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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 8:46:37
I'm so confused. I missed 2 or 3 days of Lexapro plus some hormonal issues and was thrown through a loop. I felt like I really lost my mind, as if I didn't exist. To make matters worse, my body suffered physically too; zaps, crying, headaches...
Then, throw in a bad Ketamine treatment (I was wailing the entire time and didn't think I existed as a person) and was ready to check myself in.
After meeting with my pdoc, here's my med regimen, and I've been complying except for my AD:
-Lexapro 20mg (he wants me on Viibryd, but I'm staying on Lexapro and he's at a conference so I can't speak to him about it now)
-Saphris (1/4, then 1/2 of 5mg)
-Ambien XR
-Valium, 10-30mg if needed
-Deplin 15mg
-Vit DI had another K treatment yesterday, and I feel ok again. As in functional. What's wrong with me?? I'm convinced I have Bipolar 2, not MDD, and that I'm a rapid cycler. (Not that the DX matters.) Or do I have Borderline Personality Disorder? I think I'm just f*ck*ng crazy.
I welcome your feedback.
-b
Posted by herpills on February 23, 2013, at 9:14:56
In reply to Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable, posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 8:46:37
If you are bipolar, the Saphris should help that. I'm a little surprised at the low starting dose, when do you start the 5mg? Saphris can be dosed up to 20mg. If the Saphrid ends up helping you sleep you should be able to drop the Ambien. I personally don't think its a good idea to mix Valium+Ambien+Saphris but that is just my view. Your doctor knows a lot more than I do!
There might be a good reason doc wants you to try Viibryd. Just because we don't here about it on babble doesn't mean its not worth a shot. I always figured people weren't trying it because most insurance probably doesn't cover it for some people. herpills
Posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 9:38:25
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable, posted by herpills on February 23, 2013, at 9:14:56
thanks, herpills.
to clarify, i only take the saphris with the ambien at night (not with valium-I take it alone during the day if i need to).
i'm just scared to feel any kind of "change" or washout if i switch, then to find it doesn't work. i'm being stubborn, maybe.
thanks, again--makes sense!
Posted by vbs on February 23, 2013, at 10:09:04
In reply to Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable, posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 8:46:37
Try not to miss doses of Lexapro or you'll get those strange brain zaps. So do you feel that the ketamine treatments are helping? How often do you get them?
Posted by Phillipa on February 23, 2013, at 10:22:58
In reply to Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable, posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 8:46:37
I think you kind of answered youself with your first paragraph too much going on at once. I don't feel you are borderline. As for the bipolar who knows as don't see you. Sounds more like too many bodily changes going on at the same time. I'd say also the lexapro caused brain zaps and with the taking of it again your brain is feeling okay again.
I can offer no advise on saphris. I do know valium they say has a really long half life.
Did you ask your doc about rapid cycling. You don't seem to go from high then to low quickly do you?
And I do not think you are crazy at all. Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on March 1, 2013, at 20:05:12
In reply to Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable, posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 8:46:37
What are you doing?
Eric
Posted by phidippus on March 1, 2013, at 20:27:07
In reply to Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable, posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 8:46:37
As I recall, you have OCD, right?
Got sucked into a k-hole, I see...The Ketamine treats the OCD.
You're not bipolar.
Eric
Posted by Phillipa on March 1, 2013, at 21:53:47
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » brynb, posted by phidippus on March 1, 2013, at 20:27:07
Eric really? And welcome back. Phillipa
Posted by brynb on March 2, 2013, at 8:41:12
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » brynb, posted by phidippus on March 1, 2013, at 20:27:07
> As I recall, you have OCD, right?
>
> Got sucked into a k-hole, I see...The Ketamine treats the OCD.
>
> You're not bipolar.
>
> EricEric-
Maybe I did (get sucked into a k-hole). As I never used K recreationally, I can't say for sure.
Thanks for your definitive diagnosis. What's you're basis?
Glad to know it treats OCD, too.
-b
Posted by phidippus on March 2, 2013, at 15:02:43
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » phidippus, posted by brynb on March 2, 2013, at 8:41:12
Bipolar 2 implies phases of hypomania-increased energy, impulsive behavior,increased libido, irritability, racing thoughts...You've never indicated you have these symptoms.
If you were bipolar you would know it.
Eric
Posted by jrbecker76 on March 2, 2013, at 15:39:37
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » brynb, posted by phidippus on March 1, 2013, at 20:27:07
> As I recall, you have OCD, right?
