Collarspace Discussion Forums


Home  Login  Search 

Psychiatry Medications (among others)


View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
 
All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Health and Safety >> Psychiatry Medications (among others) Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 7:22:01 AM   
aravain


Posts: 1211
Joined: 8/26/2008
Status: offline 		Please keep in mind that I already have a doctor's appointment about this issue, but I'm posting more to get an opinion on if it's even viable, or if my medication has stopped working on its own.

Currently I'm prescribed a medication called Lamictal by my Psychiatrist. According to when we last increased the dosage (about a month ago) there's still room to move both up and down for it to be at a therapeutic dose.

Recently I've had to go see a specialist for what we thought was an allergic reaction, which turns out to be some sort of auto-immune reaction. Now, in addition to the Lamictal and my Blood Pressure medication, I'm also on Steroids (for another three weeks), and three different types of Anti-histamines (twice a day). According to the specialist I'll be on the anti-histamines for upwards of a year to try and 'smoke out' the hives.

It's working, too. The hives are less painful, numerous, and bothersome...

however my mental health has taken a peculiar run for the worse.

Rather than cycling (as is normal for me, even on my medication) I've been in a persistent depressed state for a little less than two weeks (I will have started the medications for this reaction three weeks ago tomorrow). On the 10-0-(-10) scale this has been consistently at a -8.

What's strange is that my cycling seems to have mostly stopped (for the first time since I was small).

A quick search yielded no results for me as to whether these medications might be affecting each other... but I thought it might be worth a shot to ask here to see if anyone has any experience with it. I'm hesitant to believe that the Lamictal has stopped working, because if it did I would be cycling much more violently than when it does work normally.
Profile   Post #: 1
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 7:42:11 AM   
sirsholly


Posts: 42360
Joined: 9/7/2007
From: Quietville
Status: offline 		I would advise you to call the psychiatrist asap. 

_____________________________

PICKED UPON
TECHNO-DOLT
MEMBER OF THE SUBBIE MAFIA
GRACEFULLY CHALLENGED :::::splat:::::
BOOT WHORE
VAA/S FAN

GIVES GOOD HEART (Lushy)

CREATOR OF MAYHEM (practice)


(in reply to aravain)
Profile   Post #: 2
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 7:55:00 AM   
synningsub


Posts: 19
Joined: 8/24/2008
Status: offline 		depending on which steroids youre taking, that could be the culprit... prednisone and many other steroids (frequently prescribed for hives and major allergic reactions) can have side effects including mood changes.. and many anti-histamines are also prescribed as anti-anxiety medications because they have those side effects.. they can also affect your moods by making you more sleepy and lethargic... these are just facts from my own life and may not be whats effecting you at all.. i'd be interested in what your doc has to say about it as well

(in reply to sirsholly)
Profile   Post #: 3
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 8:22:38 AM   
SavageFaerie


Posts: 4377
Joined: 12/3/2004
From: NYC
Status: offline 		lamictal is actually an anti seziure medication, but th y have found that some anti seziures also work well for depression.
I was reading up on lamictal and one of the side effects you mentioned was a rash. In reading the below link it talks about how a rash can turn into a  SERIOUS  side effect.

I beleive this is the medication my sister takes in small doses, 1/2 tablet every 2 days I believe. She says it work wonder on her, but now that I think about it she has been have problems with rashes. I will have to mention that to her tonight

There is alot of information in the attached link, much of which talks about the rash and just how severe it can get. from reading it it seems like its not to be taken lightly regarding the rash, and if they have put you on steriods and several antihistimes I would really take a close look about changing medications to see if the rashes cease.

I would have your mental health dr, physician and your self perhaps conference, since the physical dr is doing the treating. 



http://www.lamictal.com/epilepsy/hcp/indications/faq.html

_____________________________

Disclaimer:If its the wrong word or misspelled I blame on my fingers and brains refusing to interact.

