe you'll find some of it useful:
http://www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C447441.html
Posted by Phillipa on October 20, 2014, at 17:35:58
In reply to how do you know when you need an AD?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 20, 2014, at 14:40:16
If you are not showering and staying clean and spending all you r time in bed. It is definitely time to see you doc. What do you do all day. No going outside the weather is great right now. And what's with the camel's? I have found schizophrenics smoke a lot thinking dopamine. Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on October 20, 2014, at 21:46:47
In reply to how do you know when you need an AD?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 20, 2014, at 14:40:16
>I'm physically slowed down. I feel like I'm just going through the motions when I interact with people.
>I go for days without brushing my teeth...My hair gets greasy. I find doing simple things to be an incredible chore.
These are signs of a depression best treated with ADs.
Eric
Posted by oceansun on October 20, 2014, at 22:25:01
In reply to how do you know when you need an AD?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 20, 2014, at 14:40:16
If you're lying in bed all day -- you sound pretty depressed -- I wouldn't worry right now about avoiding pain or taking another med. You're not avoiding pain by taking an AD; that thinking can be a sign of depression itself, at least it was for me.
Is it existential pain, and/or from trauma or specific things?
And if motivation and lethargy are your top concerns, I second the Wellbutrin recommendation, and I don't think it would increase hallucinations, but I could be wrong, I don't know much about them. As for the hallucinations, can you raise the Abilify dose? I don't know what the highest dose is offhand. If not, you could switch to another antipsychotic that may work better for you, since I think you're on a high dose already.
I don't know if any of this is helpful, but I'm sorry you feel bad, and I hope you and your pdoc can figure something out.
> I know, I know; at the end, its up to me and my doc. I get that.
>
> But..its like...I have very mild what I call "quasi-hallucinations," despite the current combo (30/Abilify, 100/Lamictal, 1200/Trileptal), plus massive doses of select supplements (Orthomolecular...check out www.doctoryourself.com if you're curious. Or read up on Dr.Abram Hoffer).
>
> Anyway, its like...I require my current meds, but an AD feels like...excess? Too much? An easy way out? Like I'm hiding from pain as I go through a rough patch?
>
> And yet...I think I may need to do *something*, you know, if only for a period of time, like 6 months or so.
>
> I'm physically slowed down. I feel like I'm just going through the motions when I interact with people. Since I'm unemployed, I have the luxury of lying in bed, just thinking. I've gained a considerable amount of weight, although that has fortunately stopped. I'm stable at the fattest I've ever been, lol.
>
> I go for days without brushing my teeth. Luckily for me, my somewhat affluent parents took me in and give me leeway. They're basically well-educated hippies, lol. My hair gets greasy. I find doing simple things to be an incredible chore. I smoke heavily, like 2 packs/day of my beloved Camels.
>
> What to do? Any AD suggestions? Would the dosage of Abilify need to be adjusted?
>
>
> I should add...I have 2 PRN meds. 2mgs/Risperdal tablets (my shrink pulled it out of his desk, lol) and low-dose neurontin. When I really need to simmer down the voices and agitation, I take a few neurontin, plus 1-3 Risperdal, plus some taurine and b-6 (not on and empty stomach, for obvious reasons). Knocks me out cold, I wake up fuzzy brained, but calm. This is not a long term solution, obviously.
>
> Thoughts? Advice?
This is the end of the thread.
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