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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 wearybuthopeful on April 1, 2005, at 17:07:12
Hi everyone,
I trust the collective wisdom here and need help. Try to be short - it's hard!
1. Chronic insomnia for years - PD attributed to my treatment refractory unipolar depression.
2. Tried a LOT of meds and combos; after 10 years saw a new psychiatrist (unpleasant, but creative person) who decided I was a soft bipolar (bipolar depression) and pub me on 600 mg. lithium.
Meanwhile continued on 1 mg. clonaz. for sleep - have beenon for many years, but doc wants me off.
3. Went hypothyroid after just 2-3 months and then went on .25 Synthroid. Okay for about 18-20 months.
4. Lithium caused severe cognitive probs. & even some amnesia, polyuria (10-15X/night); not really sure that it helped me with the depression as some work issues improved, e.g. got some! (still inadequate income thouogh)concurrently which helped mood somewhat. Have had many other stressors over this last approx. 20 months.
5. Since late fall feeling physically horrible, fatigue, etc. I'm deep into perimenopause too, so multiple issues here. Finally went to GP and I am SEVERELY hypothyroid (many bad symptoms) - possibly Hashimoto's. Seeing endo next week after two month wait. Meantime, now on .75 Synthroid.
Hard to separate out symptoms, but I'm now off the lithium entirely (main difference I notice is brain fog slightly lessened - even with thyroid issues - and back to massive nailbiting which had stopped for this period.
6. PD wanted me to stay at say 225 mg. lithium but I don't want any more interference with thyroid function. He also wants me to try lamictal which I'm considering - only after this thyroid crisis gets resolved and probably with a different doc.
7. Now - the CLONAZ. He wants me to taper off in one month. In v-mail dispassionately recites all the unpleasant symptoms I'm likely to experience
- I'm already very very stressed out for variety of reasons. He rejected (I'd written a pleasant letter as he works part-time and won't schedule short phone calls or take insurance) suggestion that I combine with valium - for short time - read this approach on what I thought was a reputable site.
8. I'm worried about this fast taper. He suggests using Benadryl (25mg.), though a.m. sedation. I already know that as I've tried it and Tylenol pm (not together!) a couple of times.
Help! Any ideas (besides exercise which I can only do a little of at this time due to the huge fatigue from thyroid issues).
In the past, "natural" approaches like Gaba, hops, warm milk, and more have not helped me. I also have a lot of anxiety coexistent with the depression. Depression is not disabling as it has been, but still quite present.
I am now seeing a naturopath and licensed acupuncturist for all these issues.
Is this an overly rapid clonaz. taper?
I'm all ears for any ideas. Thanks so much, in advance, and sorry for length. Oh - one last thing. Resumed smoking a few months ago - want to get off for many reasons, but will be experiencing withdrawal from that as well.
WBH
Posted by Ritch on April 2, 2005, at 0:33:27
In reply to Could really use help re: Clonazepam taper, posted by wearybuthopeful on April 1, 2005, at 17:07:12
> Hi everyone,
>
> I trust the collective wisdom here and need help. Try to be short - it's hard!
>
> 1. Chronic insomnia for years - PD attributed to my treatment refractory unipolar depression.
>
> 2. Tried a LOT of meds and combos; after 10 years saw a new psychiatrist (unpleasant, but creative person) who decided I was a soft bipolar (bipolar depression) and pub me on 600 mg. lithium.
>
> Meanwhile continued on 1 mg. clonaz. for sleep - have beenon for many years, but doc wants me off.
>
> 3. Went hypothyroid after just 2-3 months and then went on .25 Synthroid. Okay for about 18-20 months.
>
> 4. Lithium caused severe cognitive probs. & even some amnesia, polyuria (10-15X/night); not really sure that it helped me with the depression as some work issues improved, e.g. got some! (still inadequate income thouogh)concurrently which helped mood somewhat. Have had many other stressors over this last approx. 20 months.
>
> 5. Since late fall feeling physically horrible, fatigue, etc. I'm deep into perimenopause too, so multiple issues here. Finally went to GP and I am SEVERELY hypothyroid (many bad symptoms) - possibly Hashimoto's. Seeing endo next week after two month wait. Meantime, now on .75 Synthroid.
