Slight problem, unsure of necessary approach
 

Hi, I'm pretty new to the site but have come here for a seperate problem.

I'm bipolar I (296.44 if that helps at all.) and I've encountered an issue: I've run out of Risperadone, and I don't have any for 4 more days. I feel like I'm going insane and thought I'd drop in here as a last resort and see if there were any tips on getting through without it.

I don't know what to do at all and life is very overwhelming without it, and I'd appreciate the help. I'm a PN sufferer too, which isn't making things much easier.

I apologise in advance if the question/placement of said question isn't right, I just don't really know what else to do. I really need to get some sleep, but I very rarely can without my medication.

I appreciate any help I may or may not get.

i can only offer sympathy. I use risperdal and i know how much it helps. I even took an extra one today and will tomorrow for stress.
welcome to the forum
bobby

I also have no real ideas. I don't take the drug. So I have no real ideas to
get through.

Other than the normal.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Belle,

Welcome.

Can you put in a call to your doctor? Really, this would be the best thing.

What other medications do you take, if any?

I'm wondering if you have other meds that you could temporarily increase to help with the lack of risperidone. Also, any as-needed meds for anxiety or for sleep could be of help.

Some antihistamines can help with sleep. You'd basically need a first generation antihistamine -- diphenhydramine is often recommended or prescribed as a sleep aid; and triprolidine is also quite sedating. I don't know, however, if these are available in the UK, or if they are sold without prescription. If you do find something of this sort, please check the other active ingredients, and ask the pharmacist about the risk of increased activation or of potential interaction with your meds.

--------------------

Short of medication, any sort of relaxation technique might be useful.
-- meditation
-- yoga
-- belly breathing
-- sipping cold water slowly

In the past, I've also used exercise when unmedicated -- esp intense exercise -- I would run, and really wear myself out.

waves

Hi, Belle,

This happens even to people who are not bipolar so do not feel bad.
In the U.S. we could do the following:

1. call the doctor's emergency service to ask for more pills. This is your best chance as Waves said. Do you have a social worker? Call that person.
Call everyone on your health care team to ask for the Risperadone pressription

2. call the pharmacy -- sometimes if you are a long time patient, the pharmacy will give three or four pills without a prescription.

3. go to the Emergency Room -- but this is taking a chance because the hospital might decide to keep you.

Mari

Belle,

As far as I can tell with a search, the drugs Waves mentions are called Benedryl and Actifed in the U.K.
Go to your pharmacy to find what they have that might be helpful.
The pharmacist is your friend.

Do you have access to any of these?
~steam room
~sauna
~hot tub
These will help.

Or do some exercise and take a very hot shower.

Mari

Welcome to the forum. Talk to someone at your pharmacy,or call your doctor as soon as you can,and/or go to the emergency room.

These mental health issues need medical treatment. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Things to help me relax
 

I would definitely take the advice of the posters above me, lots of wisdom there. Short of that, I can relax when outside and can get away from the city or to a park, a place to check out for a while.

Some OTC Meds like antihistamines fire me up, they don't slow me down. I think they can effect different people different ways.

All the best,

wonder if she will come back?

I take Fluoxetine, Tramadol (PN)and on/off Codeine Phosphate (I think!). I have antihistamines, but it's one that says it doesn't make you drowsy.

I've been meditating a lot anyway, (I'm buddhist!) and I've had a bit more support having spoken up about my issues. It's still hard, but there's only a day left until my meds are back. Thanks a lot for all the suggestions!

wonder if you could take plain benadryl? for some people it makes them tired, use it as a sleep aid, others it does the opposite.
Did you call your md?
bizi

Hi there... I have searched a drug checker for you.
Here are the results:
http://www.drugs.com/interactions-ch...221-0,1115-648

There is a major interaction between tramadol and SSRI drugs like Prozac. Your doctors should be made aware of this, as sometimes they don't know all the interactions out there.

Hi again, and further notes on interactions
 

Hi Belle,

I am glad you are getting your meds back! :)

The interaction MrsD was talking about -- it's basically that both Tramadol and Fluoxetine increase serotonin levels because both inhibit serotonin reuptake (SSRI action). The danger is Serotonin Syndrome, which can be fatal, so do, please, discuss your treatment plan with your doctor.

I'd like to add something though. Even if you do not develop this syndrome you can end up with excessive serotonin in the nervous system. This can cause symptoms like undue nervousness, agitation, muscle tension, and possibly excessive sweating. You could also have emotional symptoms like dysphoria, manic reaction, or if your mood was already off, the combination of these drugs could make it worse. It isn't all or nothing: one can get any subset of these symptoms to any degree.

---------------
If you ever take triptan drugs (for migraine) or cough medicine/drops containing dextromethorphan, these meds will further contribute to the interaction (increased risk of Serotonin Syndrome), so ask your physician about these as well, if applicable.

---------------
I've used sertraline (an SSRI like fluoxetine), tramadol, and zolmitriptan concurrently but only the sertraline was a daily drug. All three of my doctors were aware of all the meds, but only my neurologist seemed conspicuously aware of the interactions. He advised to make a dosage adjustment to the sertraline when I had to use one of the other two.

waves