Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 866939

Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

what is a good med for agitation?

Posted by obsidian on December 5, 2008, at 22:10:14

please share if you can
-sid

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation? » obsidian

Posted by azalea on December 5, 2008, at 22:45:28

In reply to what is a good med for agitation?, posted by obsidian on December 5, 2008, at 22:10:14

Perhaps you could describe the agitation a bit more. Is it medication-induced? Caused by a particular situation? Anything make it better or worse?

> please share if you can
> -sid

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation?

Posted by Sigismund on December 5, 2008, at 22:56:33

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation? » obsidian, posted by azalea on December 5, 2008, at 22:45:28

Agitation is not the same as anxiety, is it?

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation? » Sigismund

Posted by yxibow on December 5, 2008, at 23:43:12

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation?, posted by Sigismund on December 5, 2008, at 22:56:33

> Agitation is not the same as anxiety, is it?

Depends in the context, but probably not exactly the same, no -- "agitated depression" is a mixed state in the bipolar spectrum, for example.

Agitation is more akin to irritability, which in the spectrum could be stronger interpreted as rage, usually, unless, as noted, it is something completely different, a side effect, like akathisia due to an neuroleptic, or rarely to TCAs and SSRIs.

Irritability can float both in the depressive realm and other spectrums, rage or frustration at oneself due to their perceived status in life.

The same medications that may help agitation or irritability of course have the usual long laundry list of things that could induce a state of mania.


But to say, what is the best medication for agitation doesn't give the ICD/DSM-IV-TR analysis of what is going on. Its pretty hard to tell someone what to possibly ask their doctor about if you don't know what the diagnosis is?

What is the diagnosis and are there medications that are inducing agitation or mania rather than helping ?


I mean one could simply say, well a benzodiazepine, but that might have little effect on someone who better responds to stimulants as calming agents. Clonidine is sometimes used, mostly for childhood, ADHD, agitation. Lamictal or lithium would be possibilities for manic like states that have agitation.

I think more information about your condition and asking your doctor obviously would be helpful.

-- tidings

Jay

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation?

Posted by Phillipa on December 6, 2008, at 0:32:26

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation? » Sigismund, posted by yxibow on December 5, 2008, at 23:43:12

Sid what's diagnosis? Maybe can help? Love Phillipa

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation?

Posted by bleauberry on December 6, 2008, at 18:00:10

In reply to what is a good med for agitation?, posted by obsidian on December 5, 2008, at 22:10:14

Common meds for agitation would include Klonopin, Seroquel, Risperdal, Xanax, Zyprexa. That said, any med, whether anti-agitation or not, stands a chance of helping. For example, while Adderall would send many people through the roof, it is calming to others. Lexapro might completely agitate one person and completely mellow another. Anyway, the above listed meds are probably the more common first line fast acting treatments.

It all depends on where the agitation is coming from. Is it med induced? Is it life-circumstances induced? Drug or alcohol induced? Food intolerance induced? Low blood sugar induced? Or is it just out of the blue for no apparent reason? All these things need to be considered to find the right approach. Regardless of the cause however, the benzos and antipsychotics, even very low doses of them, can quickly smooth out agitation. It is important to try to find the cause though.

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation?

Posted by obsidian on December 6, 2008, at 20:13:11

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation?, posted by bleauberry on December 6, 2008, at 18:00:10

I am depressed and anxious. I am not bipolar.
I take klonopin .5mg
seroquel 50mgs
effexor xr 225mgs
lamictal 100mgs

I am trying to stop smoking pot, and I find that when I am angry and irritable a lot lately.

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation? » obsidian

Posted by Phillipa on December 6, 2008, at 21:17:36

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation?, posted by obsidian on December 6, 2008, at 20:13:11

Maybe the pot withdrawal if there is one. No experience. Thanks for diagnosis. Love Phillipa

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation? » obsidian

Posted by yxibow on December 7, 2008, at 3:51:02

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation?, posted by obsidian on December 6, 2008, at 20:13:11

> I am depressed and anxious. I am not bipolar.
> I take klonopin .5mg
> seroquel 50mgs
> effexor xr 225mgs
> lamictal 100mgs
>
> I am trying to stop smoking pot, and I find that when I am angry and irritable a lot lately.

I wasn't saying you were bipolar, and if you are taking Lamictal and the two sedating medications you're on, those would be two I would say.

I guess you are perhaps one that is more calmed by effexor than I ever was, although the withdrawal of marijuana could bring out the harshness of effexor if it was covering it up.

But it sounds likely that its a withdrawal. I have no problem with people who use marijuana, although multiple uses of it daily can create more problems than any relaxation it brings, its just that when you are mixing it with other psychoactive substances and if you are not informing your doctor (maybe you are?) (some are more receptive than others and it doesn't mean you're going to be reported or anything, its a valuable piece of information that a partnership with a psychiatrist could benefit).