(in reply to synningsub)
Profile   Post #: 4
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 8:25:55 AM   
angelikaJ


Posts: 8641
Joined: 6/22/2007
Status: offline 		Lamictal has been implicated in auto-immune reactions and I have read that for some people antihistamines can cause depressive symptoms.
My person experience with steroids is that they can effect my moods.

(in reply to synningsub)
Profile   Post #: 5
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 8:33:34 AM   
aravain


Posts: 1211
Joined: 8/26/2008
Status: offline 		On the rash issue:

It's a very serious side effect, yes, that I don't have. My reaction was hives and I've been on Lamictal for nearly a year. That rash is an early-onset reaction to taking the Lamictal, and is usually centered on the trunk (not the extremities, which is where the hives were/are)

On the other responses:

I did not know that anti-histamines have a depressive quality... what with the sheer amount that I'm taking now, this could be the culprit. My 'baseline' is already lower than most peoples' (as in I level out at a -3 where most people level out at 0) so my suspicions may prove correct.

Thank you.

(in reply to SavageFaerie)
Profile   Post #: 6
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 9:33:30 AM   
cagliostro


Posts: 128
Joined: 12/29/2007
Status: offline 		There are other meds.  Thousands of them.  Well, maybe thousands.  But lots either way.  I had a doctor try to ram a psych med down my throat once.  I just told him that either he'd change it or I'd go to someone who would.  Don't take stuff you have an allergy to.  There's always another option.

(in reply to aravain)
Profile   Post #: 7
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 10:15:32 AM   
aravain


Posts: 1211
Joined: 8/26/2008
Status: offline 		I... don't have an allergy to anything I'm taking...

I'm taking things to quell what we *thought* was an allergic reaction, but is *actually* an auto-immune reaction.

This is a relatively new development resulting from taking medications that are all, otherwise, working.

Where do you see that I'm allergic to something?

This also isn't the only medication I've been on for my mental disorder, and my doctor's very good about changing medication when/if it needs to be done. I make all the final decisions and she gives me the options. Two of the options are always the same: do nothing, stop medication, and then she usually includes a good deal of others if its needed.

If I had a bad doctor... I would get a good doctor.

(in reply to cagliostro)
Profile   Post #: 8
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 10:49:44 AM   
RealSub58


Posts: 1073
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: aravain
Currently I'm prescribed a medication called Lamictal by my Psychiatrist. According to when we last increased the dosage (about a month ago) there's still room to move both up and down for it to be at a therapeutic dose.


My sister DID have a reaction to lamictal and thus my skrink wont use it on me.The skrink that prescribed it to my sister did NOT take the precautions of increasing slowly as are the directions. There are reasons for this.  Within 4 hours she could not breath and was burning from the inside out with a syndrome called Stevens Johnson Shydrome.  She will have life long issues in regards to eyes, lungs and skin.  She lay in a burn unit for a month. This Syndrome is almost always the unspoken rare % and occurs if the med is not graded up and down properly.

(in reply to aravain)
Profile   Post #: 9
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 10:52:04 AM   
xxblushesxx


Posts: 9318
Joined: 11/3/2005
From: Kentucky
Status: offline 		As to the cycling (or lack thereof) not going into that up and down state, may seem as a depressive state, when you are used to those highs and are not getting them. Are you sure you're not mistaking a level mindset, with a depressive mindset?

When I was in my 20's, I used to get hives...really bad...I used to get benadryl shots for them. Then all of a sudden, they stopped. I still don't know why. I always thought they were due to nerves.

_____________________________

~Christina

A nice girl with a disturbing hobby

My femdom findom blog: http://www.MistressAvarice.com


(in reply to aravain)
Profile   Post #: 10
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 11:00:08 AM   
RealSub58


Posts: 1073
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: aravain
I did not know that anti-histamines have a depressive quality...

 
Most antihistamines cause drowsiness NOT "depressive effects."
 
