![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AMD on July 26, 2004, at 18:16:01
Folks,
My obsessing is getting out of control -- almost psychotic. The other day I ordered a burger from IN-and-OUT, and when I got it, I thought, what is that smell? It smelt like something fresh, like a housecleaning material. Anyhow, I proceeded to eat the burger, and immediately began worrying I'd eaten some cleaner on the burger, perhaps from the restaurant where it'd been made, or perhaps some other chemical ... and I am STILL obsessing over this, assuming I have brain damage from drinking chemicals on the burger, etc., and it's interferring with my ability to think. I didn't get sick from the burger or anything, but I keep thinking back to it and thinking, "I wish I hadn't had it, everything would be fine," and "now I'm brain damaged and unhappy," and basically thinking my life is over.
Arrrrrgggghhhhh!
I hope this brain fuzziness I'm feeling now is a result of the obsessing, not any actual damage. But I can't shake it! HELP! I want my life back, a life that doesn't consist of one good, happy week with one during which I obsess to the point of disability.
(My mood is not so bad, except I am finding it very hard to get this negative thought out of my head.)
So I'm on 80 mg of Celexa, with a diagnosis, too, of bipolar II, for which I'm on 200 mg of Lamictal.
My psychiatrist will probably switch me to Lexapro if I don't show improvement in the next few weeks. But after that, which drugs have shown efficacy in combatting this type of "crazy" obsessiveness? From all classes, but preferably something that won't make me stupid (e.g., most antipsychotics) or give me problems with memory (e.g., carbazepine [Trileptal]).
Input really appreciated...
a
Posted by TJO on July 26, 2004, at 18:30:10
In reply to major obsessing! drugs that help? chemist,others?, posted by AMD on July 26, 2004, at 18:16:01
> Folks,
>
> My obsessing is getting out of control -- almost psychotic. The other day I ordered a burger from IN-and-OUT, and when I got it, I thought, what is that smell? It smelt like something fresh, like a housecleaning material. Anyhow, I proceeded to eat the burger, and immediately began worrying I'd eaten some cleaner on the burger, perhaps from the restaurant where it'd been made, or perhaps some other chemical ... and I am STILL obsessing over this, assuming I have brain damage from drinking chemicals on the burger, etc., and it's interferring with my ability to think. I didn't get sick from the burger or anything, but I keep thinking back to it and thinking, "I wish I hadn't had it, everything would be fine," and "now I'm brain damaged and unhappy," and basically thinking my life is over.
>
> Arrrrrgggghhhhh!
>
> I hope this brain fuzziness I'm feeling now is a result of the obsessing, not any actual damage. But I can't shake it! HELP! I want my life back, a life that doesn't consist of one good, happy week with one during which I obsess to the point of disability.
>
> (My mood is not so bad, except I am finding it very hard to get this negative thought out of my head.)
>
> So I'm on 80 mg of Celexa, with a diagnosis, too, of bipolar II, for which I'm on 200 mg of Lamictal.
>
> My psychiatrist will probably switch me to Lexapro if I don't show improvement in the next few weeks. But after that, which drugs have shown efficacy in combatting this type of "crazy" obsessiveness? From all classes, but preferably something that won't make me stupid (e.g., most antipsychotics) or give me problems with memory (e.g., carbazepine [Trileptal]).
>
> Input really appreciated...
>
> aSounds like some of the stuff I think when I'm really sick. I take 2 antipsychotics to get rid of my symptoms-Abilify 30 mg in the am and Seroquel 700mg, 300mg in the am and 400 mg in the pm. I also take a mood stabilizer-Neurontin 1200 mg 600 am 600 pm, and Wellbutrin 150 mg pm. So far this works-I've been at these exact dosages for 3 months.
I don't feel stupid, have no weight gain, and can remember stuff better than in a long while. By the way, my dx is Bipolar I or II.
Tammy
Posted by cpallen79 on July 26, 2004, at 20:38:21
In reply to Re: major obsessing! drugs that help? chemist,others?, posted by TJO on July 26, 2004, at 18:30:10
This sounds like OCD. Lexapro is somewhat like Celexa so if Celexa is not helping, perhaps trying a different SSRi would help (i.e Zoloft, Luvox, Paxil, effexor, etc...) Another option is a TCA like anafranil. you will be ok, just keep your head up my friend.
> > Folks,
> >
> > My obsessing is getting out of control -- almost psychotic. The other day I ordered a burger from IN-and-OUT, and when I got it, I thought, what is that smell? It smelt like something fresh, like a housecleaning material. Anyhow, I proceeded to eat the burger, and immediately began worrying I'd eaten some cleaner on the burger, perhaps from the restaurant where it'd been made, or perhaps some other chemical ... and I am STILL obsessing over this, assuming I have brain damage from drinking chemicals on the burger, etc., and it's interferring with my ability to think. I didn't get sick from the burger or anything, but I keep thinking back to it and thinking, "I wish I hadn't had it, everything would be fine," and "now I'm brain damaged and unhappy," and basically thinking my life is over.
> >
> > Arrrrrgggghhhhh!
> >
> > I hope this brain fuzziness I'm feeling now is a result of the obsessing, not any actual damage. But I can't shake it! HELP! I want my life back, a life that doesn't consist of one good, happy week with one during which I obsess to the point of disability.
