Posted by Christ_empowered on December 21, 2013, at 20:56:45
OK. So I was on 30 Abilify, 1200 trileptal, up to 300 Neurontin. My shrink was all "You need an AD!," since I was having (still kinda am having) mind-numbing depression. I said OK. Initially, she wanted me on Celexa, but I wanted something more stimulating...so, Prozac was prescribed.
Here's the thing: Prozac does something to increase Abilify blood levels. Trileptal may do something to decrease them. I've been so tired, all the time, sleeping, having vivid dreams (usually nightmares), and I suspect my Abilify levels are way up, since my doc told me she adjusts dosage based on observable effects, not on drug-drug interactions.
Keep in mind: this is Public Health. I'm not knocking public health, but I am saying that a lot of what they seem to do is ramp up your antipsychotic to keep people out of mental hospitals. Saves the state money.
What to do??? I skipped Abilify today. Probably not the best idea, but it does have a long half life, and I'm at the highest FDA approved dose. I was thinking to skip it for the next couple days, until I start to feel agitated, and then re-start it @ about 15mgs/day.
Sound like a plan? Nothing against my shrink--she's competent--but I think I may get my parents to shell out for a private practice doc. I get the sense that Public Health is really about making sure "crazy" people without resources don't end up incarcerated or institutionalized. My set of problems--mostly psychotic depression--probably aren't getting the sort of treatment I'd get from someone in private practice. Just a thought.
poster:Christ_empowered
thread:1056726
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20131209/msgs/1056726.html