Histamine is a substance in the body that stimulates the production of mucus and the dilation (widening) of blood vessels. Allergy sufferers recognize histamine's effects as a runny nose and swollen nasal passages. Antihistamines prevent histamine from binding to histamine (H1) receptors, thereby blocking the histamine reaction. They are different from the medications called histamine (H2) blockers that are used to treat peptic ulcer disease and heartburn.
 The older oral antihistamines, called first generation antihistamines, cause sedation in 20% to 35% of patients, but most patients build up tolerance to this side effect after a few days. The newer antihistamines, called second generation antihistamines, cause much less sedation and are longer acting than the earlier antihistamines. 
Drug Interactions

Some interactions between medications can be more severe than others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions is to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbals. For specific information on how the drugs interact and the severity of the interaction, please use our Drug Interactions Checker.
(The drug interaction checker is an awesome tool !!)To view specific side effect information, please use our Side Effect Checker.
http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Comparison/NewComparison/0,10621,12-1,00.html

(in reply to aravain)
Profile   Post #: 11
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 11:04:52 AM   
RealSub58


Posts: 1073
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: aravain

I... don't have an allergy to anything I'm taking...

I'm taking things to quell what we *thought* was an allergic reaction, but is *actually* an auto-immune reaction.



I am sorry but antihistamine pharmacology is not for auto-immune reactions. There are meds for auto-immune reactions. aka steriods, which interfer with a whole ton of meds. Look prednisone up and you might be shocked!http://www.rxlist.com/deltasone-drug.htm


I am on way as I finish typing to find out why my new med of one week has weirded me out..........good luck at your appt.

< Message edited by RealSub58 -- 11/4/2008 11:06:47 AM >

(in reply to aravain)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 11:11:17 AM   
sirsholly


Posts: 42360
Joined: 9/7/2007
From: Quietville
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: angelikaJ

My person experience with steroids is that they can effect my moods.



i take steroids when i get a flare-up of Rocky Mt Spotted Fever (damn tics...pain in the ass) and the steriods play hell with my moods/emotions and renal function.


_____________________________

PICKED UPON
TECHNO-DOLT
MEMBER OF THE SUBBIE MAFIA
GRACEFULLY CHALLENGED :::::splat:::::
BOOT WHORE
VAA/S FAN

GIVES GOOD HEART (Lushy)

CREATOR OF MAYHEM (practice)


(in reply to angelikaJ)
Profile   Post #: 13
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 11:44:25 AM   
LadyHibiscus


Posts: 27124
Joined: 8/15/2005
From: Island Of Misfit Toys
Status: offline 		I am one of the very lucky ones who can take prednisone with no bad effects (I love my hives, really I do...)  but they are nasty things.  Call NOW about getting an adjustment, why suffer needlessly?

_____________________________

[page 23 girl]



(in reply to sirsholly)
Profile   Post #: 14
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 1:08:49 PM   
aravain


Posts: 1211
Joined: 8/26/2008
Status: offline 		I'm really sorry for your sister :( Any family history with the reaction is a very big no-no for people to prescribed, so I'm glad that your doctor was smart enough to know that! It sucks that her doctor didn't go up slowly like you're supposed to... I was actually aclimated to lamictal in the hospital, so my rate was pretty quick (50mg one day, 150mg the next, smack dab to 250mg the third day) but I had no reaction and was under CONSTANT surveillance, which is why they were comfortable with it. Most lamictal packs start out with you taking 15 or 25 for a week and work up steadily, though, I believe.

To xxblushesxx: Yes, I'm sure. Knowing it was a product of intensive outpatient therapy. The 'baseline' for me (that is, where my cycles center, and at what point I'm in a 'normal' non-extreme state) is just actually a more depressive state than for 'ordinary' people. Also, my manias are terrible... quite usually dysphoric or at the very least disturbing, so I enjoy them less than I do depressions. But this has been said to me by an actual psychiatrist and psychologist team.

To RealSub58 (again): Well damn. Guess it's back to the drawing board on possible causes for this :( However, you're wrong on the usage. This auto-immune reaction is creating the histamines which are creating the hives. It's a relatively new-understood phenomena, according to two of my (now three) doctors, which is affecting a large portion of the population (I believe he said something like 11%). I hope my appointment goes off without a hitch and this can be fixed with a simple dose increase or decrease, or better yet no change!

