So, my thyroid was too high, I've been lowered....but nothing is better.

I feel physically dizzy, sluggish....my back is killing me.....and the panic is going up as I lower the ativan. My current regime: Propranolol, celexa, lithium, lamictal, ativan, a b vitamin and the synthroid. Somehow, I manage to be physically exhausted, yet panicked. It's like being in one of those nightmares where you're paralyzed and someone is coming to get you.

And I'm binge eating again (this has been a problem in the past). In light of my thyroid issues, I'm probably going to get fat(ter) if I continue to do this but I can't stop myself.

I don't know what the point of this entry was, other than concrete evidence that I'm a mess.

Hope you guys are doing better.

I know I posted earlier, but I'm very upset right now.
I missed class today. It's a class that causes me particular anxiety because the teacher calls on people at random and when I get put on the spot I just freeze up.

So I just started seeing this new psych on Tuesday. It's the first time I ever saw him. He puts me back on my lamictal, but it will take at least a month to take effect. He also put me on something new - Buspar, for anxiety. That takes a while to kick in as well.

So I have nothing to help me deal with this anxiety at the moment. I got so worked up over this class earlier I started crying. I'm also starting to feel depressed because I don't feel like I can continue with this class if nothing's done to accomodate me and make me feel more at ease.

So I call my doctor's office in tears. I talk to the secretary. She gives a note to the nurse, who's at lunch at the time. A couple of hours later I get a call from the nurse.

All I had asked was for a note for today because I'm depressed and having anxiety and just can't go to class.
The nurse said that the doctor said he's not going to write me a note for the class, that he told me the medications can take several weeks to take effect, and that I don't need to just be sitting around the house or whatever, and that I need to be up and active.

I told her that if this was any other illness that I was missing class over, I'd be able to get an excuse. I told her that this is my first semester, I'm at a new school, and it just adds to the anxiety I'm feeling from my disorder. Also, this time the year before last I had to drop out and I failed my classes. My doctor at the time had to write me a note to get me back in and off of academic suspension, and I told the nurse that I didn't want that to happen again.

Then she asked did I just need a note for today....like she didn't already know. So who knows what message was actually relayed to her.

But what kind of fucking doctor tells his patients to just get out of the house and deal with it?

I told her I can't go class crying, and if I might be having a panic attack.
I also told her that I was going to try and get in touch with the services at school to see if they could work with me too.

So she said she'd talk to him again and get back to me.

But I'm so angry. I said he's only seen me once. And she said "well, he's read your file". The doctor I saw before him was only concerned with the fact that I smoked pot and that my boyfriend smoked pot and took xanax. She didn't talk about my depression or anxiety, except to mention that pot can make me go crazy or something like one of her older patients. It caused "psychosis" or something.

But how can he just refuse to write me a note, when I'm crying talking to the secretary? Then I burst into tears talking to the nurse.

I mean he said the same things my mother - who doesn't understand mental illness or anxiety - says. "Of course you're going to be depressed sitting around at home, you need to get out of the house and be active". He said some of those things about getting out of the house.

I told her I have classes 5 times a week and this is the first one I've missed.

I don't think he's taking me seriously. Another thing that upsets me is that he JUST saw me for the FIRST time, and JUST put me back on meds...one of which I've never taken before, and he doesn't schedule another visit for two months. TWO MONTHS. He doesn't even tell me to call and check in to see HOW I'm doing on these meds.
I'm extremely disappointed.

During my visit with him, he sat behind his desk typing things about me on his computer. When he was done, I sat there while he still sat behind his desk, typing, printing things off his computer, and signing them. NEVER said a word to me.

I explained to him about my anxiety, about how bad it is when I'm around people, etc. And so he assumed it was always triggered by something. And I'm like no, I have it out of nowhere also.

I called my boyfriend immediately afterwards, in tears, and he was furious, and said I should never go back to the place and that in the meantime they should be giving me something to take that's immediately effective.

