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Jane Pauley/Steroid/Bipolar Disorder/Lithium


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Hi,

 

As I mentioned in the Andrew Solomon thread, Jane Pauley has a very similar history.

 

Several years ago, she was given steroids to treat hives and developed a manic reaction as a side effect:

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5887567/ns/dateline_nbc-books/t/jane-pauley-shares-her-story/

 

Seemed to have had a manic reaction after one course of steroids.  When she started a second round, she developed depression and in response was provided a low dose antidepressant that made her worse.   It then caused mania which eventually caused her to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder even though she nor her family had a family history of this disorder.   She is now on Lithium for life all because of an adverse reaction to steroids.

 

CS

 

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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!!!!!!

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Shocking! Another person I would love to see here!

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Another one down, he died last year from heart attack, more than likely caused by the antipsychotics.  So sad to see an artist fall to these things.  But who has time to coddle him through the crisis?  Where is support for that?  So he's drugged and sent on his way, like Jane Pauley..... (gods I hate that "bipolar" label!)

 

Michael O'Hare, actor, Babylon 5, as told by J Michael Strazinsky.  Did this make you as angry as me?

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AwyAo_YjtdM

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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I had the same reaction to prednisone. I thought I was insane. not one dr believes me to date. My dad had the same reaction.

 

Hallucinations - panic attacks - terror

I'M A WEANER!  :D 
atavan PRN ,Paxil approx 20 yrs ago for major depression
Switched to Klonopin PRN through to current
Paxil wore out
Changed to Effexor 
Depakote added
enormous weight gain - flat affect - led to depression - dropped depakote
Dropped Effexor, changed to Paxil 
PDoc added mixed salts amphetamines for ADHD - took for 2 yrs - was ok at first but had to cut as symptoms too intense -  then the crash was too much. STOPPED
Vyvanse started in 2013 (APRIL) - more smooth than IR amphetamine tabs---Have not used vyvanse daily in full amt since May 2013 

Paxil CT withdrawal 10/2012  :wacko:  Klonopin CT WD

Switched Klonopin to Xanax prn  - too strong

WD CT from XANAX after taking for a while - it was awful but can be done if you hold on!

Back to Klonopin PRN - working very hard to avoid taking it at all. 

Effexor 37.5 started 02/2013, 75mg by 03/2013, 150mg by 05/2012 (approx)  :blush:

Effexor 150mg 3/10/2014 Microtaper -3beads  :unsure:

3/11/2014-4beads ,3/12/14 - 5, 3/13/14 -6, 3/15/14 - 7, 3/18 - 8, 3/22 - 10, 3/24 - 12, 4/6 - 13, 4/7 - 14, 4/11 - 16 - on 4/19 ran out of brand took generic. Bad move. Back on brand on 4/20 and updosed 2 beads. 5/1 - 15, 5/6 - 16, 5/9 -17, 55/10 -17, 5/15 -18, 5/21 -19, 5/24 -20, 6/3 - 21, 6/6 -23, 6/13 -24,6/19- 25, 6/21 -26, 6/25 -27

6/28 -28, 6/29 -30, 7/3 -34, 7/8 -35, 7/17 -36, 7/30 -41,7/31 -42, 8/2 -43, 8/3 -44, 8/5 -45, 8/14 -48, 8/26-50, 9/24 -53, 10/24 -55, 12/1 -57, (lost the tally sheet, thus taper info for some of it), 4/19-63, 4/26-64, 4/30-65 Switched to wt reduction - now @ -.068, 7/14 -.070, August 2015 -.074, between Sept & October 10 -.077, Nov. -.078(feeling great), -.090 as of 1/10/16, down to  -.101 since January 2016 (it is now 6/24/16), -.105 as of 8/13/16
 
 

Ladies, please don't underestimate the possibility of perimenopause. The symptoms can be similar to, may intensify & in some cases mimic protracted w/d from ssri's & benzo's. 

 

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I had the same reaction to prednisone. I thought I was insane. not one dr believes me to date. My dad had the same reaction.

 

Hallucinations - panic attacks - terror

Hi NewMe,

 

I am so sorry you experienced this.   Sadly, doctors seem to learn in medical school not to believe patients when they state side effects.  It is a disgrace.

 

By the way, if I had gone through surgery with my former ENT for a septoplasty/turbinate reduction, I would have been prescribed steroids post operatively which horrified me.   Fortunately, current ENT does not do that although I have to deal with his wanting to presribed antibiotics in the same manner.   Another post.

