Thanks,

 

I am greatful for the reply. I was prescribed this medicine by the doctor for behavioural disorders. Initially he advised me to take this medicine for 2-3 months and if everything is fine then he will stop this, however now I am fine & on this medicine for the last 2+ months. He says that I HAVE TO CONTINUE WITH THIS FOR ANOTHER 7-8 MONTHS.  Reading and knowing  about the side effects of both these medicines sends shudders down me. I am perfectly fine now and want to stop it. If I bring it to 250 mg slowly & then finally stop it will it be fine. My parents & every body feels I am perfectly normal & fine. Please give me frank advice as the doctor may not be wanting to loose his patient so he will continue.I have started putting on weight and I do not want memory losses n further complications.

 

regards

 

lina

OK, time for a "reality check".

Your parents and everybody feeling you're perfectly normal and fine is, pretty much, irrelevant as it's unlikely any of them are sufficiently qualified and objective to give a, meaningful, opinion.

If you bring it to 250 mg slowly and then finally stop it will it may fine; it may not. It's likely your statement is more an expression of wishful thinking than fact.

Feeling "perfectly fine" and being "perfectly fine" aren't, necessarily, the same thing.

Reading and knowing about the side effects of any medicine is best done prior to starting on it. Keep in mind these are "possible" side effects. How any drug effects a person depends on a number factors; genetics, medical condition, other medications, diet, mood, position of the Sun, Moon and stars... and discontinuing a medication may have adverse effects.

Weight gain may be caused by either or both of the medications, you're on, but there are other possibilities. For example, it may be caused by anxiety over your, upcoming, exams.

If you'd lost your appetite, were vomiting, had a fever, your urine was dark or you were experiencing hallucinations, I'd suggest you let your doctor know (you should let your doctor know about anything unusual or unexpected, which may be a side effect of a medication), tell him/her you wanted to discontinue the medications and find another doctor if he/she didn't help you with that.

As it is, though, the only, possibly, adverse effect you appear to be experiencing, which may or may not be caused by the medications, is weight gain. Considering the possibility of a problem, resulting from discontinuing or any change in your medications, I'd suggest you continue with the doses you're on now and not worry about it, 'til after your exams. Once your exams are out of the way, I'd suggest you talk with your doctor, explain your concerns and ask about the advisability of discontinuing medication or alternatives.

Keep in mind this is personal, not medical, advice. In the event you're unhappy with your doctor, please find another. Trusting your health and well-being to anonymous strangers, on the Internet, or your feelings, usually, has a very poor outcome. Good luck with your exams.

I am extremely thankful to you in taking interest in my problem, I am indeed greatful for your unbiased advice. Now I have taken my exams & is feeling much better.Should I stop the DICORATE NOW. Please advice cosidering as if I am your patient. Also tell me why should you say that ------position of the Sun, Moon and stars will also have an effect...and discontinuing a medication may have adverse. Regards Lina

You're welcome but I had an interest long before I was aware of your problem.

There's no such thing as "unbiased advice"; everyone has bias, whether they're aware of it or not. Mine, in this case, is that I don't like dangerous drugs, which is all of them. Also, it infuriates me that pharmaceutical companies are so greedy they'll spend billions developing and promoting these products, most of which are unnecessary, and that people are so stupid they'll spend billions more, buying the crap, gobbling it up, as though it were candy. If a fraction of the time and money, spent on pharmaceuticals, had been devoted to other research, many, perhaps most, of the diseases and conditions, the pharmaceuticals are prescribed for, would be cured. Unfortunately, it's not even close to a perfect world so, sometimes, using dangerous drugs, which aren't all that effective, is the only choice we have.

As I said, "trusting your health and well-being to anonymous strangers, on the Internet, or your feelings, usually, has a very poor outcome" and "this is personal, not medical, advice". Regardless of what you decide to do, you need to be monitored by a, COMPETENT, physician, at least, until such time as you and your physician are confident you're stable, with whatever changes are implemented and any changes should be discussed, with a physician, familiar with your condition, prior to implementing.

I wouldn't take either the olanzapine (Oliza) or the valproate semisodium (Dicorate), unless it were, ABSOLUTELY, necessary and there was, ABSOLUTELY, no alternative; especially, if I were female and the was any possibility I might become pregnant. You mentioned "reading and knowing  about the side effects of both these medicines" so you, already, know the reasons.

You haven't mentioned your, specific, condition. The combination, you're using, would, generally, be prescribed for certain types of bi-polar disorder. In any case, neither medication would or, at least, should be prescribed for anything other than a serious, psychiatric disorder. These disorders, in most cases, don't just "clear up" and many require medication, in order to manage.