I had called the very beginning of the month or maybe the end of December, asking to see the doctor, explaining that I'd been off my meds and that I was feeling depressed and needed back on them. There was only one appointment that following Monday or so, but I couldn't make it because there was no way I'd have enough time to fill out a leave slip for work. The only other appointment was the end of January. So I just gave up because she was being rude and not wanting to work with me. She didn't even offer to let me speak to the nurse, and when I called today of course I requested to speak to the nurse.

I get points deducted for not attending class. Especially without an excuse.

But I feel like he was just saying to suck it up and deal with it. What kind of doctor...much less a psychiatrist...would do that? I mean he didn't even offer to give me anything else in the meantime. Before, at my old psych (I keep comparing b/c they're with the same company, just diff. parts of the state, and I had an excellent experience with them), when I was feeling this way, they'd put me back on my lamictal, but when I called in a few days later in tears, they put me on something faster acting to get me through in the meantime.

This guy? Nothing.

What can I do? The nurse said it was up to him and how he felt, but I don't think he's taking me seriously.

WELL final grades are up today, and I didn't fail anything! My GPA this semester was a paltry 2.39.. I feel like a bit of a failure. But this semester was particularly rough mentally, and I spent a lot of time fighting anxiety, ADHD, and was diagnosed with a mood disorder-nos (awesome...). For those of you who remember my posts, you get the picture. I've been in therapy for this past semester. The thing with me is that all the bad bad situations have passed, and when they were happening, I spent my time trying to just get through it and avoided the emotional connections just to stay sane, so NOW that they've passed, all those emotions and issues are kicking me in the ass Hard. EVERY YEAR there was something else, a friend's suicide, my mom's suicide, stalker issues, eating disorders in friends and myself, my parents attempting divorce twice, all in my college career. It's overwhemling, truly. And the only person in my life who gets it is my therapist, or at least she acts like it. There's no one else.

Grades as they stand are c, c-, a, a, s, s, and an incomplete to be finished next semester. The c- would have been an a-, except for my absences due to anxiety and well.. everything. My cumulative is now 2.69, which I am not really happy about, but the past 4.5 years in college has been one horrible thing after another, and I'm really trying to pull myself up out of it. I feel like such a failure because I'm so much smarter than this, and if my personal life had just cooperated, I would have done SO much better.

I just feel so crazy all the time. And I started Lamictal 2 months or so ago.. I don't know what a good dosage is for me. I'm at 150. And on ritalin. I guess I should just be happy that I didn't drop out, or worse. Sigh.

Hello everyone! I've posted on this forum before but I'll introduce myself again-
My name is Samantha and I'm 19. I've been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Bipolar Disorder along with OCD. I'm taking Lamitcal, Lexapro and Trozodone.

My anxiety has peaked recently. I've been obsessing about my health, my families health and I've been acting very paranoid when it comes to relationships. I've always blown random pains or whatever out of proportion. Lately I've been having allergy related issues-allergy eyes, facial/head pressure, headaches etc. and even though, deep down, I know that yes, it HAS to be allergy related, I think, "Oh my god, I have a brain tumor! These headaches aren't normal" etc etc. And of course, I go online and research my symptoms...I shouldn't do that but I do. It drives me insane. I obsess over these things and I constantly think about the WORST case scenario. Last night, before I went to bed, I kept thinking such morbid and upsetting things like what it would be like to tell my family I had a terminal illness, or what would happen if I died and left my family and friends behind<---those sorts of things...and I just want to STOP doing this! I hate doing it and it really frustrates me. These intrusive thoughts really put a damper on everyday life and functioning. The medicine has helped me a lot but once and while my disorders will explode into huge things. I just want to know I'm not alone...I mean I know I'm not but it would make a world of a difference if I could get some support through this forum! You know? Have people to lean on and who understand. I just cannnn't feel alone anymore!! Along with obsessing over my health, I've been obsessing over my family members' health. I have to get up every night and check if my parents are breathing, mostly my mom, for some reason. I think it's because I'm a tad more attached to her but that's normal. I can't sleep if I don't do this. Do any of you do this or do similar things? I've been reading a book on OCD and it has been helping but it's always nice to hear stories from other people.