 

By the way, here is a conversation I would love to have with physicians when they prescribe drugs.   "Well, since chances are you're not going to believe me if I report side effects, why should I take this drug?"   Have to think of a better way to say it but I think this is an important question to ask.

 

CS

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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  • 1 month later...

Hi,

 

As I mentioned in the Andrew Solomon thread, Jane Pauley has a very similar history.

 

Several years ago, she was given steroids to treat hives and developed a manic reaction as a side effect:

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5887567/ns/dateline_nbc-books/t/jane-pauley-shares-her-story/

 

Seemed to have had a manic reaction after one course of steroids.  When she started a second round, she developed depression and in response was provided a low dose antidepressant that made her worse.   It then caused mania which eventually caused her to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder even though she nor her family had a family history of this disorder.   She is now on Lithium for life all because of an adverse reaction to steroids.

 

CS

I had a manic episode (my only episode) after being on a 7 course of prednisone. Turns out my dad had the same reaction. 

I'M A WEANER!  :D 
atavan PRN ,Paxil approx 20 yrs ago for major depression
Switched to Klonopin PRN through to current
Paxil wore out
Changed to Effexor 
Depakote added
enormous weight gain - flat affect - led to depression - dropped depakote
Dropped Effexor, changed to Paxil 
PDoc added mixed salts amphetamines for ADHD - took for 2 yrs - was ok at first but had to cut as symptoms too intense -  then the crash was too much. STOPPED
Vyvanse started in 2013 (APRIL) - more smooth than IR amphetamine tabs---Have not used vyvanse daily in full amt since May 2013 

Paxil CT withdrawal 10/2012  :wacko:  Klonopin CT WD

Switched Klonopin to Xanax prn  - too strong

WD CT from XANAX after taking for a while - it was awful but can be done if you hold on!

Back to Klonopin PRN - working very hard to avoid taking it at all. 

Effexor 37.5 started 02/2013, 75mg by 03/2013, 150mg by 05/2012 (approx)  :blush:

Effexor 150mg 3/10/2014 Microtaper -3beads  :unsure:

3/11/2014-4beads ,3/12/14 - 5, 3/13/14 -6, 3/15/14 - 7, 3/18 - 8, 3/22 - 10, 3/24 - 12, 4/6 - 13, 4/7 - 14, 4/11 - 16 - on 4/19 ran out of brand took generic. Bad move. Back on brand on 4/20 and updosed 2 beads. 5/1 - 15, 5/6 - 16, 5/9 -17, 55/10 -17, 5/15 -18, 5/21 -19, 5/24 -20, 6/3 - 21, 6/6 -23, 6/13 -24,6/19- 25, 6/21 -26, 6/25 -27

6/28 -28, 6/29 -30, 7/3 -34, 7/8 -35, 7/17 -36, 7/30 -41,7/31 -42, 8/2 -43, 8/3 -44, 8/5 -45, 8/14 -48, 8/26-50, 9/24 -53, 10/24 -55, 12/1 -57, (lost the tally sheet, thus taper info for some of it), 4/19-63, 4/26-64, 4/30-65 Switched to wt reduction - now @ -.068, 7/14 -.070, August 2015 -.074, between Sept & October 10 -.077, Nov. -.078(feeling great), -.090 as of 1/10/16, down to  -.101 since January 2016 (it is now 6/24/16), -.105 as of 8/13/16
 
 

Ladies, please don't underestimate the possibility of perimenopause. The symptoms can be similar to, may intensify & in some cases mimic protracted w/d from ssri's & benzo's. 

 

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I had the same reaction to prednisone. I thought I was insane. not one dr believes me to date. My dad had the same reaction.

 

Hallucinations - panic attacks - terror

Hi NewMe,

 

I am so sorry you experienced this.   Sadly, doctors seem to learn in medical school not to believe patients when they state side effects.  It is a disgrace.

 

By the way, if I had gone through surgery with my former ENT for a septoplasty/turbinate reduction, I would have been prescribed steroids post operatively which horrified me.   Fortunately, current ENT does not do that although I have to deal with his wanting to presribed antibiotics in the same manner.   Another post.

 

By the way, here is a conversation I would love to have with physicians when they prescribe drugs.   "Well, since chances are you're not going to believe me if I report side effects, why should I take this drug?"   Have to think of a better way to say it but I think this is an important question to ask.

 

CS

 

OOps sorry for double posting.

