Hi, I am currently on Lustral ( Sertraline ) 200mg for depression and have been taking it for several years. My psychiatrist now wants to add Olanzapine Teva 2.5mg to it. She thinks that I may have bipolar disorder and social anxiety issues. I have the tablets but did not start them yet as I have read up on them and some people say they are good and others say to stay away from them. I just wondered has anyone been on a combination of Sertraline 200mg and Olanzapine 2.5mg and if so how do you feel while taking them. I was told to take them in the morning but am scared of turning into a zombie yet I know I need something to take me out of the rut that my mind is stuck in. Can anyone help me on this..please
Why does he want to supplement what you are already taking? Is there a problem? If you are not comfortable with the change then tell him no. It's always risky trying new meds especially when you don't know how your body is going to react. Everyone reacts differently. Nobodies chemistry is the same. Just be careful. Old saying goes; if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Hi David, she wants to supplement as she sees signs of bipolar and social anxiety that are new to how I was. She has tried me on other ones but I got reactions to them, broke out in hives and had breathing difficulties . I know that I have social anxiety but I have had it for a long time and basically I go where I feel comfortable with going and socialise with people who I class as good friends. I am a person who would rather stay at home and have my dog for company than go out. I think the bipolar diagnosis came from me being honest when asked about voices and hearing things and my beliefs did not go down too well.
Well, glad you were honest. I just poke the voices with a cue tip in my ear and they go away. But seriously, be careful. I am always leary of trying new meds. I have IBS besides and too many meds gives my stomach a real hard time. I found the right recipe for me and I dare not screw with it. Voices could come from your isolating yourself and just not being very social. I have done that myself. I use to go on for hours playing with imaginary friends and having full on parties and conversations with them. But once I forced myself out in public more, I lost the ability to find those imaginary friends and voices. I actually miss them. They were a lot nicer to me than what this cold cruel world has to offer. I know that sounds bad, but it's the truth. I wouldnor worry too much about the voices. A lot of people hear them. The new ear pieces for blue tooth allow you to talk back to the voices and not look weird doing it. Just saying. It's not necessarily a bad thing unlesss they are telling you to do bad stuff.
I am on 21 other tablets a day for other medical problems and I am more worried about the effect a new pill will have on them as I do not want to mess with what is working for me. Since I was a child I have talked to spirits , for years thought everyone did as my aunt and my grandmother saw and spoke to them too . I have no problem with it as it is usually deceased family members and its nice of them to stay in touch...haha. I have like an inbuilt sensor for when someone in the family is unwell and I am usually right. Basically I suppose it is what people believe in and what people think is madness , I am 51 and all through my life my family have accepted me like this and now the psychiatrist wants to drive the voices out . It has made me more depressed thinking than I have been in a long time and I really do not know what to do. Thank you David for replying to me, as they say , its good to talk but obviously only with the living
You have a gift. Why would you want to surpress it? Gees, you have so much going on. So many pills. Embrace your gift. I wish I still had mine. You are not crazy or weird but truly acceptional person. Seriously, I don't know why you are on 21 pills, but I would think that some would be counteracting others and causing you more problems. Seriously maybe seeing another doctor and reevaluating your situation and the amount of meds you are taking. I would be scared to death taking that many meds. I am so sorry.
Thank`s for your vote of confidence David , unfortunately I need the pills to keep me here, I have had 2 strokes, genetically high bp and cholesterol , a stomach disorder , focal epilepsy, vitamin malabsorbtion , on blood thinners to prevent future strokes , my antidepressants and something for my heart, calcium and vitamin D as my bones keep breaking and I get silent migraines....but other than that I am fine. My doctor is brilliant and checks every new medication that the hospitals put me on and if it interacts with what I am on then he changes it for something else. Guess you feel really healthy now haha... Take care of yourself and embrace life x
Be well. Thanks for talking with me.
And thank you for talking to me, I was in tears when I started writing but you have made me smile and that I am thankful for . All the best x
Hi, i wa given these at low dose ro add to anti dep but after reading what they do to the metabolism (diabetes etc) I decided not to take them. They are quite strong meds but for anyone bipolar they seem to be godsend.