I have been taking Clonazepam .5mg as needed (for anixiey), Lithium Carb 300mg 3 x daily(bipolar), and Zonisamide 100mg 2x daily (For headaches) for over a year. For the last 8 months I have been taking Depakote ER 500mg 2x daily (for headaches) and just recently started taking Fluoxetine 20mg 2x daily (for depression). I have had a MRI done, and was put into the hospital for tests that included a spinal tab and some meds that I had to be monitored with a heart monitor. At first (Sept 05) I was diagnosided with Trigiminal Neurolgia (2 times), then after dental and eye visits to rule them out, I started seeing a Neuro that put my into the hospital for the headaches. After dealing with SEVERAL MEDICATIONS and still have SEVERE HEADACHES, I am at my WITS END!!! And the headaches are causeing MORE AND MORE MANIC EPISODES
Q: I am taking Clonazepam,Lithium,Depakote, Fluoxetine and zonisamide. I am still having problems
Hi, Tammy. There are no easy answers for this, and I'm not about to propose one. I will, however, suggest that you consider the stresses that are going on in your life. Often, where a number of ills are going on, stress tends to be the common denominator.
Relaxation and stress-reduction is not a short term solution, however. I'm sure you've already found that out when you tried to lie in bed and still got hammered with a killer headache. But over the long term, a more stress-free life may reduce both your headaches and your manias. No guarantees, but smart practice, anyway.
Managing stress includes organizing your life to reduce various stressors, plus any of a range of stress-busters that suit you, such as meditation, breathing, yoga, visualization, time to yourself, etc.
All I can tell you is that when I was on klonopin some years back I ended up in the hospitol for an acute manic episode. I was taking neurontin as a "mood stabilizer" and it was not too effective or else the dosage was not right. Neurontin helped me with headaches tremendously and it does give a calming effect on alot. The klonopin all along I was addicted to it and used to to sleep at night and it also helps with restless leg syndrome was making me depressed. I never knew this but the klonopin was my depressant. Maybe call a pharmacist to do a drug profile and maybe he could come up with what is possibly causing this.
Wow! what a lot of drugs! you may be aggravating your symptoms by this cocktail. I dont understand how your dr. is acting responsably by prescribing so many meds, which are interacting with each other and potentially increasing your problems.
You would have to come off this medicine brew to isolate symptoms, and evaluate individual meds and i know that will be very hard to do.
would you consider trying only 2? this works for me... and takes care of multiple physical and mental symptoms. It took me awhile to get a med combination that works, and now it seems to work well. If you can control the worst symptoms with one, then you can evaluate the next one. You cant possibly do that when you take so many- you need something that works for your multiple symptoms, both physical and mental.
The 2 meds i take are seroquel and effexor xr.
Hi Tammy:
You are not alone in dealing with chronic headaches. I too have had constant headaches for over 4 months. I lived with them for the past 25 years, one time for as long as 4 years. I also take clonazeapan when they are unbearable, which is a lot of the time. I'm also taking Zoloft for my depression.I feel crippled. I can understand what you are going through, it is the most hardest thing I've ever had to face.
It's tough to stay positive but we have to, there will be a brighter day for us.
Tammy,
I am on some 2 of the medications you are on. Klonopin and Depakote have helped quite a bit with my anxiety and bipolar issues. I am diagnosed as bipolar II, I am more depressed than manic. I take 2.5 mg of Klonopin a day and 500 mg of EX Depakote once at night. I was taking Abilify, but I cut it out because of how tired I was. I am still experiencing symptoms of depression on occasions, but I am seeing my psychiatrist for something to aid that. I think SSRI's are b llsh t. Lamictal totally messed me up. So I'm kinda stuck where you are, but we're in the same boat together.
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