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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2014, at 11:33:38
Sometimes interesting to see what medications people have found that improve their condition whatever that might me. So what med has helped you and for what? Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on January 9, 2014, at 16:51:36
In reply to Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it?, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2014, at 11:33:38
> Sometimes interesting to see what medications people have found that improve their condition whatever that might me. So what med has helped you and for what? Phillipa
Various antibiotics and various herbs directed at:
1. anti-microbial
2. anti-inflammation
3. anti-toxin
4. immune support
5. adrenal supportHands down, no contest, these blow psychiatry in the weeds in my opinion, and more people would benefit from these, so many in fact it would probably be perceived as astounding. Very glad the psych drugs are there though because they can offer good short-term assistance.
In terms of psych drugs, during the 15-20 years or so that I was on them trying just about everything including ECT, my best combo was:
Prozac with Zyprexa with Modafinil.
Eventually even they were overwhelmed and I relapsed after 8 years of pretty good. Then the other non-psychiatric approaches proved much more effective.
The problem is, most of us get stuck in psychiatry and fail to educate ourselves outside of that limited box. And forget that our symptoms might not originate in the brain, so we are treating the wrong place. And then 20 years later, we're still looking for a psych drug that will do the job, and meanwhile we could have already reached that goal 15 years ago with only a short time needed in psychiatry.
My posts can sometimes mistakenly be seen as bashing psychiatry, but absolutely not. I like psychiatry and it has an important role. The problem is, it is only a small piece of a large pie, and we all ignore the rest of the pie, which is where our symptoms are probably coming from.
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 9, 2014, at 21:11:52
In reply to Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it?, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2014, at 11:33:38
I'm down to Abilify @ 30mgs/day and Trileptal @ 1200mgs/day.
Both work quite well, at least in combination with Orthomolecular. I'd say the Abilify is the main medication, but Trileptal is important, too. Kind of a 60/40 split, I guess.
When I feel anxious, I take Neurontin @ 100 mgs per dose, up to 3 doses, except in the PM, when I take more as a sleeping pill now and then. Works well.
Weird thing mental illness....the more severely ill you are, the better meds work and the more the risks:benefits ratio works in your favor.
I personally wish they'd stop giving so many people with depression and anxiety antipsychotics. I *need* one because I've gone batsh!t before without one. In cases like that a lot of times the risks: benefits analysis would/should exclude heavy artillery like antipsychotics (especially when you consider drug acquisition costs).
Even in severe mental illness, you reach a point at which more is not better--its worse, actually.
Anyway, truth be told, if I had my way, anxious people would be back on Valium or lyrica, depressed people would be on Ritalin, and people with psychotic disorders like me would all be on a clean, reasonably dosed neuroleptic plus Orthomolecular. Also, I wish they'd use mood stabilizers more in psychotic disorders.
End of rant.
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2014, at 22:20:46
In reply to Re: Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 9, 2014, at 21:11:52
CE you have made a really good point I feel. If one is going through an anxious or depressing period in their lives maybe a med for a bit to dull the emotions. But then should most likely discontinue them. I will always need a benzo as whole family is anxious & lots of thyroid illness too which can cause depression. So for me a catch 22. Even with thyroid right on target still feel strange. I know older too quite old. So that would also play a factor. Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 10, 2014, at 8:21:03
In reply to Re: Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 9, 2014, at 21:11:52
hey phillipa! don't let getting older get you down. The problem isn't *you*; its a society that views 25 as then end of being young and vibrant. Seriously, lots of people are indoctrinated to think that, after 25, its all downhill. That's our modern day society for you.Anyway, benzos are fairly humane. There are horror stories, but for a lot of people, relatively low doses of benzos makes life bearable w/o being expensive or problematic. That's ideal, right?
My dream would be to at least be off the Abilify, one day. If I could live w/o fear of TD and all that, that'd be awesome. That said, I don't *hate* Abilify; I'm just concerned about the risks that go with it. I also have questions about just how effective neuroleptics are after a couple years...seems like you reach a point of diminishing returns with prolonged treatment.
Posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2014, at 20:48:27
In reply to Re: Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 10, 2014, at 8:21:03
CE if it was 20's no problem as 40's were the best ever. I know what you mean will the AP's also poop out after a certain amount of time? Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 11, 2014, at 16:05:29
In reply to Re: Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it? » Christ_empowered, posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2014, at 20:48:27
APs do have...I dunno...some kinda poop out. You can start on 5mgs of drug x and end up on 20 a couple years later :-(
I'm hoping my combo of trileptal and abilify can stay at the current doses, no probs (fingers crossed on that one...)
I read somewhere that anticonvulsants can help with antipsychotic-induced brain changes..here's hoping, right?
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 12, 2014, at 4:20:37
In reply to Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it?, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2014, at 11:33:38
Hi Phillipa
for me, for depression the NARI drugs (nortriptyline, reboxetine, bupropion) all worked really well
For anxiety/panic, benzos + Nardil have saved me from either suicide or a mental hospital
Posted by SLS on January 12, 2014, at 5:09:08
In reply to Re: Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 12, 2014, at 4:20:37
> Hi Phillipa
>
> for me, for depression the NARI drugs (nortriptyline, reboxetine, bupropion) all worked really well
>
> For anxiety/panic, benzos + Nardil have saved me from either suicide or a mental hospitalHow are you feeling? What is your current treatment regime? Inquiring minds want to know.
I am currently taking 7 medications. Since raising my dosage of Parnate to 100 mg/day, I have broken through a plateau that I had been stuck at for over a year. However, I would say that I am still less than 50% improved, which is not where I need to be to return to work. I might get to where I need to go without making any changes, but I am willing to revisit Latuda and Saphris to see if we are missing anything that would accelerate and optimize my therapeutic response. Otherwise, my pattern of recovery is not too different from Robert M. Post's sawtooth depiction of that for severe chronic depression (patient communication).
Currently:
Parnate 100 mg/day
nortriptyline 150 mg/day
Lamictal 200 mg/day
Abilify 10 mg/day
lithium 450 mg/day
minocylcine 200 mg/day
prazosin 25 mg/day
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2014, at 21:21:37
In reply to Re: Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 12, 2014, at 4:20:37
Jono so the Nardil and low dose half of what you took of Xanax is still working great. Without any side effects from the beginning? You are a first!!! Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 13, 2014, at 21:28:26
In reply to Re: Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it? » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on January 12, 2014, at 5:09:08
Hi Scott
Feeling good here
Current meds are
Nardil 30mg tds
Nortriptyline 75mg qhs
Risperidone 1mg qhs
Alprazolam 1mg bd-tds
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 13, 2014, at 21:30:13
In reply to Re: Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it? » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2014, at 21:21:37
Yeah, no side effects from the Nardil whatsoever (apart from about three nights of insomnia in the very early days)
Posted by LouisianaSportsman on January 19, 2014, at 21:00:48
In reply to Anyone Find A Med That Works? And what is it?, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2014, at 11:33:38
Latuda (lurasidone) is the best medication for me. By far.
This is the end of the thread.
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