and also...not only have I mean over analyzing health issues but I've been over analyzing relationship things. I've been talking to my ex-boyfriend Josh. He's my best friend and we were going out for over 3 years until I broke up with him earlier this year. We didn't talk for a couple months but then started talking again during the summer. We both still really like each other but he isn't as outward with his emotions as I am...and we aren't officially going out or anything but we act as though we are. I am ALWAYS analyzing everything I do with him...whether I am saying/doing the right things, if he likes me anymore, if he doesn't care about me anymore. If I'm on the phone with him I make sure it ends of a good note and if I feel like it doesn't, I analyze it-why did he sound upset? Is he upset? He doesn't sound engaged in the conversation! And then I end up looking/sounding foolish because I ask dumb questions over and over like, "Are you mad at me?", "Are you annoyed with me?", "What's wrong?" and I guess it's all in my head!!! I feel like this sort of thing ruins relationships and it's so hard to stop it. I try, I really do, but it bugs me. Josh obviously isn't like me. He takes things day by day and doesn't read into things like I do. Well, I read into things TOO much! You know???? Any tips??? I always feel like I need to fix things and these "things" probably don't need to be fixed because the problems are all in my head.


Ugh...this has been consuming me all week. For some reason these anxieties have peaked this week...maybe because of the holidays.

thanks guys! I have a few other things I want to write about but I think all of that is enough for now.

I'm getting stupidly anxious over really small things.

I have to drive home tomorrow, which is 70 miles or so, and be there by 5, except I need to go shopping for something nice to wear to family stuff, and a friend's mom's inauguration, and I have to face family and friends, most of them for the first time since my mom's suicide, and.. we're not close and I always feel out of place.. and the weather here BLOWS and oh crap. And I'm not religious in the least, and Im vegetarian.. and well, I don't know my family!

I'm just all anxious and I'm trying to convince myself it'll be okay, but my Lamictal doesn't seem to be tackling this anxiety like I think it's supposed to.

I'm no longer anxious about getting up in the mornings, but I get anxious every time I have to be somewhere, meet someone, travel, drive in place I'm not familiar with, etc.

I mean, who the eff is scared to go shopping?

And money.. I am constantly scared and anxious about money and post-graduation expenses and having to move back home, where I really don't feel safe.

OH and I'm also meeting Dad's new girlfriend for the first time tomorrow night. JESUS CHRISTTT. I don't even know his last one very well, and she's the mother of my new little half-brother.

We're the screw-up part of the family.

:( DEEP BREATH. I don't remember when I started getting anxious about everything. I hate my life sometimes! I just tell myself it could be worse.

I had a psych evaluation for the first time today, and I must say, it was a little off-putting. Mostly because I hate talking about personal stuff, but I'm in such a mess I know I HAVE to. He didn't say what I may have, but he DID give me a mild mood stabilizer/anti-depressant. I've never been on meds before, but it's HIGH TIME, I think. Anyone here ever try Lamictal? Was it helpful? Any weird side-effects or such?

( cut for mentions of self-harm, ed, suicide, stalking, relationships.. advice? help! :( )

So, after giving the higher dose Hydroxyzine a go, it has come to my conclusion that I need to change meds. It isn't managing my anxiety if a minor stresor can throw me into panic attacks. Right now I'm on 150 mg of Lamictal (to keep me from being depressed al the time) and 100 mg of hydroxyzine as needed to calm me down. Long story short, there was epic fail, and I ended up popping the things like candy. I usually try to take them dailyish because they lower my anxiety from an 8 ro a 7. Well, I found out that hydroxyzine is effective for me, but seriously, only after I took 600 mg or more (I don't know how much I took -please don't lecture me - I know, and I will get chewed out about it enough tomorrow). The way it worked though didn't really calm me. It calmed my body, but my mind was still screaming out in panic. Anyways after this episode happened, I realized that I probably need to talk to my pdoc about managing my anxiety. I'm in therapy, but the stuff I'm learning there doesn't help me when I'm too anxious to even think to do those things. My pdoc had told me that the best thing for my type of anxiety is an SSRI, but thanks to the fact that zoloft made me too depressed and anxious to function even poorly, we are very leary about putting me back on one. I was wondering what other options you had tried. I ideally would like both something to get the day to day nervous out of my brain as well as something much stronger for when I'm hugging a tree in my yard as my heart races and I shake and hyperventilate.  Seriously, its been four days and my heart still hasn't stopped racing/pounding, and I'm still panicky. Thankfully, work is a safe place for me, so I'll only have a couple of panic attacks during my shift.

