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Looking For Opinions on My New Psychiatrist - Medication

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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 6/14/2013 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Would love some feedback. I saw a psychiatrist for the first time yesterday and I was very pleased with him, the appointment lasted an hour and a half and we did a lot of talking. I'm looking for opinions on the medication I am currently on. The meds I was on was just not cutting it and my issues were getting worse.


PROBLEMS

Panic/anxiety attacks

Severe depression

Night terrors/insomnia

Bi-Polar

Agoraphobia



BEFORE Psychiatrist

Effexor 150mg - daily

Abilify 5mg - daily

Xanax .5mg - as needed for panic attacks

Ambien CR 12.5mg



AFTER Psychiatrist

Effexor 225mg - daily

Abilify 5mg - daily

Lamictal -25mg before bed

Ambien CR 12.5 mg (dr suggest cutting them in half, which I'm doing)

Clonazepam 1 pill AM, 1 pill PM, 2 at bedtime -total 2mg

Post Edited (Capt.Picard) : 6/14/2013 3:44:26 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/15/2013 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on all these meds at one time or another. I had trouble with the Ambien it made walk in my sleep. I now take Trazodone for sleep. I took Clonazepam it made me so sleepy I could not drive, but everything makes me sleepy. I had a friend on it and she was fine. I currently take Cymbalta, Abilify, Bupropion XL, and Trazodone. Give your meds time to work then evaluate how you are feeling. If you have a problem with any of them call your dr.
Posted 6/21/2013 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
This is just my opinion but that is WAY too many meds! Effexor and Abilify are the same meds, their supposed to be both so you don't need another anti-depressant or mood stabilizer. I'm pretty sure Lamictal falls under that too and I've been on all three but NEVER together. And why are you on the Clonazapam which is for anti-anxiety? I would find a new psych doc. with some actual experience in treating B-Polar Disease if I were you. Unless that works for you, I know a lot of people take more than one, including me in the past, its the duplicate's that I'm concerned about. You can Google all three meds and see what I'm talking about. Keep in touch, you can find a lot of good information here from people who have "been there, done that." :-)
Posted 6/21/2013 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
I disagree. Mood stabilizers act on either depressive or manic symptoms. Effexor acts on depression. Abilify acts on mania and enhances the effect of some anti-depressant medications.

Lamictal is an anti-seizure medication that controls bipolar depression.
Posted 6/21/2013 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Capt Picard,

How much caffeine do you use?
Posted 6/22/2013 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Capt. It's great that you found a psychiatrist that also provides psychotherapy. A rare find indeed. Your specialist, who you are happy with, prescribed the meds after an hour and half consultation. Give the new med schedule a whirl and report back to your new pdoc at your next appt. Peer support can be really helpful on mental health boards, but it doesn't replace the relationship you have with your highly trained specialist who is authorised to prescribe these powerful medication as a way to even up your brain chemistry against the equally powerful physical brain chemical disorder of bipolar.
Posted 6/27/2013 11:31 PM (GMT 0)

Okay.  Just for the record,  Lamitcal is not in the same drug class as abilify, and effexor,  it's technically used for seizures, but can be used for mood stability, and for myself, worked really well for those angry flare ups.   those three can be used together without confliction.

 

As for the abilify , and  effexor,    effexor is the main antidepressant where abilify is more like the booster in the pair.   

 

These three together are only minor contraindicated,  that is saying that side effects may be increased, but not detramental to therapy.

 

And that is my non professional opinion. (but the right one)

 

Posted 6/30/2013 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of the replies.  I just got back from a week long vacation so sorry for the delay.

Update. 

Got blood test results back and my liver shows damage, the levels aren't dangerously high, but my psychiatrist had me stop the abilify since it is apparently the most taxing on the liver.  I'm scheduled for an ultrasound on Friday to see what is going on.  My GP thinks I have a fatty liver but of course is waiting for ultrasound results to be sure.

My meds are working very well.  Psychiatrist decided that clorazepam should be as needed.  The lamictal is working, my mood swings have been curbed tremendously.

Chloe43, I learned awhile ago to curb my caffeine.  At one point, every liquid that entered my mouth had caffeine in it.  I'm down to my morning coffee and end it there.  If I cheat and have a big soda at the movies or something I suffer the anxiety later in the evening.

Thanks again to everyone, you have all been a big help and I appreciate the feedback.

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