Aa
medication sensitivities?
Is it common to have a bad reaction or get bad side effects at the lowest doses of almost every psychotropic medication tried? I have tried 6 different antipsychotics, I had bad side effects at the lowest dose, and can't take them. 4 SSRI antidepressants, bad side effects at lowest dose, can't take them. I also can't take Welbutrin, Depokote, Effexor, vistaril, This can't be normal right? I can tolerate a few medications at small or regular doses, but do not control my BP or anxiety symptoms these include buspar (did absolutely nothing that i noticed), lamictal could take 200mg, but not 300mg when tried an increase. Trazodone did ok on 150mg at night. Xanax, and Ativan, did ok on and has been the only thing to help my anxiety without bad side effects, and I have only taken them at lower doses. Is this a common occurrence or experience other people have had? I am starting to wonder if I just have problems metabolizing them or something???? I also can't take some pain medications tramadol not at all, and can only take one half to one lortab 5 and no more, I can't tolerate alcohol either it just makes me feel sick, not enjoyable to me at all. So what do you guys think normal or not?
My kids took enzymes before a meal to help them digest and get more nutrients from the foods they were eating. The nutrionist recommended this. In my experience, enzymes are harmless. Good idea to research and see if this would help you.
Even on a low dose it could still effect you coming off any med. It is usually easy to cut pills with a pill cutter. Cut them once and then if you need to cut them again. Depends on how slow the taper. If it is capsule try to get it in tablet form otherwise you can open it up and split the powder. Some meds are not suppose to be cut so ask a pharmacist or dr. Some meds have worse withdraw sx than others. See if you can get info about the drug your on and it's withdraw sx to give you an idea. Your dr should know too.
I think your experiment sounds like a good plan.
Remember the fish oil (with no mercury). There is a lot of positive research on fish oil for mental health.
Even on a low dose it could still effect you coming off any med. It is usually easy to cut pills with a pill cutter. Cut them once and then if you need to cut them again. Depends on how slow the taper. If it is capsule try to get it in tablet form otherwise you can open it up and split the powder. Some meds are not suppose to be cut so ask a pharmacist or dr. Some meds have worse withdraw sx than others. See if you can get info about the drug your on and it's withdraw sx to give you an idea. Your dr should know too.
I think your experiment sounds like a good plan.
Remember the fish oil (with no mercury). There is a lot of positive research on fish oil for mental health.
I agree that sometimes our bodys tell us that we need sugar, sometimes I have to convince my mind that it does but it usually agrees with me.
There are those who see us as crazy but I think the same thing about them. They complain about the world around them and I struggle with the battle within me.
Anyway I wrote this poem about myself:
They tell me stop working live for the day
They make it sound easy here's what they say
They say I'm an addict for coping with pills
They say I'm escaping the way that I feel
They say I'm ****** up because my parents were mean
They say I'm suicidal from the trauma I've seen
They say I'm an artist for the poems I write
They say that I'm gifted, perhaps they are right
They say I'm spiritual the people I've touched
They say I'm heartless the women I've loved
They say I'm challenging the doctors I see
They say I'm like jello being nailed to a tree
They say I'm bipolar with a complex brain
They say I'm codependent I'm going insane
So try on my shoes let's see how you cope
If you don't go insane perhaps there is hope
There are those who see us as crazy but I think the same thing about them. They complain about the world around them and I struggle with the battle within me.
Anyway I wrote this poem about myself:
They tell me stop working live for the day
They make it sound easy here's what they say
They say I'm an addict for coping with pills
They say I'm escaping the way that I feel
They say I'm ****** up because my parents were mean
They say I'm suicidal from the trauma I've seen
They say I'm an artist for the poems I write
They say that I'm gifted, perhaps they are right
They say I'm spiritual the people I've touched
They say I'm heartless the women I've loved
They say I'm challenging the doctors I see
They say I'm like jello being nailed to a tree
They say I'm bipolar with a complex brain
They say I'm codependent I'm going insane
So try on my shoes let's see how you cope
If you don't go insane perhaps there is hope
I have gotten several responses from people having the idea that being sensitive to medications could be an enzyme problem, and a lot of the enzyme problems can be genetic. I actually posted this question in 3 different places, because I really didn't know where to post it, lol.
