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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
best medications for schizoaffective disorder?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
best medications for schizoaffective disorder?
by justusryans, Jan 14, 2006 12:00AM
About 5 months ago I was taken off seroquel because of these jerks I was having(self-diagnosis myoclunus, intermittent single jerks, multifocal drug-induced). I'm 36 and have been on antipsychotics since I was 18, not for hearing voices or seeing things, but for some delusional thinking and misperceptions of what is going on around me, for a really bad state of mental confusion, and for feeling strangely alone and disconnected(but medication has never done a whole lot for this last one). After getting off seroquel the spasms immediately stopped, but I had severe insomnia for months, trying many different sedatives without success. My lamictal dose was raised to take the place of seroquel. I think I've all these months been in maybe the "mixed state" of bipolar. Finally went back on seroquel (very low dose) w/ cogentin, and off lamictal,and am finally sleeping. I was put on depakote (which I was on long term a few years back and taken off of when diagnosis was changed from bipolar to schizoaffective). I started back on a low dose of wellbutrin too, to counteract the weightgain of depakote, but when I did that I started having little spasms again. Also, I've been depressed and still irritable and criticizing myself over every little thing...etc.. and anxiety that I think maybe the wellbutrin has made worse. I'm not sure that I've been on the depakote long enough for it to have its full affect, but from past experience I am severely depressed without being also on an anti-depressant. Another problem is that both the seroquel and depakote cause short-term memory loss for me. I noticed it right away when I was put back on the seroquel and it's much worse now with the depakote - I'm constantly forgetting what I'm saying mid-sentence, which makes me very anxious - I recite my comments over and over and still mess up.
I moved and had to switch doctors about a year ago, and it has been very hard because my previous doctor really knew me and at that time if my meds. weren't right I was suicidal and hospitalized, and with the daily monitoring, my medication could be made right again much faster.With a really wonderful husband, despite all the **** inside my head, I don't get suicidal any more. The reason why I am asking for help here is that my husband and I are planning a very long hike and we are leaving March 1st, so I'm in a hurry to get things straight!
Thank you for any advice you can give.
I moved and had to switch doctors about a year ago, and it has been very hard because my previous doctor really knew me and at that time if my meds. weren't right I was suicidal and hospitalized, and with the daily monitoring, my medication could be made right again much faster.With a really wonderful husband, despite all the **** inside my head, I don't get suicidal any more. The reason why I am asking for help here is that my husband and I are planning a very long hike and we are leaving March 1st, so I'm in a hurry to get things straight!
Thank you for any advice you can give.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 16, 2006 12:00AM
, Jan 16, 2006 12:00AM
I can not recommend medications for you, but you seem to have a good grasp of all the medications, and their combinations, so your experience trumps almost everything except the wonderful doctor who knew you so well and could make rapid changes. In preparation for your hike you might recontact him even though you have moved, and asked his advice. He knows you best.
the thing is that only somebody like you can give me answers i need.
but i am not aloud to post a new question here.
i will have to respect that.
i will say goodby to you but i am writing this down very hard.
this are not the letters and words i wanted to post.
goodby