 

The modern day approach is a dose pack and not 7 days of pred - more like 3 days. I thought I was losing my mind and it was my first trip to the most scary place I had been mentally. All due to a case of poison ivy. I fine until I took Pred - aside from a severe case of itching

I'M A WEANER!  :D 
atavan PRN ,Paxil approx 20 yrs ago for major depression
Switched to Klonopin PRN through to current
Paxil wore out
Changed to Effexor 
Depakote added
enormous weight gain - flat affect - led to depression - dropped depakote
Dropped Effexor, changed to Paxil 
PDoc added mixed salts amphetamines for ADHD - took for 2 yrs - was ok at first but had to cut as symptoms too intense -  then the crash was too much. STOPPED
Vyvanse started in 2013 (APRIL) - more smooth than IR amphetamine tabs---Have not used vyvanse daily in full amt since May 2013 

Paxil CT withdrawal 10/2012  :wacko:  Klonopin CT WD

Switched Klonopin to Xanax prn  - too strong

WD CT from XANAX after taking for a while - it was awful but can be done if you hold on!

Back to Klonopin PRN - working very hard to avoid taking it at all. 

Effexor 37.5 started 02/2013, 75mg by 03/2013, 150mg by 05/2012 (approx)  :blush:

Effexor 150mg 3/10/2014 Microtaper -3beads  :unsure:

3/11/2014-4beads ,3/12/14 - 5, 3/13/14 -6, 3/15/14 - 7, 3/18 - 8, 3/22 - 10, 3/24 - 12, 4/6 - 13, 4/7 - 14, 4/11 - 16 - on 4/19 ran out of brand took generic. Bad move. Back on brand on 4/20 and updosed 2 beads. 5/1 - 15, 5/6 - 16, 5/9 -17, 55/10 -17, 5/15 -18, 5/21 -19, 5/24 -20, 6/3 - 21, 6/6 -23, 6/13 -24,6/19- 25, 6/21 -26, 6/25 -27

6/28 -28, 6/29 -30, 7/3 -34, 7/8 -35, 7/17 -36, 7/30 -41,7/31 -42, 8/2 -43, 8/3 -44, 8/5 -45, 8/14 -48, 8/26-50, 9/24 -53, 10/24 -55, 12/1 -57, (lost the tally sheet, thus taper info for some of it), 4/19-63, 4/26-64, 4/30-65 Switched to wt reduction - now @ -.068, 7/14 -.070, August 2015 -.074, between Sept & October 10 -.077, Nov. -.078(feeling great), -.090 as of 1/10/16, down to  -.101 since January 2016 (it is now 6/24/16), -.105 as of 8/13/16
 
 

Ladies, please don't underestimate the possibility of perimenopause. The symptoms can be similar to, may intensify & in some cases mimic protracted w/d from ssri's & benzo's. 

 

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  • 8 years later...

Do you think antidepressant,benzo,steroid,antibiotic etc could trigger bipolar disorder? 

When I ask that, I mean that you keep having bipolar symptoms which started on these medication even after discontinuing it.

Zoloft 09'-10' 50mg
Zoloft 50mg May 2019- April 2021, CT but tinkering with doses before CT

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On 3/1/2023 at 12:48 PM, Medved said:

Do you think antidepressant,benzo,steroid,antibiotic etc could trigger bipolar disorder? 

When I ask that, I mean that you keep having bipolar symptoms which started on these medication even after discontinuing it.

@Altostrata 

Zoloft 09'-10' 50mg
Zoloft 50mg May 2019- April 2021, CT but tinkering with doses before CT

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Any of those drugs might cause an adverse reaction that might be misdiagnosed for bipolar disorder.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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On 3/3/2023 at 1:52 AM, Altostrata said:

Any of those drugs might cause an adverse reaction that might be misdiagnosed for bipolar disorder.

I understand that. But can they trigger an actual mental illness in previously healthy individuals?

Zoloft 09'-10' 50mg
Zoloft 50mg May 2019- April 2021, CT but tinkering with doses before CT

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11 hours ago, Medved said:

I understand that. But can they trigger an actual mental illness in previously healthy individuals?

 

I have no idea what you mean by an actual mental illness. If you take a bunch of drugs, you might feel bad from them for a long time.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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On 3/9/2023 at 3:42 AM, Altostrata said:

 

I have no idea what you mean by an actual mental illness. If you take a bunch of drugs, you might feel bad from them for a long time.

Ok. My question is if meds can trigger a mental illness that will stay for life. Example, can someone who never had mental illness prior to taking meds get a mental illness as a result of taking or stopping meds? Like, 30 years after stopping meds still having mental illness provoked by meds?