Sorry, if that sounds stupid, but I want to know what other people's experiences have been. I should be able to convince my pdoc to let me try something other than the jhydroxyzine, and if not, then it might be time to switch pdocs.

Hello everyone!

I'm new to this community and I thought it would serve as a kind of therapy to talk to people who suffer from anxiety and other disorders. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Bipolar Disorder and I am currently taking 20mg of Lexapro and 100mg of Lamictal.

That's just some background info.

One thing that I am currently being bothered with is my constant analysis of everything! You know what I mean!? The constant thinking and analyzing and trying to control the outcome of situations. I become paranoid as well. I assume what people are thinking or feeling and I'm usually always wrong. These thoughts/feelings overwhelm me and it's hard to concentrate and move past them.

Can anyone relate?? Do you guys have any tips as to how to deal? I have found talking or writing about my feelings have helped but are there any other coping mechanisms?


I've been dealing with a relationship issue too. A few months ago I broke up with my boyfriend of three years because I thought I liked this kid I met at college. He ended up being a total asshole. Now my ex-boyfriend and I have been hanging out because we're still best friends. Things are obviously different but I still sort of like him. It's just a sad situation because he doesn't want a relationship right now, which is totally understandable. And this isn't really the frustrating part (even though it hurts) it's my constant thinking about it...thinking about the possible outcomes...analyzing him...being paranoid..."does he not like me", "does he not want to be my friend anymore?". These thoughts are conjured up merely because he didn't answer his phone, or he didn't call me or if he's online and he doesn't IM me. I get really irrational and worrisome. I want to stop thinking about it so much but it's SO HARD too! It's like I'm battling with myself. I want to move on and I mean I've been getting much better but the constant obsession kills me. It's like I can't stop my brain!! And I find myself repeating affirmations over and over and over and over again. Usually it's the same phrase. It's part of the obsession I think. I don't know. It's maddening.

Ugh. And this happens with almost everything but mostly with health issues (I can be a hypochondriac) and with relationships.

If you can relate to this I'd really appreciate if you commented back.

I'll update again soon.

I'm curious to hear about anyone who's tried/is on mood stablizers that are weight neutral or even caused weight loss?

I've tried Lamictal and had odd side effects, and low doses of Seroquel made me gain 70+ lbs. I need other options and my dr is kind of out of them.

Anyone?

So I had a thought that kind of freaked me out. I've tried and stopped Lamictal last month, and have been tapering off Cymbalta completely for about 6 weeks.

Around the time I started Lamictal I started having memory problems. I would search for a word I thought would be right for the conversation or feeling I was trying to express, but when I tried I couldn't find it. Or if I could find the word, I wasn't sure how to use it even though I knew it. (And I'm good with words, I was raised with a large vocabulary and I've always loved doing word puzzles, so it was odd to me.) When I told my doctor she stopped the Lamictal. Now I've been off it for 2.5-3 weeks, and I still can't recall. I'm also dropping things more than usual, or having random moments where I simply stop holding something (like a pen) and it'll go flying. My appetite has changed (albeit for the better) and I've totally stopped craving things I normally would love (mainly chocolate and meat). I've also been getting headaches a bit more often and my vision has significantly changed (I can't see faces from across the room and when in a room with a TV or light at eye level, I see almost like "frosty" tunnel vision) and I'm exhausted. Always. Not matter how much or how regulated my sleep.

At what point do I go to a neurologist? I'm not sure if it's all medication related or if I should be worried about the possibility that I had a stroke (I'm in my 20s, if that's even possible) or something else is significantly wrong.