I'd suggest you NOT make any changes, in your medications, until you:
1) find a, COMPETENT, physician, you're comfortable with
2) have him or her re-evaluate your condition, in order to determine whether or not the, original, diagnosis is correct
3) discuss whether or not it's likely the condition can be managed without medication
4) if medication is required, determine which, of those likely to be effective, are least dangerous

Whenever you reply to my queries I really feel that somebody is there who really listens to my medical problems.Not that my parents do not, they are very caring but they do not know anything related to medicines,so we cannot take any decisions.I tell you my problems:-

 

1. I am a very intelligent girl who has scored always 90% marks & above.

 

2. After 10th class I joined a hostel but I could not adjust well,I managed to pass my XIth class but could not do well.

 

3. I returned to my previous school after a gap of one year I thought I will meet my old friends to, my misfortune all of them had already left a few were there but they had joined different streams, here also I had no friends. I would go to school and there was nobody to talk. Children have formed their own groups,I was as if I am not existing at all.

 

4. I had stopped going to school and actually developed a complex.I told my parents to leave me alone & I will remain closed in my room this happened for good 3-4 months.When I actually got into bad mood I have slapped my father right on his face abused my mother even now at times I do it.

 

5. I started finding faults with every one,I did not spare the old people/relatives

also I literally used to abuse them in open.Studies forgotten altogether.I did not appear for any interim tests,exams.I started fearing exams.  I RAN AWAY FROM HOME,I DO NOT KNOW WHY I HAVE DONE SO.I returned after 6-7 hours. It appeared to me as everybody is spying on me. Suddenly I saw exams, exams just 30 days away I panicked at the last moment I started preparations like mad. Considering my abnormal behaviour at this point of time my parents took me to a psychiatrist, where I was prescribed DICORATE -ER-500mg (1 TABLET IN THE MORNING & 1 IN THE EVENING & OLIZA -2.5 mg just before sleeping).I worked very hard but under the influence of the above mentioned medicines which I took for good 3 months.Now my exams are over,I have done average but I am sure I will pass out with average grade.

 

6. Meanwhile I have came to know about the side effects of these medicines and since their is no stress now & I understand my foolish behaviour,though I still go in bad mood but I immediately realise this.I have narrated this to my doc &  yesterday only he has taken off OLIZA-2.5mg. Now I am only on DICORATE.When I asked him about leaving it he tells me to continue but all side effects are clearly seen. I am loosing my hair,prolonged periods,loss of memory,feels like sleeping all the time. I want to be a normal girl again.Should I reduce the medicine say 250mg morning & evening and then slowly stop when I feel that I am perfectly fine.My doctor does not listens to me.Please advice me since I have narrated my complete story.

 

7. Waiting for your frank & clear advice.

 

Lina       

 

 

A few things you need to understand:

1) while it's impossible to know what the cause of your problem may be, based on the very limited information you've provided, it appears you, likely, have a psychiatric disorder

2) everyone experiences a psychiatric disorder differently; many people have a diagnosis of "major depressive disorder" but it's unlikely there are any two with, exactly, the same "symptoms"

3) medications effect everyone differently; a medication, beneficial to one, may be detrimental to another, even though both have the same "diagnosis"

4) doctors don't "have all the answers"

5) your "foolish behaviour" may, very well, be the result of a psychiatric disorder but it appears you're able to control your behaviour; you need to do so as isolating, withdrawing, alienating those close to you and entertaining irrational thoughts harms you

 

From the limited information you have provided, my "frank and clear advice" is:

1) apologize to those you've "abused"; especially, your parents

2) tell your parents and whoever else, you feel comfortable doing so, that it seems you have a psychiatric disorder, which you think may have caused your behaviour, you'll make every effort to ensure it isn't repeated now you're aware of it and you need their love and support

3) avoid stress, as much as possible; it's not "healthy", for anyone, and is likely to exacerbate any psychiatric disorder, you may have

4) GET ANOTHER DOCTOR; I'd bet money whatever justification the doctor, you're seeing now, has, for prescribing the olanzapine and valproate semisodium, is flawed and, based on his prescribing those medications and the information you've given, I suspect his diagnosis is incorrect

 

I think you need to get off the valproate semisodium, immediately, BUT this should NOT be done unless you're being monitored by a COMPETENT physician. Also, I think it's likely a COMPETENT physician will make a different diagnosis and prescribe different medication.

 

If you decide to find another physician, you should research those available to you, in order to find the best at diagnosis/treatment of psychiatric disorders. If you see another doctor, you need to be open and honest, about your thoughts, feelings and behaviour, in order for him or her to make a, meaningful, diagnosis. I'd explain, to him or her, though, that you wanted a diagnosis before giving the information, relating to the doctor you're seeing (including medications), as it may influence their diagnosis; it shouldn't but, in reality, it, often, does.