Missing Doses Due to Flu

[LetaB]

  I've been taking 600 mg lithium and 500 mg of Depakote for about five days. Yesterday I went to the clinic and was diagnosed with my first bout of bronchitus of the season. I filled a prescription for Azithromycin (an antibiotic) and cough syrup with codein. I have been religious about takng my psych meds 12 hours apart on the dot. But starting this afternoon I've been dizzy, foggy minded, very, very sleepy and awfully nauseous. In fact I'm due to take my next dosage of lithium and Depakote but I feel too queazy. If I miss doses because of stomache flu what do I do?

[monkeyc]

BTW For anyone not aware what temazepam is its a sleeping pill so it sure does cause drowsiness and driving a car on it is a terrible idea.  No idea about heavy machinery though, you might be ok there so if in doubt take a bulldozer.

[monkeyc]

It always interests me about that label - "Warning may cause drowsiness - Do not drive or use heavy machinery if effected"

My temazepam scripts come with that attached.

I smile every time I see it - I think they need one for Temazepam and other heavy barbituates that simply says "Don't make any plans"

Or am it the only one so easily amused?

[ILADVOCATE]

The medications do caution about "driving or using heavy machinery" but with Lithium and Depakoate I'd say its safe. But with Tylenol with codeine combined with it the cumulative effect could be dangerous. I would say for safety's sake, especially with the inclement weather, have some else drive for you or use a cab.

[LetaB]

Thanks for the good news, Monkey. And you're a guy! I always thought that guys were less prone to fat. But worse than the fat (right now) is how incredibly dizzy-tired I get from the lithium and Depakote. An hour after I take them (now) I have to FIGHT to open my eyes if they shut for more than a blink. I was thinking it was the codeine but this evening I didn't take any. Tomorrow I have to drive all day in possibly inclement weather by myself and I sure can't do it feeling like this. Is this side effect temporary?

[monkeyc]

Hey trust me I am amazed I have managed to put on weight, I have constant issues with my colon pre and post the resection and I average 10 visits to the bathroom a day and still put on weight somehow despite eating as healthy as possible.

[LetaB]

Thanks, you guys. I feel light headed, sometimes suddenly dizzy, but only mildly nauseous so I do believe that I'm headed in the right direction. I don't wonder that so many members complain of putting on weight with these drugs, LeftCoastChick, a couple of crackers isn't enough stuffing between the pills and my stomach lining I found out the queasy way. If I have to eat a meal with taking them and the codeine too and I'm awfully bloated with the lithium....I think I'd better had a weight tracker to my home page!

[LeftCoastChick]

I was queasy at first on the Lithium, take it with food, even a few crackers. I take a pain med everyday with Codeine and have to be sure I take food with that too,  don't stop your psych meds unless you have been told otherwise. But like other's have said talk to your GP, check with your pharmacist and see if there is an interaction. Normally at pharmacies they will tell you if there are interactions, especially if you go to the same pharmacy all the time.

[monkeyc]

600mg is a low dose and if its only been 5 days you dont have a theraputic level built up yet so missing 1 or 2 doses is not going to be a major issue from my mind BUT i agree with ILADVOCATE - asking the doctor is the smart thing to do.

[LetaB]

  We have a nurses help line (and onto the emergency doctor if needed) that I didn't think of sdking. Thanks so much for your thoughtful recommendations. I'll get right on it.

[ILADVOCATE]

It depends how many days. You are just starting the medications so they are building up a blood level so if you don't take them for several days the blood level will go down. Then will you bring them up again it will suddenly go upwards. This is of concern. I would speak to your psychiatrist and also let him know about the medications you are taking for brochitis. I don't know if cough syrup with codeine could interact but its a question that should be asked. I would assume you told the doctor about the psychiatric medications because if not please do so immediately. I know when I had even minor respiratory infections there were many things I couldn't take because of interactions including certain common antibiotics. Nothing to panic about but just make sure you let both the doctor and psychiatrist know. As for not being able to take the medication for a few days ask as well. If you can't because you have the stomach flu then its understandable but in a period of time as you are just starting the medications some symptoms will return. It sounds really messy as a situation and I don't want to second guess a physician here so I would speak to them about it. My philsophy is better to page them and they get annoyed (within reason) then do something that could have problematical results when starting medications or making a decision like that and chances are they won't be upset you called them and will understand.