As for stopping the meds I was on the lowest dose, I guess you could cut the dose in half and taper off that way....??? That would only work with tablets though....Idk. I am on gabapentin now, and will continue to take it, but at this point I can't really tell how well it is working, so I will wait and see. It is easy to not take the meds when they just make you feel sick. I probably really need them to, but they just don't seem to work for me.
I keep feeling like I am having heart palpitations, but even when I don't feel particularly anxious, and no anxiety attack either. Haha I don't know it is kind of weird though. Have been to the doctor twice they say they find nothing abnormal. I try to ignore it, but it is really annoying, lol. Maybe I should post a question about it in the anxiety forum.....Maybe I should do an experiment and take an Ativan...if it works and stops the heart palpitations I can then assume it is anxiety ....right? I think I will try that. I try to avoid taking it as everyone says they can be addictive, and I already have enough problems I don't want to get addicted to anything, lol. I don't seem to have any bad side effects with the Ativan though. I am on the lowest dose though. 0.5mg. I only take it as needed.
I keep craving Fish, and dairy (yogurt mostly), and sweets, sugar. I know that the sugar and sweets cravings may not be healthy. I do however think some cravings are, as it would make sense for your body to crave certain things that have something in it your body is lacking or needs more of. I did start taking a multivitamin too though.
I have been to the hospital a few times for different things, a lot of times they are not very helpful, lol. I may try to go to the clinic to see if they can help with anything. I probably do need some blood work done on a few things, but no never had a vitamin check.
Yes we are all unique, and can have different reactions and stuff, but not everyone sees it that way, but I am glad that you do. Sometimes if we experience things out of the ordinary (especially if people know you have a mental illness), sometimes they get labeled, psychosomatic (which everyone thinks means imaginary illness, but is not the actual definition of it), or hypochondriac, or something like that. Some people would rather be judgmental, instead of trying to understand and be open minded. Which in my opinion is very sad and unfortunate really.
As for stopping the meds I was on the lowest dose, I guess you could cut the dose in half and taper off that way....??? That would only work with tablets though....Idk. I am on gabapentin now, and will continue to take it, but at this point I can't really tell how well it is working, so I will wait and see. It is easy to not take the meds when they just make you feel sick. I probably really need them to, but they just don't seem to work for me.
I keep feeling like I am having heart palpitations, but even when I don't feel particularly anxious, and no anxiety attack either. Haha I don't know it is kind of weird though. Have been to the doctor twice they say they find nothing abnormal. I try to ignore it, but it is really annoying, lol. Maybe I should post a question about it in the anxiety forum.....Maybe I should do an experiment and take an Ativan...if it works and stops the heart palpitations I can then assume it is anxiety ....right? I think I will try that. I try to avoid taking it as everyone says they can be addictive, and I already have enough problems I don't want to get addicted to anything, lol. I don't seem to have any bad side effects with the Ativan though. I am on the lowest dose though. 0.5mg. I only take it as needed.
I keep craving Fish, and dairy (yogurt mostly), and sweets, sugar. I know that the sugar and sweets cravings may not be healthy. I do however think some cravings are, as it would make sense for your body to crave certain things that have something in it your body is lacking or needs more of. I did start taking a multivitamin too though.
I have been to the hospital a few times for different things, a lot of times they are not very helpful, lol. I may try to go to the clinic to see if they can help with anything. I probably do need some blood work done on a few things, but no never had a vitamin check.
Yes we are all unique, and can have different reactions and stuff, but not everyone sees it that way, but I am glad that you do. Sometimes if we experience things out of the ordinary (especially if people know you have a mental illness), sometimes they get labeled, psychosomatic (which everyone thinks means imaginary illness, but is not the actual definition of it), or hypochondriac, or something like that. Some people would rather be judgmental, instead of trying to understand and be open minded. Which in my opinion is very sad and unfortunate really.
Amy, Unfortunately I don't know why I am sensitive to so many meds. My grandmother couldn't take any meds not even a Tylnol, everything made her sick. Maybe it's hereditary and that's where I got it from.
When you get insurance maybe you can find a dr that practices both medical and natural remedies, or a Naturopath.