>
> Got sucked into a k-hole, I see...The Ketamine treats the OCD.
>
> You're not bipolar.
>
> EricI have not run across any empirical evidence of ketamine as a treatment for OCD. I would be curious to know more about your thoughts/experience with this.
Posted by phidippus on March 2, 2013, at 15:55:51
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » phidippus, posted by jrbecker76 on March 2, 2013, at 15:39:37
Ketamine is an NMDA antagonist. Most NMDA antagonists have shown efficacy in treating OCD.
Eric
Posted by jrbecker76 on March 2, 2013, at 16:08:09
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » jrbecker76, posted by phidippus on March 2, 2013, at 15:55:51
> Ketamine is an NMDA antagonist. Most NMDA antagonists have shown efficacy in treating OCD.
>
> EricYes, I'm aware of the research, namely with Riluzole that has yielded some significant results in small sample studies. However, early trials with K at Yale have not been as efficacious. My question was directed more at anecdotal experience or other information you were aware of.
Thanks,
JB
Posted by phidippus on March 2, 2013, at 18:17:48
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » phidippus, posted by jrbecker76 on March 2, 2013, at 16:08:09
I have tried Ketamine for my OCD. It diminished intrusive thoughts and anxiety well enough. I couldn't tolerate the side effects, however.
Eric
Posted by brynb on March 2, 2013, at 18:37:22
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » jrbecker76, posted by phidippus on March 2, 2013, at 18:17:48
> I have tried Ketamine for my OCD. It diminished intrusive thoughts and anxiety well enough. I couldn't tolerate the side effects, however.
>
> EricWhat were said K side effects?
Posted by jrbecker76 on March 2, 2013, at 18:55:09
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » jrbecker76, posted by phidippus on March 2, 2013, at 18:17:48
> I have tried Ketamine for my OCD. It diminished intrusive thoughts and anxiety well enough. I couldn't tolerate the side effects, however.
>
> EricHi Eric,
I'd really be interested to hear more about your experience. I am pursuing Ketamine (injections/infusions) as a TRD treatment option myself. I do have some OCD-tendencies but they are a minor issue in comparison with my issues with depression. Were you prescribed it in a clinical setting or did you acquire it on your own?
What side effects did you experience and how long did they last after each administration? The SEs I've read about that concern me are cognitive dysfunction, short-term memory loss, irritability, and dysphoria. The adverse effects that are reported in the clinical studies state that most of these issues abate within hours after administration. But I've also read from various posters online that they've reported some of these side effects persisting for days afterwards.
I could reconcile having to endure a few hours of bad effects after each injection if the side effects eventually waned and the antidepressant effects stuck around for a few days. Not sure if this is typically the case with most patients though.
I'd appreciate any personal feedback you have to offer.
Thanks,
JB
Posted by phidippus on March 2, 2013, at 19:45:32
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » phidippus, posted by jrbecker76 on March 2, 2013, at 18:55:09
>Were you prescribed it in a clinical setting or did you acquire it on your own?
I was prescribed in a clinical setting. I have acquired Ketamine on my own, however.
>What side effects did you experience and how long did they last after each administration?
I experienced dissociation. I felt unreal for a couple days. It was very unpleasant.
The benefits of Ketamine outweigh the side effects. I had rapid resolution of of my depression and experienced a tamer OCD. These effects lasted about three days.
Eric
Posted by brynb on March 3, 2013, at 9:42:21
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling, borderline or just certifiable » brynb, posted by vbs on February 23, 2013, at 10:09:04
> Try not to miss doses of Lexapro or you'll get those strange brain zaps. So do you feel that the ketamine treatments are helping? How often do you get them?
Hi vbs-
Yes, I realized after the fact that I missed my Lexapro doses. For someone who's been dealing with this for 20 years, I definitely make some amateur mistakes with my meds when I'm not thinking clearly. Fortunately that was a reminder.
I had a thread on my ketamine trial. I was receiving IM injections twice weekly (3 shots per session). Starting this week I'll be doing the treatment once a week (3 shots separated by about a half hour each). The experience itself is usually pleasant, sometimes euphoric. The month's treatment brought me out of a bad depressive episode. Now I'm trying to reach remission, but it's still too early to say definitively what the outcome is.
Thanks,
-b
This is the end of the thread.
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