It's strange to have to kind of ask myself- or make myself do something again. I was right to question my judgement... I must have been higher than I thought I was much of the time.

how did it go?
bizi

It takes a lot to self regulate.

We get can get pretty good at it once we are in a comfortable range, but we need an MD we love who is watching out for us.


M

Pdoc was very pleased that we've made such great progress...

She prescribed 400mg caps of Gabapentin so I wouldn't have to split the 600mg tabs into 3/4's. The 450mg is sedating now, too. I hope dropping 50mg off the current dose helps. There's no plan to reduce the dosage to 300mg any time soon. I haven't been evened out for very long- it would be flirting with disaster.

She suggested taking a small dose of Seroquel in the am to control my anxiety. Anything I take to treat anxiety will contribute to the sedation to some extent, but I think that would really snow me. Instead, I'm switching from Xanax to Klonopin to see if that makes any difference.

My cognitive problems have returned. I think it's due to the fact that I'm not functioning at the high level I was when I was hypo, I'm slightly sedated, and I'm dealing with a high level of anxiety.

I see pdoc again in two weeks. In the meantime, I may have to rethink my position on Seroquel if my anxiety is too much for the Klonopin to handle. I'm going to have to accept at least a temporary period of sedation- that all too familiar trade off.

how much klonopin do you take now. In the morning i take 1 and 1/2 and at night now I take 1 and 1/2. lately i have been taking two at time because of my high anxiety.
bobby

Kay,

Yes about the trade off.
I can get sad thinking about all of our trade offs.

Do you get what you feel is enough sleep, esp with regard to
your concern about sedation?

M

Pdoc wrote the Klonopin: 1mg 3xday. I took it for the first time this morning because my husband didn't take me to the pharmacy until yesterday
The score: Anxiety-1, Klonopin-0. But it did work slightly better than the Xanax.

It seems like every time my husband speaks I say, "what?" Before he responds again, I finally get what he said. He thinks I'm hard of hearing and gets testy, but I'm really not giving myself enough time to let what he said process before I open my big mouth. I'm going to have to adjust.

I've had neuropsych evaluations done for my cognitive issues, but they were done before I was diagnosed with BP. Medication wasn't an issue then. The problems were attributed to a combination of MS, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Believe it or not, when I'm not hypo fatigue is a major issue. It's the main draw-back of MS for me. Add in sedation...

I'm really missing being hypomanic right now. I feel like a (expletive) idiot. It's absolutely amazing how the brain works. How could I suddenly become so functional (in almost every way) when I was so dysfunctional? Pick which way you want to be sick, Kay.

I had a bunch of tricks that made functioning this way easier. But I've spent most of the last year manic/hypomanic, so I've forgotten them, but I'm sure they'll come back to me soon.

Kay


I am sleeping, except for the occasional night when MS takes a few hrs away. I think all the Seroquel helps with that. I can't complain there.

Hi Kay. With OCD,the mind is already occupied,so that's why you say What more then likely. He should be patient with you,and understand that you are dealing with a disability eventually.

I'm not a medical health professional, but the Klonopin alone would only work for a short period of time. Adding other medications to klonopin should present a better result over the (((Long run ))).

I've been taking the Xanax family of meds. for about 45 years. I started this when I was a teenager. This family of medications work at a low dose, with other meds over a long period of time. I've seen the big picture because of my experience with them. I started with Valium. It doesn't work for long,and the psychiatrists seemed to be helping with short term ideas. I was also put on Librium,then Ativan,then Xanax. I tried Klonopin,and felt no difference. It was only with the use of other meds. like Luvox for my OCD,and after a while Seroquel for the depression,and major anxiety before I got some results, but with side affects. These meds will make you tired in many occasions.

This has been my experience. At one time I was given powerful sleeping pills that I became addicted to. It's a long story,but they don't give those meds out very often now. Addiction on top of our anxieties is almost more then one can bare. These meds that they give us now are not as addictive.

BF

(((Also))) The minor anxiety drugs Valium,Librium,Ativan,Xanax,and Klonopin are addictive. So when ever you change these type of meds,taper off slowly unless you are being changed to another in this family of drugs. Like if you are being changed from Xanax to Klonopin,don't worry,but Xanax is the best for panic disorder.

Everyone is different,but this has been my experience. It's been a long road full of misunderstandings by me,and everyone around me. BF

Thank you again for your experience Steve

OCD is another thing that hypomania kept at bay. Some of my symptoms are starting to come back now, but not on an epic scale. At this point, it's just taking longer to get things done. Prior to this recent long episode, I was on Zoloft. It was helping, but I absolutely can't take an antidepressant now.

I applied for disability about 9yrs ago, and have been on disability d/t MS for 7. Not mental health reasons. My BP disorder is not on the books because I was not diagnosed at the time when I applied.

-----

I only started the Klonopin yesterday and it seems to be working slightly better than the Xanax for GAD, but I haven't had a panic attack yet.
I'll give the Klonopin a week, but I'm probably going to have to try taking the low dose of Seroquel in the morning and will probably need either Klonopin or Xanax, too.

Pdoc started talking about other options, but I'm obviously still very concerned about sedation. I'd rather retain control by taking prn meds than taking a daily med because once you take that kind of med you can't take it back.

While I'm dealing with a lot of issues right now, I am in familiar territory. And I have to keep reminding myself that the most important thing is I'm safe and even. I fought hard for that.

Kay