As for you getting sick stopping your meds for a week. Don't worry you are not abnormal with your reaction to stopping the meds. The dr always advises you to taper off meds and not abruptly stop them. A majority of the time you will have withdraw symptoms. Everyone is different in the way they react to meds and withdraws. Same goes for symptoms. Just because their not listed in literature doesn't mean you can't experience them because we are all unique.
I know this sounds strange because I couldn't believe it myself. I went to the bathroom all of the time a few years back and had done so for a long time. I went to a urologist. They did a test to see how much I was emptying out urine. Did another test to see how much was left in my system. There was still urine left. They then did an X-ray. My wole intestinal tract was full of number 2, even though I went everyday. Boy was I in disbelief. They explained that my intestines were pushing on my bladder making it impossible to empty completely causing me to go to the bathroom frequently.
There solution was to do the same cleanse as you would do if you were having a colonoscopy. Then to have a better diet because I don't eat very much and drink either prune juice or take something like Benefiber and also to try and eat foods with fiber in them. I don't know if this could be the issue for you. I can tell you I didn't now I had this problem.
If you decide to go completely off med be careful and have a dr lined up in case you need him/her. You know you can always go to the hospital. I have to take meds no matter what or I would be in bad shape. If and when you withdraw from your meds, I would do some research and go to the health food store (if you can't go to dr yet) and your still having problems. Your body will be free of meds and you could try some supplements. One at a time to see how your body reacts. Have you ever had bloodwork done. In particular, Vit D, Vit B's and iron? I take Fish oil (without mercury). I also just started Deplin that my psyc dr prescribed for me. Research this, it may help you.
When you get insurance maybe you can find a dr that practices both medical and natural remedies, or a Naturopath.
As for you getting sick stopping your meds for a week. Don't worry you are not abnormal with your reaction to stopping the meds. The dr always advises you to taper off meds and not abruptly stop them. A majority of the time you will have withdraw symptoms. Everyone is different in the way they react to meds and withdraws. Same goes for symptoms. Just because their not listed in literature doesn't mean you can't experience them because we are all unique.
I know this sounds strange because I couldn't believe it myself. I went to the bathroom all of the time a few years back and had done so for a long time. I went to a urologist. They did a test to see how much I was emptying out urine. Did another test to see how much was left in my system. There was still urine left. They then did an X-ray. My wole intestinal tract was full of number 2, even though I went everyday. Boy was I in disbelief. They explained that my intestines were pushing on my bladder making it impossible to empty completely causing me to go to the bathroom frequently.
There solution was to do the same cleanse as you would do if you were having a colonoscopy. Then to have a better diet because I don't eat very much and drink either prune juice or take something like Benefiber and also to try and eat foods with fiber in them. I don't know if this could be the issue for you. I can tell you I didn't now I had this problem.
If you decide to go completely off med be careful and have a dr lined up in case you need him/her. You know you can always go to the hospital. I have to take meds no matter what or I would be in bad shape. If and when you withdraw from your meds, I would do some research and go to the health food store (if you can't go to dr yet) and your still having problems. Your body will be free of meds and you could try some supplements. One at a time to see how your body reacts. Have you ever had bloodwork done. In particular, Vit D, Vit B's and iron? I take Fish oil (without mercury). I also just started Deplin that my psyc dr prescribed for me. Research this, it may help you.
I know a lot of people who have a mental illness usually end up with co-morbid ones too. Meaning a lot of times mental illnesses overlap each other. Sometimes the symptoms of one can also be a symptom of another. I learned this as I researched more on mental illnesses. It made a lot of sense in that it is sometimes hard to get the right diagnosis because of this. Most people with a mental illness usually get diagnosed with at least one more. (This gives me an idea to post a poll on here about co-morbidity).
I have noticed that even though when we have more than one diagnosis we can experience them independently from each other. Sometimes problems with one can set us off to have problems with another, and another (depending on what problems you have or how many diagnosis') consequently creating a domino effect amongst them. If we are unable to stop the domino effect at some point we become more prone to cycle not just through the bipolar cycle, but creating a cycle with the co-morbid mental illnesses as well, then it becomes a cycling domino effect. It can go on forever until we find ways to stop it. Either by medication, and/or by some self realization and awareness and coping skills/strategies.
