I don't know if any of you guys know Travis, he seems to go on a lot of boards and I already came accross of few that he went on before. If not, Travis was diagnose with bi-polor II last Feb. And had a hard time getting meds for it.

OK well I'm wondering if there is such a thing as being too medicated? Travis finaly got his meds sorted out kind of, cause I think he's on too many.

The meds are: (excuse my bad spelling)
lithium 3 times a day 300mgs (I not sure if I heard that one correctly)
welbritrim 2 times a day 10 mgs
serquel 2 times a day 25mgs (I'm not sure if that's the total per day or per dose)
then he takes something for his headaches, starts with a t

Hes says he feels sleepy all the time and he told me that is all what he does is sleep and go to therapy sessions.

I'm just concern about him thats all. He seems to be content with the drosey feelings. Not sure if that normal or not. If it is normal then how do you guys handle the fitegue?

TTYL

Jen

Hi kackle-

It is great that Travis has someone looking out for him-really. My question is this-is that litany of meds new or has he been taking them awhile? I ask this because I am on a whole "page" of meds, it seems-and after about a year of settling in everything(drowsiness and other side effects) seemed to subside. As for overmedicating, I believe it happens-you hear stories of one symptom being treated then a side effect being treated with another med and so on. :nono:

Hi kackle-

It is great that Travis has someone looking out for him-really. My question is this-is that litany of meds new or has he been taking them awhile? I ask this because I am on a whole "page" of meds, it seems-and after about a year of settling in everything(drowsiness and other side effects) seemed to subside. As for overmedicating, I believe it happens-you hear stories of one symptom being treated then a side effect being treated with another med and so on. :nono:

He's been on them for about 2 weeks now. He never had this much meds at one time before. Prozac for a few weeks, but thats all.

Jen

This is a question for a Psychopharmacologist, which I am not.
I also don't know much about Travis, really.
But, here's pretty much everything I do know about Lithium-based BPII treatment:
1) One should not try to second-guess one's P-doc.
2) Under no circumstances should Travis adjust his Lithium dosage on his own. The correct blood level is extremely important. An incorrect blood level can kill you--in a really bad way. It's about the worst possible drug to O.D. on that one of us could be prescribed. Don't try to kill yourself with this one. Drink Drano. (That's a joke.)
3) Lithium is a mood-stabilizer. It is often first prescribed to treat someone who is experiencing mania, or hypomania. But, it is then continued to treat the depressive episodes, as well. Usually, it is only discontinued if it doesn't work, or it has really bad side effects.
4) Lithium is generally taken at 300mg doses two to four times a day, depending on body weight. It can make some people a little sleepy, sometimes. But, it helps prevent the depressive, and manic episodes from recurring. Don't stop taking it unless your P-doc tells you to. Period. (And if he does do that, it will probably only be to put you on a new mood-stabilizer, like Depakote, or Tegretol.)
5) An anti-psychotic, like Seroquel, is often given only during the first two, or three, weeks of starting a patient on Lithium. But, some BPIIs, like myself, must always take it.
6) A daily dose of 50mg of Seroquel is rather small. I currently take 300mg a day, before bed.
7) Seroquel often makes you sleepy. It does me. It might be doing so for Travis. He should ask if he could take his Seroquel only once a day, at night, before bedtime. Or if he could discontinue it, altogether.
8) Wellbutrin is an antidepressant. It is generally taken at does ranging from 150mg to 400mg a day. It's often best to take most of it in the morning and the rest in the afternoon as it could make it difficult to go to sleep. I take 300mg a day. 200mg in the morning; 100mg in the afternoon.
9) Wellbutrin is one of the "upper" antidepressants, as opposed to one of the "downer" ones that can make you sleepy (like Zoloft). That's why it is usually only given to BPIIs and not BPIs as it could induce mania.
If Travis is taking a typical 100mg twice daily dose, he could ask if he can switch to the 150mg timed-release pills. Then, he could take those twice a day for a 300mg a day total dosage. Or take it like I do: 200mg and 100mg. That might help perk him up a bit. But, it takes four to six weeks for any change in Wellbutrin to become fully effective.
10) One should exercise at least three times a week, or preferably daily. A twenty minute walk is even enough. That will often give you more energy. Sometimes, a lot of daily exercise can even help lift a depression.
Besides, it's good for you.
11) Taking a daily vitamin and mineral pill wouldn't hurt. Proper minerals have been shown to help depression, in some recent studies.
12) The fatty acids in fish oil have been linked to the alleviation of depressive symptoms, in some studies. Take a supplement (available in Heath Food stores and the pharmacy departments of a lot of Grocery Stores).
Or, just eat fish.
13) The herb Gingko Biloba has been linked to increased cognitive functioning in some recent European studies. But only if you take a lot of it.
13) A doctor who practices Chinese medicine might tell you to take Ginseng and, perhaps, Schiandra. But I don't really know about that stuff.
I do know that some people think St. John's Wort works on depression. But it should not be taken, if one is already taking an antidepressant. Some studies have shown that to be a bad thing.
14) The most important thing that makes therapy work is not the kind of therapy used, it's whether the doctor and patient have a good therapeutic relationship. If you don't look forward to going to therapy, you probably don't have one. Try a new therapist. You might have to try a few before you find one that works for you.
And that's all I know.

