Shown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cycling on October 25, 2010, at 21:10:34
So here's what I've been on:
Lithium 600 mg (still on)
Lamictal 400 mg (didn't work)
Seroquel 200 mg (didn't work)
Klonopin 1 mg (still on)
Luvox 150 mg (still on)So your question is, well what am I treating? My pdoc thinks I'm co-morbid OCD/Mania. All of this started when I had an intrusive sexual thought, and the rest was history. I lost control, and we believe that manifested into mania. Anyways, my biggest problem right now is ruminating, and I still have the intrustive thoughts, though they don't bother me nearly as much as they used to, but yes, they are still there. I've calmed down tremendously since I've been on medication, which started in April of this year. I've progressed since then, but I've come to a point where my progress has become stagnant. We were hoping adding the luvox would relive the obsessing/rumination/intrusive thoughts, but it didn't really. I still have problems with agitation and moodiness from time to time, especially in the morning, but I figure that may just be normal. I've noticed that I sleep, ALOT. It's very difficult for me to wake up and feel "refreshed." Anyways, I'm posting this to ask your opinion on options on what you think could work for me?
My thoughts:
Celexa/Risperidone - Celexa for the OCD, Risperidone for the racing/ruminating thoughts
Anafranil/Klonopin - Klonopin for the anxiety, Anafranil for the OCDI can't think of anything else. My appointment is on Friday, so any advice would be appreciated. I want to get off the Lithium ASAP, I can't stand the hand tremor.
Posted by morgan miller on October 26, 2010, at 0:19:12
In reply to BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by cycling on October 25, 2010, at 21:10:34
I don't have any good suggestions for a new treatment plan other than using Lexapro instead of Celexa if you choose to go that route.
Do you take fish oil? I've read that it is possible fish oil and vitamin E may help prevent things like tremors with Lithium. I personally believe that a proper diet with the right amount of good fats, veggies/fruits, good protein sources, and plenty of good water can help the body and mind work better and reduce the chances that symptoms like tremors with drugs like lithium will ever develop.
Posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2010, at 0:38:45
In reply to BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by cycling on October 25, 2010, at 21:10:34
I was once on 250mg of luvox and ativan and found it just relaxing and no side effects. A lot of atypicals. How long you been on the luvox. I would still be on it but for a dumb pdoc. Phillipa
Posted by cycling on October 26, 2010, at 0:43:33
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by morgan miller on October 26, 2010, at 0:19:12
I've started taking fish oil again, 3grams daily (mostly of EPA). My diet is pretty healthy. I don't eat any fast foods, I eat fruit daily, I always try to have a salad on a daily basis. The only bad habits I have I'd say would be sleeping too much. I also exercise 3-4 times a week and run for 25 minutes each time
Posted by cycling on October 26, 2010, at 0:45:20
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice » cycling, posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2010, at 0:38:45
I've been on 150mg Luvox for a little over a month now. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try the max dose of 300mg Luvox. I just want to reduce the amount of medications while simultaneously getting myself better.
Posted by linkadge on October 26, 2010, at 7:11:46
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by cycling on October 26, 2010, at 0:45:20
My personal thoughts are that you should try and nail down a single most likely diagnosis.
There is so much overlap between diagnosis, bipolar, ADHD, OCD, panic, anxiety, depression agigation etc.
Given your history, which seems more likely mania or OCD?
Was the precipitating event the result of poor inpulse control? Have you considered ADHD? Oftentimes, my mind will be going in circles day and night and ritalin has helped that tremendously.
Linkadge
Posted by cycling on October 26, 2010, at 8:32:38
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by linkadge on October 26, 2010, at 7:11:46
I actually have recently started considerating ADHD as being a factor to all of this. It runs in my family - my mom has it, and my brother was diagnosed and treated with it during his adolesence and teenage years (i'm in my 20s). When you say impulse control, can you expand on that?
Posted by morgan miller on October 26, 2010, at 10:48:44
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by cycling on October 26, 2010, at 0:43:33
That's great. Than you probably couldn't do much more to try to minimize side effects from lithium.
I know your getting off Lithium anyway, I'm just wondering if a tablespoon a day of extra virgin coconut oil could help with things like tremors. Coconut oil produces ketone bodies that can replace glucose as a source of energy for the brain and body. It has been shown to be beneficial for epileptics, the same reason why the ketogenic diet is beneficial. I know tremors and epilepsy aren't related. I was just wondering if coconut oil's positive impacts on the brain would help alleviate some side effects of psychiatric drugs. Coconut oil will never make anyone fat as it is made up of medium chain triglycerides that bypass the process other fats have to go through and turn straight into energy.
Posted by morgan miller on October 26, 2010, at 10:50:41
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by cycling on October 26, 2010, at 0:45:20
> I've been on 150mg Luvox for a little over a month now. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try the max dose of 300mg Luvox. I just want to reduce the amount of medications while simultaneously getting myself better.
One month may not be enough to know if Luvox is really going to help you, as is the case with all SSRIs. Are you experiencing unwanted side effects? Going up on Luvox may not be a bad idea. I would give it another 4 weeks before bagging it.