I use to write poetry a lot too. I think I used it as a way to get my strong emotions out, and a kind of way to express them. I do think it was therapeutic for me. I really didn't have anyone to talk to about how I felt either, so it was very much a way or an out let to communicate to the world how I felt. I think there is a lot of writers amongst those with bipolar. There has been some research done that has linked bipolar and creativity. There are also a lot of artists, composers, and musicians, that are bipolar. Writing is actually my preferred method of communication.
I am actually hoping that maybe some of my journaling will help some other people as well. I will definitely share what I have learned through research, and experience with others. Knowledge and wisdom are important, and educational therapy does help too.
I have noticed that even though when we have more than one diagnosis we can experience them independently from each other. Sometimes problems with one can set us off to have problems with another, and another (depending on what problems you have or how many diagnosis') consequently creating a domino effect amongst them. If we are unable to stop the domino effect at some point we become more prone to cycle not just through the bipolar cycle, but creating a cycle with the co-morbid mental illnesses as well, then it becomes a cycling domino effect. It can go on forever until we find ways to stop it. Either by medication, and/or by some self realization and awareness and coping skills/strategies.
I use to write poetry a lot too. I think I used it as a way to get my strong emotions out, and a kind of way to express them. I do think it was therapeutic for me. I really didn't have anyone to talk to about how I felt either, so it was very much a way or an out let to communicate to the world how I felt. I think there is a lot of writers amongst those with bipolar. There has been some research done that has linked bipolar and creativity. There are also a lot of artists, composers, and musicians, that are bipolar. Writing is actually my preferred method of communication.
I am actually hoping that maybe some of my journaling will help some other people as well. I will definitely share what I have learned through research, and experience with others. Knowledge and wisdom are important, and educational therapy does help too.
Wow,
You have got a great plan!!!
Since my first day in treatment in 2011 I have filled up 18 journals with work that I have done to better understand my mood among other things. I had to figure out why I had PTSD, how that and my addiction tied into my mood swings and well....I have written a basic summary that is my final self diagnoses based on what I had learned:
Here is the story of my self discovery,
When I first got to treatment I had no diagnoses for any mental problems. Then I found out I had chemical dependency. When I write my poems I take a sentence or a word and make it into a long poem. That is why i try to drag emotions and information out of people on here. Asking me why you are depressed is a loaded question. I need to know so much about the history of people's lives to make a determination about why they are depressed. Anyway I write a lot of poems and they are more about self discovery than anything else. I wrote poems about my childhood, my addiction, my emotions, my time at war, and being bipolar and the mood swings associated with it. That is why it is so easy for me to empathize with people on here there isn't much I haven't seen and there isn't a whole lot that I haven't learned about it.
When I was diagnosed with chemical dependency I sit down and started journaling. I had to get to the bottom of the reason I was susceptible to becoming chemically dependent. I attached that to the Iraq. Then I was told I had PTSD. Again I sit down and started writing. I had to tie in why I had PTSD and how it was related to the war. I came to the conclusion that the things I saw in war were internalized and I had no coping skills to deal with that. Then I went manic and they diagnosed me with bipolar. Again I sit down and started working on why I was bipolar, when it first began, and how it related to the PTSD and CD. I came to the conclusion that my childhood was tough and that was the reason that my bipolar became onset. Iraq was the reason that I fell into manic depression, and the manic depression was the reason I was CD.
That was when I was released and that was good enough to keep me clean for a while and have closure. Unfortunately that was not the end. I met a girl named Christine and after she moved in with me I started to fall back into depression and when it got to the point where I got suicidal I find myself back in treatment 6 months ago. I came in with all the knowledge that I had before. I had the same psychiatrist that I had last year and he had the charts to bring him back up to speed. We started where I left off last year. The first thing he taught me was thought stopping. I was told that feelings cause emotions and emotions cause behavior. I started working on thought stopping but didn't get anywhere for a while because I stayed in manic depression for three weeks slicing my wrist on the 2nd week. When I was better and out of the depression I started working again. I noticed that my hand writing was better when I wasn't depressed and I could concentrate better. That is how I realized that as I used over time when I tried to stop I couldn't because I was so depressed I couldn't concentrate and figure out why I started using again.
