Mari,

I don't think the recent flare up of your sleep issues has anything to do with your new pdoc…

I think it's a good idea to make an immediate appointment with her. At the very least, I don't think continuing to take risperdal is in your best interests, since these symptoms began when you started taking it.

Because of the agitation, increased difficulty sleeping, and some of the other symptoms you've described in past posts, I think that the risperdal has triggered an episode. Trust me, not all hypo episodes are happy ones. Also, episodes triggered by medications can be unpredictable.

It's feasible that you could at least be functioning better by August 8th if you can get an immediate appointment to discuss the risperdal issue and talk about the possibility of countering the effects of it. Even if the risperdal hasn't triggered an episode, I'm convinced it is contributing to your sleep issues. The halcion is definitely worth a try at this point.


The bull**** about the syringe would drive me nuts.


I really wish that the meds you are taking were helping you sleep better. I can't imagine how hard it is to function with so little sleep. I hope that with the help of your pdoc you can start feeling better before you return to work

You are right, Kay,

What is happening is wrong.

I have never had a happy/good episode -- only scary episodes of
agitation and anxiety and I do WHATEVER I can to avoid them.
I am strict with my self (self-disciplined) because I want to
avoid the horrible-ness of them.

The pdoc forgot about/rethought the offer of Halcion and sent this email to me:
The only one I have taken is Ambien so I agreed to that one.
Her office left a message on my phone that they called it in.
I will pick it up Friday.

=-=-=-=
=-=-=-=
I was triggered June 2015 and went through the worst twelve months of
my life since the early 1990s when I was hospitalized.

(I kept it off the board because I cannot talk about it -- freaked me out too much)

Right now (with these pdoc meds) feels like a huge improvement over what I recently was going through.


M

I do have euphoric episodes, but I'm prone to dysphoric hypo/mania. It can be very scary
For me the agitation is the worst part. I would do just about anything to avoid another episode like that.

I'm glad that you got the prescription for Ambien. It should help you sleep, but it won't help with the other symptoms.

It sounds like you have a good pdoc. I hope you will speak to her about the un-sleep-related symptoms so you can start feeling better soon, and before things get out of hand

I can see how you may be hesitant to stop the risperdal since you mentioned that you've seen improvement in some way since starting the meds that this pdoc has prescribed. I hope that you are not going to ignore these symptoms, and settle now because they appear somehow better than what you have gone through in the recent past

I'm so sorry that you went through such a difficult year… alone.
I can understand not wanting to divulge what you were going through because you are a private person, and some things really are too hard to talk about. But we are here for you when you need us, and when want to talk about anything

Mari,
I can understand the concern about Risperdal, even a very low dose. I felt my mother should have never been given this med. She was not psychotic; but when she was given Risperdal, her behavior was "something else". The side effects from meds often lead to another med being prescribed for those side effects. As I am sure you know; it's a vicious circle.

I hope the Ambien works for you. I have been taking Ambien CR every night for a few years. I started with the Ambien; 10mg's but would wake up after a few hours. The Ambien CR, 12.5 has a small delayed amount to last longer. With either one; it is important to get into bed within a short time; like 15 min. or so. It can really hit all at once; best to be in bed when it does. Also, enough time (at least 7 hrs.) given for functioning in the a.m.

Hope you will soon be feeling better.


Gerry

I had no idea, am so sorry for this.....
((((HUGS))))
bizi
I am glad that you are seeing some improvement now.

Gerry,

I think the concerns raised here about risperdal were mine.

Risperdal and seroquel are atypical antipsychotics, but they're not just used to treat psychosis or mania. Pdocs often use meds off-label to treat other conditions when they have found that they have had a track record for efficacy in treating those conditions.

They have a long list of possible benefits, but also have a long list of possible side effects. Some side effects can be worse in elderly patients.

Kay

Kay,
Some of the symptoms you and Mari described were experienced by my mother who before being prescribed risperdal were not there. She had originally been given meds for her back pain. I think these were prescribed in an unconscious effort to combat the side effects of her pain meds. It's a vicious circle. I am aware risperdal is also prescribed for bipolar treatment. I am sure they also can be beneficial when properly prescribed.


Gerry

I think I understand what you are saying Gerry.
And you are right about meds becoming part of a vicious cycle. I won't take anything for my MS or its sx in large part because of that. I've tried it, and it's too big of a mess.

Hubby was being obnoxious --- he is uptight about something related to our work -- work that I was trying to get done. . . . kept talking and giving me advice. Then the kvetching started and he could not stop himself.

I worked it out that he is leaving for the day to be with a buddy.
I think they are going out to lunch at a Chinese place and back at the guy's place watch a movie and talk and eat candy.



M

I bet you were glad he was going out so you could get some work done without his advice or annoyances.

I hope you were able to get your work done