To sirsholly: Interesting... :( I've never been on steroids before, so maybe the Prednisone is the overlying cause. At least I'll be off of it soon and my dose is going down steadily.

To LadyHibiscus: Getting an adjustment on what? The steroids and anti-histamines are doing their jobs just fine, and my psychiatrist won't adjust prescriptions without seeing me (which is this Thursday). Since it's not life-threatening, but simply life-agravating, I don't think it's important enough for me to go to the hospital to get a prescription there. The prednisone dosage is going down steadily anyways, if that's what you mean, not staying even, so I don't really have to worry too much longer if it IS the cause.

Thank you again everyone :)

(in reply to RealSub58)
Profile   Post #: 15
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 3:56:41 PM   
angelikaJ


Posts: 8641
Joined: 6/22/2007
Status: offline 		Depression and antihistamines:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-12823.html

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071226003202AAp0RnH

(in reply to aravain)
Profile   Post #: 16
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 7:25:48 PM   
celticlord2112


Posts: 5732
Status: offline
quote:

Recently I've had to go see a specialist for what we thought was an allergic reaction, which turns out to be some sort of auto-immune reaction. Now, in addition to the Lamictal and my Blood Pressure medication, I'm also on Steroids (for another three weeks), and three different types of Anti-histamines (twice a day). According to the specialist I'll be on the anti-histamines for upwards of a year to try and 'smoke out' the hives.

You need to contact your psychiatrist ASAP and review your Lamictal regimen in light of the other medications you are now taking.  Lamictal, an anti-hypertensive, steroids, and three different antihistamines is quite the drug cocktail--the potential for drug interactions is at the very least significant.


_____________________________



(in reply to aravain)
Profile   Post #: 17
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/4/2008 9:16:37 PM   
aravain


Posts: 1211
Joined: 8/26/2008
Status: offline 		Which is why I have an appointment with my psychiatrist...

She only works two days a week, and there were no adverse effects beyond this, which wasn't so bad that I needed to go to the emergency room, which is why we opted for a normal appointment... instead of me going to a local hospital.

I do live on a college campus, and she IS a member of the college counseling services, which is the only way that I can get covered visits with a dedicated psychiatrist (plus, even if they weren't covered, since I'm a student they're free). So... it's not like I can schedule a next-day appointment, I usually have to do it two weeks in advance, especially since I can only go on one of the two days a week she works.

(in reply to celticlord2112)
Profile   Post #: 18
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/10/2008 10:17:48 PM   
DesFIP


Posts: 25191
Joined: 11/25/2007
From: Apple County NY
Status: offline 		Lamictal should stop the cycling. That's a good thing. The depressive state might lift as you increase the dosage or add another medication.

However the worry here is the rash, that's a sign of Stevens-Johnson Disorder and it is potentially life threatening. Call whoever is treating you for the rash and insist they evaluate you for Stevens Johnson. If you have it, then you need to come off the Lamictal permanently.

The odds of Steven Johnson occur in the first two weeks of taking it, or the first two weeks after raising the dosage. It took my daughter six months to get to the level she's now at, raising it very slowly each time and waiting to ensure no rash.

_____________________________

Slave to laundry

Cynical and proud of it!


(in reply to aravain)
Profile   Post #: 19
RE: Psychiatry Medications (among others) - 11/11/2008 6:19:32 AM   
chamberqueen


Posts: 1597
Joined: 10/25/2007
From: Kalamazoo, MI
Status: offline 		You could consider calling a poison control hot line.  I used to do this when my daughter was young and I was concerned that there might be an adverse reaction between medications. 

Your pharmacist should have the same information available.  Either source will be able to tell you whether you need to make a change immediately or whether it is safe to wait until your scheduled appointment.


_____________________________



(in reply to DesFIP)
Profile   Post #: 20
Page:   [1] 2   next >   >>
All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Health and Safety >> Psychiatry Medications (among others) Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy

0.109