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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by eep on June 12, 2003, at 1:52:35
hi all. if any one has the time, i'd really like some outside perspectives...
i take 100mg wellbutrin sr in the am and 50mg paxil cr at bedtime. my diagnosis is, until otherwise stated: depression, anxiety & ocd, with a history of mild ptsd as icing on the cake. i have been on paxil since february and have recently added the wellbutrin to aid in the recovery of my ssri lost sex drive.
i take xanax sparingly, maybe a few nights a week. my script says .25mgs 3-4 times daily, but i take half of a .25 at bedtime when i need to. it's a small dose, i know, but it makes me sleepy and feel less anxious the next day. i'd take it more often if i wasn't concerned about memory impairment.. it's nice to feel normal and not wound up every day!
i also have a sample pack of risperdal .25mg that my doc suggest i take before bed to make me sleepy (vs. xanax or with the xanax!), to augment the paxil and to help stabilize my mood - i can go from cheery to crabby in a matter of seconds. my doc hasn't ruled out bpII, but i just don't feel like i fit the criteria exactly.my moods range from normal, aggitated, happy, ambivalent, preoccupied and/or spacial, content, indifferent, giddy; they change frequently and fast. ironically enough, they've slowed down a bit since adding wellbutrin, inspite of the fact that i feel less patient with people and the world in general. my moods are not what i'd call extreme, though they can be when i'm really stressed out.
sure, i'd like to be less moody and be more even keeled (i was during my first 6 weeks on paxil.. did it "poop out" then?) but am really uneasy about taking the risperdal out of fear of the nasty documented side effects. i know the dose is incredibly low, but tardive dyskinesia? feeling like a zombie? do the benefits really outweight the risks?
any advice would be greatly appreciated. i'm feeling so apprehensive about adding more meds, especially this combo. any alternatives you would suggest? we're joining a gym this weekend.. i was thinking i would wait and see how the exercising effects my mood before adding a stabilizer. ahh, decisions, decisions.
thank you so much,
-v.
Posted by Ritch on June 12, 2003, at 9:46:33
In reply to paxil, wellbutrin, risperdal, ohh my!, posted by eep on June 12, 2003, at 1:52:35
>..my moods range from normal, aggitated, happy, ambivalent, preoccupied and/or spacial, content, indifferent, giddy; they change frequently and fast. ironically enough, they've slowed down a bit since adding wellbutrin, inspite of the fact that i feel less patient with people and the world in general. my moods are not what i'd call extreme, though they can be when i'm really stressed out.
>sure, i'd like to be less moody and be more even keeled (i was during my first 6 weeks on paxil.. did it "poop out" then?) but am really uneasy about taking the risperdal out of fear of the nasty documented side effects. i know the dose is incredibly low, but tardive dyskinesia? feeling like a zombie? do the benefits really outweight the risks?
The description about your moods sounds like a mild rapid bipolar syndrome. If you are concerned about the Risperdal you might ask your doctor about a low-dose trial of a first-line antimanic medication such as lithium or Depakote instead. Of course there are issues with those such as weight-gain, hairloss, etc. I've found that low-doses of Wellbutrin also seem to "straighten" out my distractability, but it seems to add more anxiety.
Posted by eep on June 12, 2003, at 21:23:49
In reply to Re: paxil, wellbutrin, risperdal, ohh my! » eep, posted by Ritch on June 12, 2003, at 9:46:33
> The description about your moods sounds like a mild rapid bipolar syndrome.
i've been told that by my girlfriend, a psych expert of sorts; my doc, who specializes in clinical psychopharmacolgy, is just not sure as of yet.
i know i fit some of the bp criteria, but, honestly.. the borderline profile sounds a lot more like what i struggle with in terms of my split second mood swings and feelings about my environment, etc.
so, that in mind, the jury is still out on the risperdal. i guess i'm gonna play the, "wait and see," game, sigh.
...
also, my doc recommended depakote one week, then risperdal two weeks later. he seemed suprised when i reminded him of the depakote suggestion, which i found somewhat unsettling as his reply was, "depakote? why would i tell you depakote? there are far too many side effects associated with it." good one, ehh? does he know how to instill confidence in his patients, or what? :)thanks for your input, ritch.
much appreciation,
-v.
This is the end of the thread.
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