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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sheilac on November 12, 2007, at 14:37:00
Ok – not really sure what do to. I tried taking just 2mg of Abilify the past few nights and while it didn’t give me a hangover like Seroquel – I just didn’t sleep as well as I did on Seroquel. Also – Abilify made me feel kind of shaky – akathesia.
This is frustrating. I feel like I am close to finding something that will work. Is there something I can add to the Seroquel to perk me up during the day? Should I try Emsam again or try Wellbutrin with it?
Sometimes Wellbutrin makes me feel like my blood pressure is too high.
Seroquel has been great for my daytime anxiety and for my sleep at night. I just need something else to address the slight depression.
SSRIs and SNRIs don’t do well for me.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 12, 2007, at 18:27:41
In reply to What to add to Seroquel..., posted by Sheilac on November 12, 2007, at 14:37:00
I was on that combo. Caffeine always helped me.
Posted by Phillipa on November 12, 2007, at 19:41:41
In reply to Re: What to add to Seroquel... » Sheilac, posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 12, 2007, at 18:27:41
Michael wellbutrin and EMSAM? Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on November 13, 2007, at 1:56:23
In reply to What to add to Seroquel..., posted by Sheilac on November 12, 2007, at 14:37:00
> Ok – not really sure what do to. I tried taking just 2mg of Abilify the past few nights and while it didn’t give me a hangover like Seroquel – I just didn’t sleep as well as I did on Seroquel. Also – Abilify made me feel kind of shaky – akathesia.
>
> This is frustrating. I feel like I am close to finding something that will work. Is there something I can add to the Seroquel to perk me up during the day? Should I try Emsam again or try Wellbutrin with it?
>
> Sometimes Wellbutrin makes me feel like my blood pressure is too high.
>
> Seroquel has been great for my daytime anxiety and for my sleep at night. I just need something else to address the slight depression.
>
> SSRIs and SNRIs don’t do well for me.
>Some people are more sensitive to the more potent atypicals so akathisia isn't uncommon I suppose. I can't take anything except Seroquel. I don't know if combining neuroleptics is the best idea, you should have a doctor who really knows what they're doing.
Posted by med_empowered on November 13, 2007, at 12:50:30
In reply to Re: What to add to Seroquel..., posted by yxibow on November 13, 2007, at 1:56:23
i'm just asking b/c you have other options out there; although the "atypicals" are gentler than, say, 30mgs/haldol, they're not soft, gentle drugs by any stretch of the imagination.
Anyway, some people on seroquel take Provigil to help them wake-up. That may or may not fly with your insurance company; I imagine low-dose ritalin might be an option if you're not actually psychotic, but I dont know if a doc would do that.
Dopamine agonists seem like they might help, like amantidine (which might also prevent weight gain). If your probs are daytime anyxiety and agitation, though, it seems like you could also try other options (benzos, mood stabilizers, hydroxyzine, lyrica, neurontin, buspar) before heading over to antipsychotic country.
As for the depression...you can have depression induced or made worse by neuroleptics. I guess its b/c of the dopamine-dampening effect? Anyway, it can be severe (akathisia, neuroleptic induced dysphoria, etc.) or more subtle (apathy, lack of motivation--typical neuroleptic stuff). Just try to be sure that your "depression" is something that's operating independently of the Seroquel.Good luck.
Posted by Sheilac on November 13, 2007, at 16:05:29
In reply to do you NEED a neuroleptic?, posted by med_empowered on November 13, 2007, at 12:50:30
> i'm just asking b/c you have other options out there; although the "atypicals" are gentler than, say, 30mgs/haldol, they're not soft, gentle drugs by any stretch of the imagination.
>
> Anyway, some people on seroquel take Provigil to help them wake-up. That may or may not fly with your insurance company; I imagine low-dose ritalin might be an option if you're not actually psychotic, but I dont know if a doc would do that.
> Dopamine agonists seem like they might help, like amantidine (which might also prevent weight gain). If your probs are daytime anyxiety and agitation, though, it seems like you could also try other options (benzos, mood stabilizers, hydroxyzine, lyrica, neurontin, buspar) before heading over to antipsychotic country.
> As for the depression...you can have depression induced or made worse by neuroleptics. I guess its b/c of the dopamine-dampening effect? Anyway, it can be severe (akathisia, neuroleptic induced dysphoria, etc.) or more subtle (apathy, lack of motivation--typical neuroleptic stuff). Just try to be sure that your "depression" is something that's operating independently of the Seroquel.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> Hi - No - I probably don't need a neuroleptic -but I have tried everything else. Klonopin helps -but makes me depressed. The mood stabilizers make me depressed. Abilify was too weird - couldn't deal with the side effects. Good sleep really helps my mood a lot. So far the low dose seroquel helps with daytime anxiety (I guess I could take Xanax during the day for that), but I would still need something at night to sleep.
>
Posted by I need a hug on November 17, 2007, at 2:31:18
In reply to Re: do you NEED a neuroleptic?, posted by Sheilac on November 13, 2007, at 16:05:29
I have been taking seroquel for a number of years due to a sleep disorder. I also have MDD, ADD, anxiety D/O and a list of other things I won't bore you with. My pdoc currently has me on ritalin, wellbutrin and ativan(PRN) in addition to the seroquel. It's the only combination we've come up with over a number of years and much trial and error that allows me to function somewhat normally. Hope this helps.
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