insonia issues

[docrrao]

I just posted a question that I am not getting more than 1-2 hours sleep in spite of xanax.I am on Risperidone withdrawal since 5 days.Any suggestions.

[cornyguy]

Hi adel,initially I had been diagnosed as having depression and put on tricyclic and later SSRI's and later diagnosed in 1997 as having BP and put on another mood stabilizer and later on on Tegretol in 1999 which I have been taking till now.Only because of a stressor I had a hypomanic attack in July 2009 and I was put on Risperidone.I am now OK and will be off the AP in 4 weeks time.Thanks.

[adel_ezz]

nobody can tell. in principle it's life time. but other theories tell you if you stay stable for one whole year without any mood swings then chances are that you will not need the meds. some say 3 consecutive years without mania

however since bp is in the genes, then one day you may be subject to stresses and here it is the mania occurs. so my advise keep going then if you find yourself stable you may lessen the dose, etc...

no rules really exist. anyway it's far premature, leave it to time to show you.

there is something though missing here. if you don't have depression then why be dx bipolar, because tegretol doesn't help much in depression. even though your concern is mania still you must develop symptoms of depression

[cornyguy]

yes adel I shall keep checking my WBC count every 3-6 months.Thanks for your advice.

[cornyguy]

Thanks for reply adel but one question always lingers in my mind is whether any person who has been diagnosed as BP needs medication for life?.Even my Pdoc did not give an answer when I asked him this question.He asked me to just continue taking tegretol till he tells me.Yes I would be happy remaining away from AD's and AP's and taking just my mood stabilizer.

[adel_ezz]

it's perfect i suppose if you tolerate tegretol of course you can take it indefinitely. just check everynow and then your wbc. i am sure you will be lucky especially that you don't need any antidepressants

[cornyguy]

Hi adel met my doc. He asked me to take 1 mg Risperidone every night for 2 weeks and then 0.5 mg every night for 2 weeks and then stop.Similarly he asked me to reduce Xanax by 0.125 mg per week.I have been taking 1 mg at night since 2 months and 0.5 mg every night before that for 3 years.So I guess it is a sufficiently slow tapering for both.I will continue Tegretol as a mood stabilizer indefinetely.What do you think?.

[cornyguy]

You were right.Iwas panicky.Did not know what to do.My Pdoc has started me on 1 mg Risperidone and has asked me to taper it to 0.5mg only after 2-3 weeks as he feels I may not able to tolerate a rapid withdrawal.I think both of you are right.I shall go by his advice.This is my new ID.thought shall get a new id.Thanks for ur support adel and a big thanks to ILADVOCATE as well.Keep up the good work.

[adel_ezz]

hi docrrao

once u write as docrrao and another time as crazybro.

no need to panic my friend, i told you withdrawal symptoms are usually irritating. the reason why you were written risperdal is because your pdoc thinks is convenient for you. i think instead of increasing your dose of tegretol he complements it with this med. So really EVEN if we know other alternatives and there are PLENTY of them we cannot interfere with your pdoc advise.

so i suggest you wait for him and if you are in the middle of weaning off stay where you are as far as dose you are on now until you meet with him. nothing will happen so soon.

as for sleeping well, take a xanax 0.5mg at most until you meet him or valium as i suggested to crazybro

[ILADVOCATE]

That might be a good idea but it would be best to follow your psychiatrist's specific suggestions. As for Xanax it is a short acting benzo that a person can easily build up a tolerance to as it is generally meant for short term use on anxiety. You might ask about Klonopin which I've been on for 10 years without a problem and has far less of a potential for a person to build up a tolerance to.

[docrrao]

Hi how long do you think this sleeping problem could last.I am a bit disturbed.I shall be seeing my Psychiatrist only on 27th.Do you feel do I need to restart Risperidone at a lower dose and taper slowly from there.Waiting for a reply.