 

What you are talking about is adverse reaction to taking or stopping drugs. I am not asking about adverse reaction. I am asking is someone can get actual(not adverse reaction) and lifelong mental illness from taking or stopping psych drugs? For example, can someone who developed bipolar symptoms as a result of stopping or taking meds now be bipolar for life? Thats what i mean when i say actual.

Zoloft 09'-10' 50mg
Zoloft 50mg May 2019- April 2021, CT but tinkering with doses before CT

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I still don't know what you mean by a mental illness. You can feel the aftereffects of an adverse drug reaction for years. Some of these might be "mental", such as brain fog or insomnia.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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On 3/11/2023 at 10:44 PM, Altostrata said:

I still don't know what you mean by a mental illness. You can feel the aftereffects of an adverse drug reaction for years. Some of these might be "mental", such as brain fog or insomnia.

I dont know how to be more precise then i am. We have bipolar as an illness and we have bipolar symptoms as an adverse reaction to taking/stopping medication. Right? 

Bipolar as an illness doesnt go away. Never,ever. 

Bipolar symptoms as an adverse reaction do go away soon or later. Right? 

 

I know,as you said, medication can trigger bipolar symptoms. 

But my question is can it trigger a bipolar illness? Illness which will never go away.

 

So,to be even more precise, can psyche drugs or steroids (in case of Pauley) trigger bipolar which will never ever go away and will become a lifelong illness?

 

 

I hope i was more clear this time because i dont know how to explain it more simply then this.

 

Thx

 

 

Zoloft 09'-10' 50mg
Zoloft 50mg May 2019- April 2021, CT but tinkering with doses before CT

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Sorry, I don't know anything about the mental illness that you're asking about. Among the 8 billion people on Earth, did anyone ever develop a "real" mental illness from taking a drug? I don't know.

 

A lot of what's called "mental illness" is adverse drug effects or just plain bad situations. Many people are called "bipolar" when this happens and become psychiatric patients for life. Is that a real mental illness?

 

Your question is unanswerable.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

Sorry, I don't know anything about the mental illness that you're asking about. Among the 8 billion people on Earth, did anyone ever develop a "real" mental illness from taking a drug? I don't know.

 

A lot of what's called "mental illness" is adverse drug effects or just plain bad situations. Many people are called "bipolar" when this happens and become psychiatric patients for life. Is that a real mental illness?

 

Your question is unanswerable.

Hi Alto,thx for answering. Your wast knowledge and experience is of great value here. Thats why i am asking you all this questions that are bothering me and am glad you can answer.

 

I understand. But it is highly dangerous too wait for bipolar symptoms to pass believing it is medication related if it is really a bipolar disorder. How can one know the difference? Withdrawal can last many years and one can make a lot of damage in his/her life by not medicating bipolar because of belief it is not a disorder but an reaction to med instead. Bipolar people should be medicated or in therapy for bipolar in order to minimize bad effects of the disease. My friend is bipolar and he would already have been dead if he wasnt medicated. He didnt get the illness as a result of a drug reaction btw. And his mania is so severe that he nearly died many times because if it. So its an reall illness and meds helped him a lot to stay alive to this day. But if bipolar person believes its not an illness,but rather reaction to med, and chooses to be untreated and wait it out believing it will go away it can have bad consequences. 

So how can one know if it is reaction to med or something that requires medicating or therapy? Bipolar is a real and serious mental illness which must not be left untreated. And leaving bipolar people think that their illness is a bad reaction to med can have bad consequences. But on the other hand, all the people who have bipolar symptoms as a reaction to med shouldn't take further meds for that. So this is where it gets tricky. Because one should self-diagnose and decide for itself if it is bipolar illness or bipolar symptoms as a reaction to med. So how to make a correct decision? What if a person thinks that bipolar symptoms are a reaction to med and decides to wait it out when in fact the truth is a person has a bipolar disorder and should be treated for it asap?

 

The most important difference between bipolar disorder and bipolar symptoms as reaction to med, is that people who have bipolar symptoms as a reaction to med are in truth having waves and windows which resemble mania and depression and it will all go away one day. And persons with real bipolar disorder will never have their "windows and waves" go away. Because it is in truth not windows and waves but mania and depression. So how to know what it is? How to know if one has disorder od reaction to med?

 

For example i dont know what to think about myself. Do i now have a lifelong illness which will never ho away and medicating can help me survive or am i having waves and windows as a part of wd and should just wait it out?