Once I realized this I linked Christine to the depression, but wasn't sure why. I called and told her to get out of my house and go back to Louisiana and she did. If I know something is a problem I have no regrets in destroying it. Once she left my doctor told me that I was super codependent. I denied this for a while but eventually read the book and realized how that was true. I saw that based on how much flattery I get I would become manic. Based on how much criticism I took in I would get depressed. So again I looked back at my life to see how my codependent behavior had caused everything that had happened to me. I came up with the codependency fed the bipolar and the PTSD which both of caused the addiction. This was the last thing I learned before I got out this time. I met a new girl while I was in treatment and she came to pick me up when I got out. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever met and she loved me dearly. At a point I broke up with her twice. As we started falling apart I got more and more unstable and I started cutting (which I realized was the same thing as using as it releases dopamin). I started texting and calling like crazy crying every day. I became depressed again and when I came out of it I started writing again. I realized that every time I lost a woman that I cared about I fell into deep depression. I had to look back and see how that effecting everything else. I realized that the childhood that I grew up in gave me a distorted view of what love is supposed to be like. I realized that just like using I needed that instant gratification that she still loved me and it wasn't over. I realized that after I got as much "high" as I could get from a relationship I got bored with it and started to pull away. I realized that if I committed myself to the relationship even though I wasn't happy I would use again. That is when I realized something that is not likely the end of this self discovery but is the foundation for all of this. I realized I have obsessive compulsive behaviors. Again I had to look back and see how that has affected my life.
Final synopsis (for now)
The childhood I had caused the PTSD to start. The PTSD was the cause for the onset of my mental illness. The onset of my mental illness made me super codependent. The codependency started the as a way to escape. The OCD fed the bipolar and so on, vicious cycle. The PTSD from my childhood and the codependency made me susceptible to PTSD from Iraq. The PTSD from Iraq fed the addiction. Without any more excitement and that adrenalin rush that I got from Iraq I was bored back in America. The addiction caused loneliness which caused me to get back into another relationship. The codependency from the relationship and the addiction caused depression. The depression made it impossible for me to leave the relationship. Her cheating on me caused the mixed state of mania and manic depression. The mixed state caused the obsessive tendencies to kick in. The obsessive behaviors (calling, texting, crying) caused the addiction to climb to a new height and sent me into a very unstable form of psychosis. The psychosis caused my first suicidal thoughts which lead me into treatment where I became manic again. Finding Carolyn in treatment this time and falling in love with her caused the mania to come back. Her ignoring my calls caused the OCD which could have led to relapse had I not realized that the obsessing over Carolyn was the same as obsessing over pain pills. I needed my next fix of Carolyn. I started practicing patience and not obsessing and I have gotten pretty good at it. I may have thought I learned too much but it is quite the opposite.
Anyway I wanted to let you know the progress that I made by working my but off to fight depression and you have the right attitude to do the same. There is no cure for what we have but we can gain knowledge to fight it. Get control of your thoughts and never stop learning.
You have got a great plan!!!
Since my first day in treatment in 2011 I have filled up 18 journals with work that I have done to better understand my mood among other things. I had to figure out why I had PTSD, how that and my addiction tied into my mood swings and well....I have written a basic summary that is my final self diagnoses based on what I had learned:
Here is the story of my self discovery,
When I first got to treatment I had no diagnoses for any mental problems. Then I found out I had chemical dependency. When I write my poems I take a sentence or a word and make it into a long poem. That is why i try to drag emotions and information out of people on here. Asking me why you are depressed is a loaded question. I need to know so much about the history of people's lives to make a determination about why they are depressed. Anyway I write a lot of poems and they are more about self discovery than anything else. I wrote poems about my childhood, my addiction, my emotions, my time at war, and being bipolar and the mood swings associated with it. That is why it is so easy for me to empathize with people on here there isn't much I haven't seen and there isn't a whole lot that I haven't learned about it.
