Posted by Karen_kay on March 11, 2004, at 8:58:08
In reply to Feeling OVER MEDICATED!!!!, posted by Ann5 on March 11, 2004, at 0:46:51
I was overmedicated. I was taking (me thinks, oh no, the topamax is begining to kick in..) Lamictal, lithium, lexapro, klonopin, and zyprexa at the same time. The lithium was at a fairly high level and the klonopin was at an (unfortunetly) low level. I couldn't leave my house, and I am a student. I was afraid "something" was coming to get me. I didn't shower for roughly 4 weeks, except once a week to go to the therapist. It was dreadful. One day, I decided to go to my first class and realized that the reason I had such a hard time was because of all the meds I was taking. I walked home from class and decided to quit ALL of my meds right then. (NOW!! I'm not suggesting this at all....) From there, I found a new pdoc and therapist and FINALLY found a course of med treatment that worked for me. That made the difference. I'm dx with Bipolar Disorder and I started taking Topamax which on it's own ended all depression. I have had one episode of hypomania, which was caught early and prevented with Abilify added to my regular topamax. And I have been a MUCH happier person since then...
Now, what I'm saying is if you feel you are over-medicated, you probably are. Talk to your pdoc aobut finding the right course of treatment that works for you with the least amount of side effects. I'm not at all trying to "hype" topamax or abilify, they jsut happen to work with my brain. I just KNOW the difference the "right" medication has made in my life and I tend to be an advocate for finding that Price Charming med(s) that works for each person. I jsut think I'm living proof that it's out there somewhere. You just have to kiss a lot of frogs to find him/her. And I kissed abuot 5 years worth. I'm through with the frogs and it's about freaking time! Good luck and BE SURE to discuss with your pdoc before discontinuing meds. And IF you choose to, do it smart and taper down. Sorry I can't answer your questions, but I jsut want you to know that I've been there (over-medicated) and somehow found just one drug that works wonders for me. Oh, and I can't stress the importance of therapy as well! Without a great therapist, I couldn't have made it through this long journey either. (I believe most universities provide counseling centers with qualified professionals for free, if you don't already see someone. It helps a lot!)
Sorry to bore you! And good luck! I wish you the best!
kk
poster:Karen_kay
thread:323141
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040308/msgs/323182.html