Posted by morgan miller on October 26, 2010, at 10:54:24
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by cycling on October 26, 2010, at 8:32:38
> I actually have recently started considerating ADHD as being a factor to all of this. It runs in my family - my mom has it, and my brother was diagnosed and treated with it during his adolesence and teenage years (i'm in my 20s). When you say impulse control, can you expand on that?
If you have any symptoms of ADHD, they are most likely just that, symptoms of other issues, both emotional and pathological. While an ADD medication may help you out tremendously, I would be careful to place all the blame on your problems on an ADD/ADHD diagnosis. Maybe this was not what you were thinking.
Posted by linkadge on October 26, 2010, at 17:04:58
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by linkadge on October 26, 2010, at 7:11:46
Mania and ADHD are often confused, and there can be overlap too. ADHDrs are more likely to simply make poor choises (due to "lack of thinking it through") when confronted with tough decisions. Whereas, bipolars make poor decisions because they are driven by a prolonged desire to attain power, money, pleasure, control etc. I.e. their ideals / goals are actually distorted by enhanced reward sensitivity. I.e. bipolars know exactly what they are doing (self awareness is enhanced), but the elevated mood skews or downplays the implications of the action.
Examples:Affiair:
--------
Bipolar --> I've been so friggen horney for the past week so I'm gunning it to do it with that chick from work. I know I can make it happen!ADHD --> Sure, I noticed that Shirly was attractive, and when she made the move I just did it, I didn't think about it much.
Stealing:
--------Bipolar --> Thats a friggen awesome game and I need it. I'm going to go and steal it. I won't get caught! Its those idiots who act stupid and guilty that get caught. (i.e. planning is intact, feelings of being more capable )
ADHD --> My friends were pressuring me to steal the game. Sure, I wanted it, I didn't really want to steal. I felt so stupid when I got home. I didn't think it through.
Buying things
-------------Bipolar--> I loaded with money! I'm going to go out tonight and buy the stuff I want. Its going to be awesome. We're going to make this night rock! Money is meant to be spent, you only live once! (pleasure directed -- prior intent to purchase)
ADHD --> The item was on sale and Julie was buying one too. I never thought about whether I actually needed one. (not driven (as much) by pleasure, more just a poor decision at the time)
Racing Mind
-----------Bipolar --> First I'm going to clean the sofas, then the yard, but the yard needs a new fence, so we'll do that too. My front yard looks fantastic, infact its better than anyones on the whole street, so lets make the back yard better. It takes Julie 3 days to do her back yard, but I'm incredably faster than she is, I'll have it done in 35 minutes. My kids are going to love it! The whole town will love it!
ADHD --> "" (no dialog really, just a bunch of flitting incomplete noises and thougts - thoughts don't usually reflect unrealistic goals, instead they are just incomplete thoughts with no direction - noise. Not so much "racing" as noisy, cluttered, incomplete.)
Of course, these are generalizations but...
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on October 26, 2010, at 17:14:35
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by morgan miller on October 26, 2010, at 10:54:24
Both bipolars and ADHDers have problems with impulse control.
With bipolar however, the impulse control comes from a heighted reward for the given activity. I.e. having an affiar because of a period of prolonged heighted sexual arousal.
In ADHD, the impulse control comes more from a lack of ability to think the action through. I.e. your libido is the same as always, you just had the affair becauase the option came up and you didn't have trouble thinking the implications through.
Usually, with ADHD, there is evidence that other important decisions are made in haste too - not just ones that involve pleasurable activities. I.e. quickly chosing to go to a particular college without thinking through one's individual needs and / or goals.
Linkadge
Posted by cycling on October 26, 2010, at 19:00:16
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by linkadge on October 26, 2010, at 17:14:35
I see what your saying about impulse control, I definitely think that is one of my issues. I have problems thinking things through, and often my thoughts that come through never really make any sense, they're simply just thoughts, but I have a lot of them which is bothersome. The OCD came into play when I had one intrusive thought, and I think with the underlying hyperness, maybe that displayed as mania.
Posted by cycling on October 26, 2010, at 22:22:56
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice » cycling, posted by morgan miller on October 26, 2010, at 10:48:44
I didn't experience any side effects from lithium nor luvox. The Lithium actually did help me when I was first prescribed. When I came in, I displayed typical manic chracteristics - irritable, pressured speech, high strung. When given, I felt as if I calmed down, my my mind didn't. The pressure was released, but it didn't do much for my thought patterns.
Posted by maxime on November 2, 2010, at 22:25:58
In reply to BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice, posted by cycling on October 25, 2010, at 21:10:34
When people think of OCD they always think of Luvox or Clomipramine. But Luvox is not always the best choice. I know a lot of who used Zoloft for OCD and rumination with much success. Have you tried that med before?
Posted by cycling on November 3, 2010, at 2:49:41
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice » cycling, posted by maxime on November 2, 2010, at 22:25:58
Yah zoloft didn't really work for me.
Posted by maxime on November 3, 2010, at 19:40:13
In reply to Re: BP!/OCD Changing Meds, Need Advice » maxime, posted by cycling on November 3, 2010, at 2:49:41
> Yah zoloft didn't really work for me.
It happens.
This is the end of the thread.
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