A Lot of Meds

[pdr7686]

I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar, Major Depression, Panic Attacks, and Paranoia several years ago. I am on alot of meds right now. I am on Depakote 500mg x 2 @bedtime, Gabapentin 100 mg x 2 capsules 3 times a day, Lunesta 3mg for sleep @ night, Clonazepam 0.5mg 3 x a day, Lexapro 20mg x 2 @ bedtime, and Budeprion 150mg every am. I went to my Psychiatrist yesterday and because I stay depressed she was going to take me off the Lexapro but did not. She did not take me off of it but did say if I come back next month as depressed she was going to take me off of it because she did not think it was helping. She did mention putting back on an anti-depressant in place of it. Therefore, I am confused on all this. Just wondering if anyone has a comment on all this. I have tried alot of meds. If anyone could help I would certainly appreciate it. God Bless.... Pam

[LeftCoastChick]

When I hear that someone has tried every drug, I find that hard to believe (no offense) there are so many drugs out there, it's staggering. I was on Lithium when I was 16, but at such a high dose I had a seizure, so I was reluctant to take it again. I'm at 300mgs to augment my other mood stabilizer. Like others have said, you might have to start all over again, and hopefully you can find a pyschopharmacologist to guide you through. I was told to have patience and not expect and instant cure, and it sure hasn't been. I slept in today by accident and it's really messed with my day, I have to keep to a strict regime, or I get messed up. I wish you much luck. LCC

[pdr7686]

Good Morning! I personally can not tell you anything but the fact that the medicines they would put me on have suicidial ideaizations and they are afraid my mental status is not stable enough. Also, I was told my lab work was not quite bad enough even though my viral level was a little high. It was 326,000 when it could go up into the millions. The way I understand it -- the US shows whether you have cancer,etc and the liver biopsy shows the fibrosis, cirosis(not spelled right) I asked about the biopsy but they did not seem to want to do that right now. My mom was with me and she was glad they thought everything sounded good but she does not know any more than I do about it. I was told I was type 1 and would have to be on treatment for a year and that this was the hardest to treat.
If and when my case goes to court will what my therapist has to say have anything to do with it? She does not think I could hold down a job either. Do I need a lawyer? I, at one time, had a Advocate and my case was denied. Running out of room. Thanks!

[ILADVOCATE]

If your psychiatrist said it that's proof enough. "Unable to engage in substantial gainful activity". But they must detail. Why? And how your depression affects you? As for the hep. c, I am familiar with that disability and as with all disabilities for Social Security its how it affects you not what it is but if it needs treatment that is last resort then yes that would count as well. Any disability that affects you in addition to the depression. And as for postponing the hep. c. treatment I would like to know their rationale. You will recover from depression. But worst case scenario and you didn't if they postponed that treatment for the hep c it could be life threatening. And then you could never recover physically at all. Depression is a psychiatric disability but it does not limit life span or affect a person physically and if you felt better physically it would help with your mental recovery as well. Please explain why their reasoning behind this decision.

[pdr7686]

I usually go to bed around 10:00pm until 11:00pm. I have to eat pretty well right because I am a diabetic which has to take 1000mg Metformin and 4 insulin shots per day. I have tried to monitor my stress level as best I could. I am afraid to come off the meds because it could make me worse, I think. Thanks! God Bless!
Sorry I could not get back to you before now. Hope things are going well for you.

[pdr7686]

I went to see what my results were for my Ultrasound (Hep C) and they had turned out okay. They want to see me back in 6 months. I was told my lab work was okay but my viral load was a little on the high side. How is the best way to prove what my Psychiatrist said that " I was unable to hold gainful employment?. It is documented in my records where I had several jobs and could not hold to any of them any length of time. Is there more that I need? My doctors yesterday on my Hep C want my Depression problems better before they do treatment. They told me I would have to be on Hep C medications for a year (do not know whether you are familiar with Hep C or not.) I am sorry I could not get back to you before now. I hope things are going well for you. God Bless! See 'ya

[RebootJive]

Holy cow that's a lot of meds.

Have you considered maybe starting again? At this point, it's impossible to tell what's helping you and what's not. It's impossible to tell which meds you take for your symptoms, and which meds you take to get rid of side effects of other meds.

That's the problem with adding more drugs as patches over other drugs - no way to tell what's helping and what's not.

I understand it's frustrating - I'm bipolar, and I try to pretend that monitoring my moods doesn't take up 75% of my life, but it really does. All the same, I'm not surprised you dont feel right on all those meds.

Have you done all the things that should go with your meds? Have you changed your lifestyle (set a bedtime, healthy diet, monitored stress levels, routine, etc)? Is there any way you could be somewhere safe to come off your meds, and start over with them? It may be a simple case of your brain being overloaded.