Posted by Christ_empowered on October 22, 2011, at 22:27:42
Still taking 200 Lamictal, but I dropped the 15 Abilify. Surprisingly, all Hell has yet to break loose.
I think I realized how tranquilized I was once I dropped from 30 to 15. Although at some level I knew I was impaired, I didn't realize just how apathetic I was until the dose was reduced. Then I was more aware of my lingering problems on the 15. So I quit. It hasn't been quite a week yet, so there's probably a good bit of Abilify (or maybe some metabolite) floating around, but yeah, I'm done for now.
I think adding Lamictal was the best thing ever. It helps with my agitation, it helps with my low mood; it even seems to be helping the neuroleptic withdrawal (which, admittedly, I should have done gradually) go smoothly.
The voices are about the same. I'm not big on diagnoses, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that my problem is social isolation+chronic, low grade trauma+pre-existing inclination to psychosis, dissociation, anxiety, and low mood.
Lamictal is being used now for PTSD. I can see why. I wonder maybe a lot of this "psychotic disorder" stuff that I was given Abilify (usually at or near 30 daily) for could have been treated better with Lamictal all along?
I had a shrink once who would justify crazy med changes by saying that my "symptoms have changed." Then again, she also blamed cognitive impairment from a sedating 5 drug cocktail on my "illness." Maybe this time my "symptoms" really have changed? I just read over some old posts of mine from back in the day. I was a drugged up, self-absorbed, hypomanic mess. I remember feeling trapped in a sort of inner-prison, on or off meds. I don't feel that way anymore.
Maybe that personality disordered, pill popping,pseudoneurotic shizophrenic grew up to be an OK guy with PTSD and occasional voices? I guess I'm going to find out...
poster:Christ_empowered
thread:1000535
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20111016/msgs/1000535.html