-- Jay

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation? » yxibow

Posted by obsidian on December 7, 2008, at 12:01:53

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation? » obsidian, posted by yxibow on December 7, 2008, at 3:51:02

> > I am depressed and anxious. I am not bipolar.
> > I take klonopin .5mg
> > seroquel 50mgs
> > effexor xr 225mgs
> > lamictal 100mgs
> >
> > I am trying to stop smoking pot, and I find that when I am angry and irritable a lot lately.
>
> I wasn't saying you were bipolar, and if you are taking Lamictal and the two sedating medications you're on, those would be two I would say.

oh I didn't think you were calling me bipolar. I am "moody" though. I've been a little hypomanic at times, but it doesn't last long enough to mean anything.
>
> I guess you are perhaps one that is more calmed by effexor than I ever was, although the withdrawal of marijuana could bring out the harshness of effexor if it was covering it up.

you felt it was harsh then? as in anxiety causing?

>
> But it sounds likely that its a withdrawal. I have no problem with people who use marijuana, although multiple uses of it daily can create more problems than any relaxation it brings, its just that when you are mixing it with other psychoactive substances and if you are not informing your doctor (maybe you are?) (some are more receptive than others and it doesn't mean you're going to be reported or anything, its a valuable piece of information that a partnership with a psychiatrist could benefit).

yeah...I ended up calling my pdoc. He knows. I've never really been able to lie (or lie by omission) to any extent, but I really squirm while I tell the truth. I spoke with him yesterday. He said that the marijuana withdrawal would last a few days and I should take extra klonopin to deal with it. I actually stopped for about two weeks though and the irritability seemed to persist.

thanks jay :-)
>
> -- Jay

 

I forgot to say.... » yxibow

Posted by obsidian on December 7, 2008, at 12:08:34

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation? » obsidian, posted by yxibow on December 7, 2008, at 3:51:02

> I wasn't saying you were bipolar, and if you are taking Lamictal and the two sedating medications you're on, those would be two I would say.

My pdoc has stated before though that he thinks I am bipolar II.
I respect what he says, but I don't really think so. I wish I could own some distinct diagnosis, but I don't think I can.

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation? » obsidian

Posted by yxibow on December 7, 2008, at 15:31:14

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation? » yxibow, posted by obsidian on December 7, 2008, at 12:01:53


> you felt it was harsh then? as in anxiety causing?

For me, yes, but then it has been difficult to separate treating my anxiety and my depression at times. For some people the reaction is no different than an SSRI in calming or it may in fact calm them more.

Cymbalta, whether it worked fully or not, was definitely not as harsh when I tried it, more recently.

-- Jay

 

Re: I forgot to say.... » obsidian

Posted by yxibow on December 7, 2008, at 15:42:52

In reply to I forgot to say.... » yxibow, posted by obsidian on December 7, 2008, at 12:08:34

> > I wasn't saying you were bipolar, and if you are taking Lamictal and the two sedating medications you're on, those would be two I would say.
>
> My pdoc has stated before though that he thinks I am bipolar II.
> I respect what he says, but I don't really think so. I wish I could own some distinct diagnosis, but I don't think I can.
>

Well I can say I definitely have no distinct diagnosis other than a mood disorder. "psychosis NOS" and "somatoform NOS". As in Not Otherwise Specified, since nobody has seen the somatic complaints or this visual/auditory heightening (e.g. bright lights, difficulty to separate when seeing lots of people or things or patterns together ("thought processing disorder")

and the new one that snuck in which is disturbing but what can I do, seeing cars (and probably a few other things, appear to go faster by my eyes, i.e., I also havent processed something, or whatever, this one really is disturbing to me)

I have to try not to focus as much on the negative and am in a sort of what is called a "recovery plan".

Anyhow, I've overrun about myself, the point is that it is difficult, I can tell you, to be in what is a "NOS" territory, because if you've had past illnesses which I have, having a genetic biochemical imbalance....

....I identify with those and with what other people describe as their conditions here, but when you feel like the only person in the continent that has this condition and this combination of medications its a very hard place to be.

Yes, there are people who have somatoform conditions, but they're usually short-lived, like pseudoseizures (real seizures without having a seizure disorder due to anxiety), which is the most common kind.


And to conclude, you can disagree with a diagnosis or medication, you're voluntarily seeing a doctor and it should be a two way dynamic, you can get a second opinion (I wouldn't say a second doctor, relationships have to be started, etc), which might bring up a list of other medications to be tried, etc, or a more clear diagnosis if the other doctor feels its necessary to point out a different opinion over your own doctor.


-- best wishes

-- Jay

 

Re: what is a good med for agitation? » obsidian

Posted by cactus on December 7, 2008, at 17:07:00

In reply to Re: what is a good med for agitation? » yxibow, posted by obsidian on December 7, 2008, at 12:01:53

Hey there obsidian, with some people pot can stay in your system for up to 3 months, I think extra klonopin for a while will help. Once you get it under control, just lower your dose (slowly) back down. I also found efexor made me extremely irritable and anxious at times when my dose was raised to 150mg, it was a very activating drug for me. peace C


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