Posted by Ritch on March 23, 2003, at 13:43:14
In reply to Re: Mixture of Drugs/Comments Please, posted by hopko on March 23, 2003, at 11:05:44
> > Hi, a lot depends on her specific diagnosis. She is taking two AP's instead of just one. Maybe one AP would be better? BTW, I have heard a few posters here talk about Geodon inducing mania (just an FYI). If she is bipolar and rapid-cycling the Lexapro could be aggravating it (especially at a standard dosage).<
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> The Lexapro is the newest addition to all of the other meds. She was prescribed this after her last hospitalization. To my knowledge she has been on all of the rest of them for a while, each one added to the next as her condition has worsened. I WAS worried when I heard that she had been prescribed Lexapro because of what I have read on this board about it inducing mania.
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> >The lithium at 600mg/day usually stabilizes most folks, but you said she had been hospitalized. She might need a higher lithium dose-she may not be in the therapuetic range even at 600mg. The Trileptal even at 150mg *could* be potentiating any toxic effects of the lithium/Lamictal since all three affect sodium channels. Seroquel and esp. Lithium can depress thyroid function or lower thyroid hormones that could aggravate cycling. Do you know her specific diagnosis? Was she hospitalized for an acute manic episode? Was she experiencing psychosis (other than manic symptoms)?>
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> I know she is on thyroid meds and a cardiac med, perhaps because of the toxic effects of the other drugs. I know she has been diagnosed as BP but I do not know any other specific diagnosis. She cuts herself daily and this last episode that landed her in the hospital was because she was beating her head against a wall and then threatening to jump in front of moving vehicles or drive into a semi. She said she did not want to live the way she feels...and I have to tell you, I understand that. She is seriously mentally ill and I cannot believe this is the best it can be. I feel very helpless about getting her the help she needs. If some hospital somewhere, anywhere in this country would take her and keep her until she was stabilized and helped, I would pay to get her there but I cannot pay for her medical treatment.
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> If this is how she is going to be, I know she will end up killing herself. Right now she is calmer but pretty much zombied out. I guess there is probably not much I can do but I wish there was.Oh my, I am so sorry about that situation. It obviously is very, very, complicated and appears to be intractable. The only other two things I can think of would be to get a 2nd opinion (if she hasn't already) to get a reappraisal of her situation. Also, perhaps there is a hidden general medical condition that has not been discovered (epilepsy, tumor, etc.)? Also, ECT might be something to consider at this point. I hope this turns out positive in some way.
poster:Ritch
thread:211470
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030319/msgs/211799.html