This is a question for a Psychopharmacologist, which I am not.
I also don't know much about Travis, really.
But, here's pretty much everything I do know about Lithium-based BPII treatment:
1) One should not try to second-guess one's P-doc.
2) Under no circumstances should Travis adjust his Lithium dosage on his own. The correct blood level is extremely important. An incorrect blood level can kill you--in a really bad way. It's about the worst possible drug to O.D. on that one of us could be prescribed. Don't try to kill yourself with this one. Drink Drano. (That's a joke.)
3) Lithium is a mood-stabilizer. It is often first prescribed to treat someone who is experiencing mania, or hypomania. But, it is then continued to treat the depressive episodes, as well. Usually, it is only discontinued if it doesn't work, or it has really bad side effects.
4) Lithium is generally taken at 300mg doses two to four times a day, depending on body weight. It can make some people a little sleepy, sometimes. But, it helps prevent the depressive, and manic episodes from recurring. Don't stop taking it unless your P-doc tells you to. Period. (And if he does do that, it will probably only be to put you on a new mood-stabilizer, like Depakote, or Tegretol.)
5) An anti-psychotic, like Seroquel, is often given only during the first two, or three, weeks of starting a patient on Lithium. But, some BPIIs, like myself, must always take it.
6) A daily dose of 50mg of Seroquel is rather small. I currently take 300mg a day, before bed.
7) Seroquel often makes you sleepy. It does me. It might be doing so for Travis. He should ask if he could take his Seroquel only once a day, at night, before bedtime. Or if he could discontinue it, altogether.
8) Wellbutrin is an antidepressant. It is generally taken at does ranging from 150mg to 400mg a day. It's often best to take most of it in the morning and the rest in the afternoon as it could make it difficult to go to sleep. I take 300mg a day. 200mg in the morning; 100mg in the afternoon.
9) Wellbutrin is one of the "upper" antidepressants, as opposed to one of the "downer" ones that can make you sleepy (like Zoloft). That's why it is usually only given to BPIIs and not BPIs as it could induce mania.
If Travis is taking a typical 100mg twice daily dose, he could ask if he can switch to the 150mg timed-release pills. Then, he could take those twice a day for a 300mg a day total dosage. Or take it like I do: 200mg and 100mg. That might help perk him up a bit. But, it takes four to six weeks for any change in Wellbutrin to become fully effective.
10) One should exercise at least three times a week, or preferably daily. A twenty minute walk is even enough. That will often give you more energy. Sometimes, a lot of daily exercise can even help lift a depression.
Besides, it's good for you.
11) Taking a daily vitamin and mineral pill wouldn't hurt. Proper minerals have been shown to help depression, in some recent studies.
12) The fatty acids in fish oil have been linked to the alleviation of depressive symptoms, in some studies. Take a supplement (available in Heath Food stores and the pharmacy departments of a lot of Grocery Stores).
Or, just eat fish.
13) The herb Gingko Biloba has been linked to increased cognitive functioning in some recent European studies. But only if you take a lot of it.
13) A doctor who practices Chinese medicine might tell you to take Ginseng and, perhaps, Schiandra. But I don't really know about that stuff.
I do know that some people think St. John's Wort works on depression. But it should not be taken, if one is already taking an antidepressant. Some studies have shown that to be a bad thing.
14) The most important thing that makes therapy work is not the kind of therapy used, it's whether the doctor and patient have a good therapeutic relationship. If you don't look forward to going to therapy, you probably don't have one. Try a new therapist. You might have to try a few before you find one that works for you.
And that's all I know.

Thanks so much for your words. I been thinking that he was being over medicated. All these meds he now takes, its crazy. You too take this many different pills a day?

I wasn't second guessing his p-doc just not understanding why all the meds and if thats normal.

Well for now and the next 2 years and some 9 months from now I don't think I'll have to worry about Travis missing his doses. You see, Travis is right now serving time in state prison. Right now he is in a special section of the prison where his medical needs are being met.

With him being in prison, he can't get a hold of any of that herbel stuff. (You didn't know about that when I ask about his med intake, sorry to leave that out) That's a good idea for him when he gets out.

exercise now that he can do.

I hope he likes talking to his doc. I don't think he has much of a choice on deciding on who to talk to.

Just curious, how much does all these meds and therapy cost any ways, just a ball park estiment?

Jen