To think this is an awful lot of mental health meds to be taking?

[Sanddownlane16]

So I have been struggling with my mental health lately and have been on medication for years, but I’ve recently had new meds added. I’ve taken them but it’s almost like I feel I’ve overdosed with how drowsy I feel (obviously haven’t as typing fine!).

I can’t call the doctors about this because the receptionist has said it’s urgent appointments only as they’re short staffed.

So if anyone has any knowledge I’d be grateful:

I’ve taken 200mg lamotrogine (twice a day), 300mg pregabalin (twice a day), 10mg diazepam, 200mg sertraline, 30mg aripriprazole and 80mg propranolol.

I feel like I need to sleep badly.

Anyone with any knowledge on whether this is normal? I just don’t want to waste anyone’s time.

Is the propranolol new? That slowed my heart rate right down and I had to keep getting it checked. I would argue that this is fairly urgent as you need to know if you should keep taking the medication.

Hi Op, that does seem like a lot - was that all prescribed by your psychiatrist? (I don't think a GP would be able to prescribe so much without Psychiatrist ok.)

You could try asking your local pharmacist, but to be honest if you are worried I would phone 111 - it's better to be safe than sorry.

Hope all goes well for you

@JamieFrasersSassenach both a psychiatrist and. Gp prescribed. I might call 111 x

Yes propranolol is new!

Yeah 111 are really helpful and can ask a GP to call you back if needed.

I'd say it is an urgent appointment and you need to speak to a gp, that sounds like an awful lot. Was there a mh crisis that needed to be managed?

In the meantime speak to a pharmacist.

Which are the new medications. Aripriprazole is an atypical antipsychotic and those meds generally cause sedation (rispiridone caused me to sleep 18 hours a day. Diazepam also causes me to feel tired especially when combined with antipsychotics. I still can’t stay awake for more than four hours after taking mine and I’ve been on them over a decade. Most of your list will cause tiredness and all together cause quite heavy sedation. There are other meds you can take to counteract the side effects and only take your meds before bed.

I'm a mental health nurse
Which medications are new ?
What times do you take each one ?

Feeling drowsy is a likely side effect of these 4
10mg diazepam,
200mg sertraline,
30mg aripriprazole
80mg propranolol.

The majority of my patients take sertraline, aripiprazole and propranolol at night because of this

I'd say that the receptionist needs to make you at least a phone appointment with your gp if you aren't feeling right , particularly with new meds

It could be just your body adjusting to the new meds and might take a little time to settle.

You’re right it’s not urgent but could they not make you a telephone appointment for some point in the future? Realistically 111 will be fairly useless considering they won’t have your notes/ mental health letters. Can you ring your psychiatrists secretary to arrange a review appointment? On that combination of drugs I would expect you to be under the mental health team and ideally they would review