When I was diagnosed with chemical dependency I sit down and started journaling. I had to get to the bottom of the reason I was susceptible to becoming chemically dependent. I attached that to the Iraq. Then I was told I had PTSD. Again I sit down and started writing. I had to tie in why I had PTSD and how it was related to the war. I came to the conclusion that the things I saw in war were internalized and I had no coping skills to deal with that. Then I went manic and they diagnosed me with bipolar. Again I sit down and started working on why I was bipolar, when it first began, and how it related to the PTSD and CD. I came to the conclusion that my childhood was tough and that was the reason that my bipolar became onset. Iraq was the reason that I fell into manic depression, and the manic depression was the reason I was CD.
That was when I was released and that was good enough to keep me clean for a while and have closure. Unfortunately that was not the end. I met a girl named Christine and after she moved in with me I started to fall back into depression and when it got to the point where I got suicidal I find myself back in treatment 6 months ago. I came in with all the knowledge that I had before. I had the same psychiatrist that I had last year and he had the charts to bring him back up to speed. We started where I left off last year. The first thing he taught me was thought stopping. I was told that feelings cause emotions and emotions cause behavior. I started working on thought stopping but didn't get anywhere for a while because I stayed in manic depression for three weeks slicing my wrist on the 2nd week. When I was better and out of the depression I started working again. I noticed that my hand writing was better when I wasn't depressed and I could concentrate better. That is how I realized that as I used over time when I tried to stop I couldn't because I was so depressed I couldn't concentrate and figure out why I started using again.
Once I realized this I linked Christine to the depression, but wasn't sure why. I called and told her to get out of my house and go back to Louisiana and she did. If I know something is a problem I have no regrets in destroying it. Once she left my doctor told me that I was super codependent. I denied this for a while but eventually read the book and realized how that was true. I saw that based on how much flattery I get I would become manic. Based on how much criticism I took in I would get depressed. So again I looked back at my life to see how my codependent behavior had caused everything that had happened to me. I came up with the codependency fed the bipolar and the PTSD which both of caused the addiction. This was the last thing I learned before I got out this time. I met a new girl while I was in treatment and she came to pick me up when I got out. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever met and she loved me dearly. At a point I broke up with her twice. As we started falling apart I got more and more unstable and I started cutting (which I realized was the same thing as using as it releases dopamin). I started texting and calling like crazy crying every day. I became depressed again and when I came out of it I started writing again. I realized that every time I lost a woman that I cared about I fell into deep depression. I had to look back and see how that effecting everything else. I realized that the childhood that I grew up in gave me a distorted view of what love is supposed to be like. I realized that just like using I needed that instant gratification that she still loved me and it wasn't over. I realized that after I got as much "high" as I could get from a relationship I got bored with it and started to pull away. I realized that if I committed myself to the relationship even though I wasn't happy I would use again. That is when I realized something that is not likely the end of this self discovery but is the foundation for all of this. I realized I have obsessive compulsive behaviors. Again I had to look back and see how that has affected my life.
Final synopsis (for now)
The childhood I had caused the PTSD to start. The PTSD was the cause for the onset of my mental illness. The onset of my mental illness made me super codependent. The codependency started the as a way to escape. The OCD fed the bipolar and so on, vicious cycle. The PTSD from my childhood and the codependency made me susceptible to PTSD from Iraq. The PTSD from Iraq fed the addiction. Without any more excitement and that adrenalin rush that I got from Iraq I was bored back in America. The addiction caused loneliness which caused me to get back into another relationship. The codependency from the relationship and the addiction caused depression. The depression made it impossible for me to leave the relationship. Her cheating on me caused the mixed state of mania and manic depression. The mixed state caused the obsessive tendencies to kick in. The obsessive behaviors (calling, texting, crying) caused the addiction to climb to a new height and sent me into a very unstable form of psychosis. The psychosis caused my first suicidal thoughts which lead me into treatment where I became manic again. Finding Carolyn in treatment this time and falling in love with her caused the mania to come back. Her ignoring my calls caused the OCD which could have led to relapse had I not realized that the obsessing over Carolyn was the same as obsessing over pain pills. I needed my next fix of Carolyn. I started practicing patience and not obsessing and I have gotten pretty good at it. I may have thought I learned too much but it is quite the opposite.
Anyway I wanted to let you know the progress that I made by working my but off to fight depression and you have the right attitude to do the same. There is no cure for what we have but we can gain knowledge to fight it. Get control of your thoughts and never stop learning.
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