>
> Hard to separate out symptoms, but I'm now off the lithium entirely (main difference I notice is brain fog slightly lessened - even with thyroid issues - and back to massive nailbiting which had stopped for this period.
>
> 6. PD wanted me to stay at say 225 mg. lithium but I don't want any more interference with thyroid function. He also wants me to try lamictal which I'm considering - only after this thyroid crisis gets resolved and probably with a different doc.
>
> 7. Now - the CLONAZ. He wants me to taper off in one month. In v-mail dispassionately recites all the unpleasant symptoms I'm likely to experience
>
> - I'm already very very stressed out for variety of reasons. He rejected (I'd written a pleasant letter as he works part-time and won't schedule short phone calls or take insurance) suggestion that I combine with valium - for short time - read this approach on what I thought was a reputable site.
>
> 8. I'm worried about this fast taper. He suggests using Benadryl (25mg.), though a.m. sedation. I already know that as I've tried it and Tylenol pm (not together!) a couple of times.
>
> Help! Any ideas (besides exercise which I can only do a little of at this time due to the huge fatigue from thyroid issues).
>
> In the past, "natural" approaches like Gaba, hops, warm milk, and more have not helped me. I also have a lot of anxiety coexistent with the depression. Depression is not disabling as it has been, but still quite present.
>
> I am now seeing a naturopath and licensed acupuncturist for all these issues.
>
> Is this an overly rapid clonaz. taper?
>
> I'm all ears for any ideas. Thanks so much, in advance, and sorry for length. Oh - one last thing. Resumed smoking a few months ago - want to get off for many reasons, but will be experiencing withdrawal from that as well.
>
> WBH
>
>Just a couple of thoughts.. but I would postpone the clonazepam taper until you get off the lithium onto something else AND your thyroid situation stabilizes. If you get too many projects going at once... you will introduce problems that didn't exist in the first place.. and create a medication turbidity that could be dangerous. Your pdoc may be a little too overconfident with all of the quick switches...
Posted by Sarah T. on April 2, 2005, at 1:46:31
In reply to Could really use help re: Clonazepam taper, posted by wearybuthopeful on April 1, 2005, at 17:07:12
Hi. You might want to check out the "Withdrawal" Board here on Psychobabble. You can scroll down or up for the links to that board as well as all the others.
Posted by wearybuthopeful on April 2, 2005, at 10:48:55
In reply to Re: Could really use help re: Clonazepam taper » wearybuthopeful, posted by Ritch on April 2, 2005, at 0:33:27
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > I trust the collective wisdom here and need help. Try to be short - it's hard!Hi (deleted original post from above due to length).
Thanks for your response. To clarify, I have been completely off the lithium for about a month.
I want to to know if, given my history & current thyroid crisis, if this month-long taper off the clonazepam is too fast? I have a sense that it is from my reading.
This P-doc will not refill any more subscriptions.
So that is not an option.Can anyone please give me some ideas for how to this easier?
Thanks again.
Wbf
My Pdoc will not
> Just a couple of thoughts.. but I would postpone the clonazepam taper until you get off the lithium onto something else AND your thyroid situation stabilizes. If you get too many projects going at once... you will introduce problems that didn't exist in the first place.. and create a medication turbidity that could be dangerous. Your pdoc may be a little too overconfident with all of the quick switches...
Posted by Ritch on April 2, 2005, at 22:13:51
In reply to Re: Could really use help re: Clonazepam taper, posted by wearybuthopeful on April 2, 2005, at 10:48:55
>...Thanks for your response. To clarify, I have been completely off the lithium for about a month.
I want to to know if, given my history & current thyroid crisis, if this month-long taper off the clonazepam is too fast? I have a sense that it is from my reading...
Is your pdoc convinced that clonazepam is making your depressive symptoms worse despite the hypothyroid condition brought on by lithium? Do they think that cessation of lithium will correct the hypothyroidism with time?
This is the end of the thread.
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