> >
> > (My mood is not so bad, except I am finding it very hard to get this negative thought out of my head.)
> >
> > So I'm on 80 mg of Celexa, with a diagnosis, too, of bipolar II, for which I'm on 200 mg of Lamictal.
> >
> > My psychiatrist will probably switch me to Lexapro if I don't show improvement in the next few weeks. But after that, which drugs have shown efficacy in combatting this type of "crazy" obsessiveness? From all classes, but preferably something that won't make me stupid (e.g., most antipsychotics) or give me problems with memory (e.g., carbazepine [Trileptal]).
> >
> > Input really appreciated...
> >
> > a
>
> Sounds like some of the stuff I think when I'm really sick. I take 2 antipsychotics to get rid of my symptoms-Abilify 30 mg in the am and Seroquel 700mg, 300mg in the am and 400 mg in the pm. I also take a mood stabilizer-Neurontin 1200 mg 600 am 600 pm, and Wellbutrin 150 mg pm. So far this works-I've been at these exact dosages for 3 months.
> I don't feel stupid, have no weight gain, and can remember stuff better than in a long while. By the way, my dx is Bipolar I or II.
> Tammy
>
>
Posted by SLS on July 26, 2004, at 22:35:09
In reply to major obsessing! drugs that help? chemist,others?, posted by AMD on July 26, 2004, at 18:16:01
Zyprexa might be something you can take now for immediate relief.
- Scott
Posted by AMD on July 26, 2004, at 23:02:03
In reply to Re: major obsessing! drugs that help? chemist,others? » AMD, posted by SLS on July 26, 2004, at 22:35:09
I'm a bit afraid of Zyprexa. I took a small dosage a few months ago -- 2.5 mg in the evening -- and had a hard time functioning for almost two weeks. Maybe it was the depression, but it definitely didn't seem to help. In fact, the antipsychotics I've taken so far (Zyprexa and Risperdal) have given me extreme dry mouth, made me very tired, and, worst of all, have exasperated a tick I have of wanting to "rub" my forehead (similar to Nash in a beautiful mind). In other words, they have had a pretty scary effect on me.
My new psychiatrist is the top in his field, and he has mentioned Geodon, Abilify, and Seroquel as possible options, so I may give them another try. But I'd prefer to use an anticonvulsant, first, in case these obsessions have a small (or even significant) manic component to them. I've heard interesting things about Keppra -- as a major mania killer, and a drug that actually clears (not fogs) one's mind. [Any feedback on that, folks?]
We'll see. Next appointment is in a month, but I'm hoping I might be able to sneak one in before then.
a
> Zyprexa might be something you can take now for immediate relief.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by banga on July 27, 2004, at 0:27:22
In reply to major obsessing! drugs that help? chemist,others?, posted by AMD on July 26, 2004, at 23:02:03
I also felt my obsessiveness was helped by risperdal, which I switched to Geodon. I keep switching doses, but right now 40 milligrams seems to help. I didn't like seroquel and risperidone, they made me sleepy; and incidentally I'm taking anafranil for depression, I figured the OCD component might do me some good--maybe better that than another SSRI?.
All the best, Banga
Posted by TJO on July 27, 2004, at 5:03:25
In reply to Re: major obsessing! drugs that help? chemist,others?, posted by banga on July 27, 2004, at 0:27:22
Hi,
I've found that Risperdal 3 or 4 mg will take care of any slightly psychotic symptoms. I did not like Risperdal either, however. It gave me a fuzzy headed feeling, upset my menstrual cycle and I gained about 20 lb.
I switched to the combo of Seroquel and Abilify and feel much better. Seroquel also made me sleepy, at a dosage from 50mg to 600 mg. At 700 mg, the sleepiness effect of the drug went away. So maybe if you tried it at the higher dose you would not have the sleepiness problem.
I also found that a combination of Seroquel and Risperdal was effective. I was at 1 mg Risperdal, which greatly lessened the side effects, and about 400 mg of Seroquel. So maybe that combo would work for you. However, I like the Seroquel+Abilify combination much better. For years I did not have a normal sleep cycle, which I am sure made my Bipolar disorder worse. I have a normal sleep cycle now and it is probably one of the reasons that I feel better.Tammy
Posted by chemist on July 27, 2004, at 8:56:03
In reply to major obsessing! drugs that help? chemist,others?, posted by AMD on July 26, 2004, at 18:16:01
hello there, chemist here...here is what i can offer in terms of my opinion....luvox, which is actually approved by the FDA for OCD (not depression, although it is prescribed off-label for that), might be worth a try, although endorsement by the FDA or me are hardly conclusive...i have a relative who takes keppra and he reports success with a bit of drowsiness being the main problem (i note he is taking a very high dose, higher than one would get for an adjunct mood stabilizer). trileptal - as you and others note - is a drug i have had success with in the past, and the cognitive impairment was minimal, although i took dexedrine occassionally to offset the induced (or preexisting) symptoms similar to those reported for add. trileptal is a better choice than tegretol - see my respose to jay in a post about that - and thus my opinion is from personal experience, luvox/trileptal are effective, and from a relative, keppra appears to be relatively ``clean.'' all the best, please do keep us informed, chemist
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.