Zoloft 09'-10' 50mg
Zoloft 50mg May 2019- April 2021, CT but tinkering with doses before CT

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If you'd like to discuss the necessity of psychiatric drugs, please join patientslikeme.com or depressionsforums.org

 

If you want to believe you have bipolar disorder, nobody here would argue with you. Maybe you do. Good luck to you in your search for solutions.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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10 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

If you'd like to discuss the necessity of psychiatric drugs, please join patientslikeme.com or depressionsforums.org

 

If you want to believe you have bipolar disorder, nobody here would argue with you. Maybe you do. Good luck to you in your search for solutions.

Well i think you misunderstood me. I hate drugs and dont want to go on them. But living like i live is a living hell and there is no way i can live like this for the rest of my life. I am questioning if maybe i have bipolar and taking meds should help me. But on the other hand, i am also suspecting WD to be reason of my troubles. 

How can i know if it is the one or the other? Can you help me? Because if i have a real disorder i should go and treat it asap. And if i am still in WD then i should just wait it out. Its so confusing. How can i know if i have bipolar disorder or bipolar symptoms as a result of taking medication?

Zoloft 09'-10' 50mg
Zoloft 50mg May 2019- April 2021, CT but tinkering with doses before CT

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On 3/16/2023 at 3:39 PM, Medved said:

Can you help me?

 

I don't think I can, because you do not seem to have listened to anything I might say. If you want to believe that you suddenly became bipolar after COLD TURKEY from 2 years of 50mg Zoloft, that's your decision. Many doctors would agree and be happy to whip up a drug cocktail for you.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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17 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

I don't think I can, because you do not seem to have listened to anything I might say. If you want to believe that you suddenly became bipolar after COLD TURKEY from 2 years of 50mg Zoloft, that's your decision. Many doctors would agree and be happy to whip up a drug cocktail for you.

Well i dont know what to think. I am just so scared that this is now a permanent condition. I dont want to go to doctors...

Zoloft 09'-10' 50mg
Zoloft 50mg May 2019- April 2021, CT but tinkering with doses before CT

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  • 4 months later...
  • Mentor
On 3/13/2014 at 5:28 AM, compsports said:

here is a conversation I would love to have with physicians when they prescribe drugs.   "Well, since chances are you're not going to believe me if I report side effects, why should I take this drug?"   Have to think of a better way to say it but I think this is an important question to ask

ooh I like this!!
I would probably use it just as stated, since I'm a no nonsense kind of person when it comes to dealing with the medical establishment.

I'd add tell me all the risks and the supposed benefits, and back that up with peer reviewed studies and not the damn 6 week trails that the FDA requires

show me ALL the studies, including all the ones where the drug failed that the manufacturer didn't submit to the FDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
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  • 2 weeks later...

That's exactly what happened to me.  I got hives.  I was given steroids but when I finished them the hives came back so they kept giving me steroids.  I was also taking Benadryl.  Then I became depressed and suicidal.  Spent a week at a psych hospital.  Since I had been taking Sinequan 10mg 4 times a day for the hives, the psychiatrist decided to keep me on the same antidepressant and increased the dose to 150mg.  It didn't work but every time I said so they increased the dose so I stopped.

 

The psychologist said I hated my mother .  I said no, I didn't.  I thought it was related to the hives and the steroids. 

 

Anyway, to make a long story short, the hives were a sign of histamine intolerance. That means I can't get rid of histamine as quickly as other people.  For example, when I had gallbladder pain, I went to the ER and they gave me Morphine 1 mg.  It did nothing so they gave me Dilaudid 1 mg.  I still had a little bit of pain and I was fine with that but the doctor ordered Demerol 25 mg.  The next day I had surgery so I had anesthesia.  Then I went home and when I tried taking a pain pill I broke out in a rash all over my body and my throat started.  So they changed my pain pill to Dilaudid 1mg.  They figured since they gave me Dilaudid before it would be okay.  I cut the Dilaudid in half and took it and 20 minutes later I  got a rash all over and this time I had severe abdominal pain and ended up in the Emergency Room.

 

That's what histamine intolerance looks like.  Opioids and anesthesia increase histamine and when you get to a certain level you can't tolerate more.  So I couldn't tolerate any more opioids.  

 

New research points to histamine as being a critical player in the pathology of depression since it regulates Norepinephrine, serotonin, and Dopamine release in the prefrontal cortex. 

 

 
 

 

 

 

1994 Sinequan 150mg daily X 2 years then slow decrease

down to 10 mg for years because I got hives when stopped

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