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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 med_empowered on March 31, 2008, at 19:24:32
hey. so, I'm back on meds for bipolar-ish issues. Anyway, right now I'm taking Klonopin, Ambien, and Abilify. I feel *tremendously* better, but I'm still having some problems. Sleep, for one thing, is an issue; the Ambien helps, but I still often wake after only a couple hours of rest.
Agitation and withdrawal are two other problems I'm still having to contend with. I'm thinking Seroquel might be helpful, but I'm afraid of over-sedation...also, I'd really rather not gain weight or have to worry about diabetes. My doc has offered to add in propranolol; so far I've said no, since I want to keep my med combo as simple as possible. Now I'm reconsidering. Do you think maybe I should give the propranolol a shot and THEN consider a switch over to Seroquel?
Has anyone used Seroquel XR? Is it any more tolerable than old school Seroquel?Thanks in advance.
Posted by Sigismund on March 31, 2008, at 20:55:54
In reply to switch to seroquel?, posted by med_empowered on March 31, 2008, at 19:24:32
Hi Med
I remember someone saying here that there were better options than propranolol.
I think it was a beta blocker, but forget which one.
Posted by undopaminergic on April 2, 2008, at 9:05:04
In reply to switch to seroquel?, posted by med_empowered on March 31, 2008, at 19:24:32
> hey. so, I'm back on meds for bipolar-ish issues. Anyway, right now I'm taking Klonopin, Ambien, and Abilify. I feel *tremendously* better, but I'm still having some problems. Sleep, for one thing, is an issue; the Ambien helps, but I still often wake after only a couple hours of rest.
> Agitation and withdrawal are two other problems I'm still having to contend with. I'm thinking Seroquel might be helpful, but I'm afraid of over-sedation...also, I'd really rather not gain weight or have to worry about diabetes. My doc has offered to add in propranolol; so far I've said no, since I want to keep my med combo as simple as possible. Now I'm reconsidering. Do you think maybe I should give the propranolol a shot and THEN consider a switch over to Seroquel?
> Has anyone used Seroquel XR? Is it any more tolerable than old school Seroquel?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>Try a higher dose of Ambien, to increase its duration, or replace (or augment) it with a longer-acting hypnotic or sedative anti-histamine (cyproheptadine is ideal for sleep). Alternatively, take part of your daily Klonopin dose at bedtime. If you have trouble with excessive adrenergic activation, a beta-blocker or alpha2-agonist may be appropriate.
Seroquel doesn't sound like a good idea.
Posted by Zyprexa on April 8, 2008, at 17:27:52
In reply to switch to seroquel?, posted by med_empowered on March 31, 2008, at 19:24:32
I'm taking perphenazine now. No wieght gain or diabetes. Its sedating. I'm using it to slowly replace zyprexa, only half ways there. It works prety well. So far the best replacement for zyprexa. I've tried all the atypicals, except for seroquel, but that one does not sound any better than zyprexa.
I found abilify extreamly awakening. I even took it with zyprexa for some time. The two seem to cancel each other. Abilify made me hypo-glycimic and sleepless. While the zyprexa was doing the oposite. Eventualy the abilfiy was winning out. and I had to go off it. Psychologicaly the abilfiy did not help me. And it made the zyprexa seem to not work.
Posted by TatteredandTorn on April 28, 2008, at 7:36:15
In reply to switch to seroquel?, posted by med_empowered on March 31, 2008, at 19:24:32
Hi I have been on Propranolol and found it very effective and had no side effects from it at all. I came off it myself as once my Dosage of Lamictal was increased I didn't need it anymore.... I would strongly suggest you try the Propranolol BEFORE the Seroquel!
I've been taking Seroquel since January and over 4 weeks was increased from 50mg on a night to 200mg morning and 200mng night - - - I am terrified of sedation - I was given Zopiclone for Insomnia and it knocked me out, because of the panic attacks it terrified me.
The seroquel, if given gradually doesn't have a strong sedative effect - I found with the 50mg on night it calmed me down and gradually made me feel tired- after a while this wears off and it works more on keeping you asleep - I've barely woken on a night since the dosage was increased....
HOWEVER.... My wieght has shot up since January and I'm going back to see my Psychiatrist about it - I also believe I have developed Diabetes BUT Diabetes runs in our family so it might not be solely down to the Seroquel...Every person is different so you may not have the same effects as me - however I do know that the sedative effect is not a 'knock out' effect - it will only gradually make you feel tired! So don't worry about that!
But I would strongly reccommend you try Propranolol first - or disscuss your worries with your Doctor / Psychiatrist
Hope this helps =]
TatteredandTorn
xx
> hey. so, I'm back on meds for bipolar-ish issues. Anyway, right now I'm taking Klonopin, Ambien, and Abilify. I feel *tremendously* better, but I'm still having some problems. Sleep, for one thing, is an issue; the Ambien helps, but I still often wake after only a couple hours of rest.
> Agitation and withdrawal are two other problems I'm still having to contend with. I'm thinking Seroquel might be helpful, but I'm afraid of over-sedation...also, I'd really rather not gain weight or have to worry about diabetes. My doc has offered to add in propranolol; so far I've said no, since I want to keep my med combo as simple as possible. Now I'm reconsidering. Do you think maybe I should give the propranolol a shot and THEN consider a switch over to Seroquel?
> Has anyone used Seroquel XR? Is it any more tolerable than old school Seroquel?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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