Too many meds?

[spritzers]

Hi, my niece is 20 years old and this week had suicidal thoughts and was hospitalized for 3 days in a MH unit.  She's been suffering from some moderate depression/anxiety for some time, but specifically connected to her period, her PMS was terrible!  Anyway, she'd been taking a BCP which they changed and Prozac to help the PMDD, but now after the hospitalization, they've put her on Geodon 20, Lamotrigine 25 then increase eventually to 100, and Bupropion 37.5 to increase to 75 daily!!!  Isn't that a bit much for her problem?  It seems to me like she'd being treated for Bipolar instead of PMDD.  Can you give me any ideas of why she needs all these very strong meds with bad side effects when this is her first episode of depression??  Thank you very much.

[LeftCoastChick]

I should tell you that Lamactil is a darn good "anti-depressant" - I do know of people that take it if their options in the SSRI/SNRI class have run out or they have a huge amount of anxiety. I was upped from 200 to 250 because of that. . I do know that there are much more options the taking the "prozac" route. I hope the meds do help her settle down. Once I was on a stable level of the Lamactil, my anxiety and depression really dropped. I hope it helps for her! Geodon is considered an "anti-psychotic", I take Seroquel which is in the same class of drugs, but it was prescribed for anxiety. I'm guessing that's why it's been given to her. Prozac can sure make someone suicidal, though many think it's the bees knees, I think there is too much hype about it. There are a ton of meds that work better in a different class like your niece.

It sounds like she has been through the "ringer" with many stressful things in her life.
When I went off Cymbalta, my PMDD (which I didn't know I had) came back worse then ever. Buprion (aka Welbutrin)  will help with the PMDD, but it can take 4-6 weeks. The Lamactil takes a bit too.  She will find (I hope) that her headaches will lessen even more, stress is a huge factor. I used to get 1-3 what I thought were migraine headaches, but was stress induced. I've only had 3 since August.

The meds she is on will help her calm her brain so that she can have the talk therapy and it doesn't mean she has to be on them forever right? Sometimes, which I firmly believe, the brain gets overloaded and the "wiring" of brain alters because of the stress, boy do I know that well. I had a pretty tough childhood, so I can relate.

It sounds like she has a good support network - please don't hesitate to private message me any time,
Sincerely,
LeftCoastChick
Co-Community Leader
Depression

[spritzers]

Thanks for the comment, you gave me a lot of good info, it's always better to hear from the people who've tried these meds, etc!  She doesn't have to tell her diagnosis,no, but she would, we're very close and talk often, esp about this.  The doctor didn't tell her a diagnosis, except PMDD.  She was on Prozac before for the PMDD and the doctor thinks that caused the suicidal thoughts, as she's young and it sometimes has the reverse effect in teens.  Right now she's having bad headaches and panic attacks, but I think they're decreasing a little in intensity.  So far she hasn't felt much better, just not suicidal.  She's very confused and unsure of herself.  She has had a lot of "family issues" in her life that need to be worked out in therapy, her dad tried to commit suicide and she never really dealt with that, so hopefully these meds can stabilize her and allow her to work on those things.  Anyway, it sounds like you're doing well, I'm glad the Lamictal is working for you, and hope it works for her also, thanks and have a good week!

[LeftCoastChick]

Are you quite sure she's not bipolar? The meds she is being given are classic Bipolar. Perhaps they are still assessing her? She may have being or will be diagnosed wtih BP.
I didn't tell anyone for 3-4 weeks. Since she is 20, she doesn't have to tell anyone right?
Lamotrigine is a fantastic drug, it's lifted my depression not that I have been on a level dose. They took me off SSRI's, which caused me to get PMDD. It's a little rough during that time.

Geodone helps with hypomania, did she feel much better the next day after having suicidal thoughts? that's classic sign (i did that too)  The meds are frontline meds, any med a person takes have side effects, even tylenol. I looked up Geodone, and it's not worse then Prozac. The incidents of side effects are minimal, the same with Pozac. Anyone whom is have suicidal thoughts generally not PMDD. Lamactil aka Lamotrigine, gets titrated because of a rare rash, if a patience it increased slowly, like any drug, chances are there are less reactions.  She''ll get much more stable once she is levelled out. She may also have a similar diagnosis.Some mood disorders also used the same or similar drugs, regardless the point is to get her stable right?