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Medication

6 replies

Grumpbum123 · 29/11/2018 16:34

Does anyone feel like you’ve just been out on meds to keep you quiet?
I’m currently reducing one anti depressant and adding in another.
My Quetiapine dose at night has been increased so much I can no longer wake and attend to my children (DH is doing this)

I not long out following a 2 month admission.
I think I’m going to decrease my night meds down to what I was on before

OP posts:
Grumpbum123 · 29/11/2018 19:07

Anyone

OP posts:
HolyandWild · 29/11/2018 20:47

Hi, did anyone discuss why it was increased with you? Do you have a CPN or anyone to discuss it with? You definitely shouldn't be tired to the point that your life is impaired but it's important to not adjust medication yourself without support Flowers

didyouseetheflaresinthesky · 29/11/2018 20:54

Sometimes I honestly wonder if its a case of kill or cure to them. Either the medication will cure me or I'll off myself while on a waiting list for help that never comes. Medication seems to be the answer for everything these days.

Fermatslittletheorem · 29/11/2018 22:13

Yes, I do think people are medicated to keep them quiet - particularly on a ward where the nurses want to create a calm atmosphere for everyone, and also are far too busy and understaffed to have time to spend with people. Also the waiting lists etc. for therapy are really long, and therapy takes time to work. It is unfortunate but probably reality.

How long ago was your quetiapine increased? It may take some time to get used to the increase. When I was first put on olanzapine I was completely knocked out (missed out a whole day - woke up and thought it was the next morning when in fact it was two days later!) but when I got over that I was on up to 40mg a day when the maximum dose was 20mg (I think). And I was on a ward where they got you up at 7.15am and didn't let you go to your bedroom or for bath or anything until at least 9.30pm (sometimes closer to midnight if there were a lot of showers to supervise), and you weren't allowed to sleep in the day. I was quite tired but not excessively. So maybe things will get easier if you stick with it. It is HORRIBLE being over sedated though.

I agree with pp that you need to discuss with your CPN or psychiatrist. Ask them why it has been increased (if you don't know) and if there is any chance of reducing it. Or, if you are not tolerating it, then changing. I think aripriprizole is meant to be the least sedating, but they may not want you on it as it is not very strong either.

Are there other steps you can take to manage your mental health so you are in a position to reduce? Showing them that you are able to manage yourself if you see what I mean. Positive self-care, mindfulness, exercise, therapy, holistic stuff and all that jazz.

I really wouldn't decrease without medical advice though. I did that and it did not end well. You obviously don't want to end up back in hospital because it's pretty rubbish.

Take care and I hope you feel better soon.

Grumpbum123 · 30/11/2018 09:34

Thank you I’ve been on the 600mg at night for some time now. I am also switching from Venlafaxine to Vortioxetine at the moment. I don’t feel like me at the minute

OP posts:
Fermatslittletheorem · 30/11/2018 10:15

I have never been on venaflaxine or even heard of the other, but isn't venaflaxine withdrawal supposed to be hell? That might also explain your feeling rubbish.

As I say, if you are not tolerating quetiapine it might be an idea to investigate something different although they're all pretty rubbish. Worth asking if they'll consider aripriprizole. But then if it's keeping you well I can see that you, and your doctors, wouldn't want to mess with it. But better than just reducing our stopping yourself.

And yeah, if you really don't like meds then you need to practice alternatives. There are loads of non medication treatments out there, depending on what you have. Maybe you'll still need something as well, but maybe less of it. Nowadays they do try to get people to work on managing symptoms themselves with mindfulness and exercise and so on, so that they can be on the minimum amount of drugs possible. Obviously it's early days as you've just got out of hospital, but you can start looking into it. Are you referred for any other treatments? Can you access anything?

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