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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ignatz on March 10, 2001, at 21:22:45
The meds combination my p-doc put me on earlier this week has me feeling like several of the Seven Dwarfs. Drowsy, clumsy (Klutzy?). I used to take 187 Effexor XR and a little Trazadone for sleep. I took a sudden dip into depression and went to the hospital for a few days. Now I'm taking .5 clonazepam 3 times a day (I was a nervous wreck), 1500 Depakote, 300 Effexor XR, and a little Trazadone if I need it for sleep. Well, I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm stumbling over my own feet and have the concentration ability of a coffeetable. I DO trust my p-doc mostly, by the way.
My Qs: is my drowsiness and spaciness "normal"? Is it because of depression, or meds, or both? Am I at dangerous levels of anything? I'd rather be spacey than in total psychic agony, which I was pre-hospital.
Advice or anecdotes gratefully accepted.
Posted by HenryO on March 11, 2001, at 2:49:47
In reply to Drowsy!!, posted by Ignatz on March 10, 2001, at 21:22:45
After some time passes if you don't feel more adjusted you might try Modafinil ( a.k.a. Provigil). It perks up some people, like me. It doesn't work the same for everyone- but most people.
Posted by Ignatz on March 11, 2001, at 14:13:47
In reply to Re: Drowsy!!, posted by HenryO on March 11, 2001, at 2:49:47
mmm- thanks, but no thanks. I was on Provigil, for a few weeks, for ADD. It perked me right up into hypomania, I think-- hence, the depression that followed. Guess I'm a bipolar 2.
Posted by Cece on March 11, 2001, at 22:34:57
In reply to Re: Drowsy!!, posted by Ignatz on March 11, 2001, at 14:13:47
> mmm- thanks, but no thanks. I was on Provigil, for a few weeks, for ADD. It perked me right up into hypomania, I think-- hence, the depression that followed. Guess I'm a bipolar 2.
I am II (too).
Lots of people take that much clonazepam and Depakote just fine, but not me.
I have never been able to take more than .125mg/day of clonazepam (1/4 of the smallest tab made!) without getting depressed and very unpleasantly sedated. I have just now gone off it after about 8 years at that tiny dose. So far I don't miss it. For me, personally, xanax is a much better anti-anxiety med (other people hate it).
For awhile, several years ago, I was at 1000mg/day of Depakote, but felt sedated and dumbed-down. I worked my way down, and have been as low as 125mg/day (in combo with other mood stabilizers), at 250mg/day most of the time. It is an important drug for me- when I first took it, I felt like an electrical charge had been lifted from the surface of my skin- a great relief. When I tried to go off it entirely (I gain weight on it), I got really "out of sorts" within 2 days after my last dose. But I don't seem to need a standard "therapeutic dose" to get my therapeutic effect.
Neurontin has been a great med for me- calming and grounding.
I've been on Lamictal (at a very slow build-up dosing) for almost a year now, and it has helped lift my mood substantially (I think that it would be too activating for me without the Neurontin and Depakote).
I also take a small (40mg/day) amount of Nortriptyline which helps the quality of my sleep and gives me AD effect.
I hope that you're awake enough to read this! Good luck,
Cece
Posted by Ignatz on March 12, 2001, at 13:21:16
In reply to Re: Drowsy!!, posted by Cece on March 11, 2001, at 22:34:57
Thanks Cece- really helpful response. I'll ask my p-doc about Lamictal and Neurontin.
This is the end of the thread.
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