I'm new, so hi! I'm a woman in my 20s an have had serious problems with (drumroll): anxiety, depression, OCD, anorexia (11-19 yrs old, hospitalized>recovered), self-mutilation, compulsive eating/"binging", insomnia and PTSD (disassociative episodes, flashbacks, panic attacks) for the last 11 years. I was hospitalized for 4 months at 15-16 and spent some time in a partial program at 18. I've been on just about every SSRI known to man and have recently moved on to different forms of medication.

I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder (though I have been told it may change to Borderline Personality Disorder...?) and have been taking Cymbalta, Seroquel and Lorazepam regularly for about 2 years. I also have an Albuterol inhaler, Allegra, and Amrix (muscle relaxant for an injury, as needed). Basically a pharmacy in my nightstand.

I'm now working onto Lamictal and off Cymbalta. The two seem to be interacting badly because over the last 14 days since starting it I've been more depressed than at any other point in my life. My depression has been particularly bad lately but I literally had to try to breathe the other day and didn't move for about 5 hours (which needless to say scared the beejezzus out of my live-in boyfriend who scrambled around calling all my doctors to make sure I wouldn't die). I haven't developed the dreaded rash as of yet, but I am getting serious blurry, almost double vision and my muscles are aching for no apparent reason.

I went through the archives and saw a little bit about Lamictal but I was hoping anyone who's currently taking it could chime in and let me know how they're doing on it.

How long have you been taking it? What dose are you currently taking? Have you gained (or) lost weight since using it? Have you had any adverse side effects? Anything noteworthy? Thanks so much for any help you can offer and I'm so sorry this turned out so long!

So; Anyone... anyone... Bueller?

 Hi my name is Elvira. I live in San Diego, Ca...I'm 21 years old. I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. It's been very hard for me, so I've joined a couple of communities here to get some support. I've been hospitalized twice this past year, and have expierenced multiple anxiety attacks and OD attempts...I'm currently taking Prozac, Seroquel, and Lamictal. All of this came up when my exboyfriend of a year and half broke up with me, because I was scaring him and making promises I couldn't keep...he was my back bone, my support, my love...and now I'm alone...but it's okay. I guess I will be able to get out of this dark hole. If anybody  likes...you can add me as your friend? I opened this account to write and express my feelings...I would love all the feedback and support I can get? I will do the same as well.
Thanks.

I was wondering if anyone was in a situation like this.
I recently found my birthparents (yay!) and found out that practically every single person in my blood family has died in their 70's. Cancer runs in the family, all different kinds. So, now I"m totally paranoid about dying in my 70s and cancers.
My family is from the south, they have terrible health care (they are not well off) and medicines don't agree with them.

The other day, I went to the hospital for a drug reaction to my homeopathic medicines (The same thing happened a few years ago with Lamictal... I got the dreaded rash and other drugs always make me crazier or sick). I called my birthmom and she told me that every time they tried to give her a drug, she would get ill (she is a medical and mental mess as well). So, I think this is a genetic thing.

I'm kind of freaking out about all of it. I'm scared of doctors and being touched, so screening for all types of cancers is like a nightmare for me. Breast cancer I can probably do because I've had chest xrays and EKGs and it seems like it might not be that bad (except for them touching me),

However, colon/ovarian cancers are big ones and I just can't do it. I don't think any amount of xanax (or money! lol) will get me to strip my pants off for a doctor (this including gyno exams... I suffer from ptsd because of a gyno situation). I've heard all of the "but it's for your health and safety! And, it's really not that bad!" arguments already.

I think there should be a fear of doctors or such tag, is there one and I'm missing it?

Hi. My name is Kate. I'm 14 years old. I'm a freshman in highschool, and I am diagnosed with Generlized Anxiety Disorder. I believe to have had this for the majority of my life. I remember being a six year old girl afraid to get in the car because I would get 'motion sickness' which probably was some part of anxiety. In the fifth grade, I got the flu. I was afraid to go back to class even after I wasn't sick anymore because I still felt sick. I was nauseous constantly.. This didn't happen in sixth grade, but in the beginning of seventh grade, I constantly was begging to stay home. I told my mom I wasn't getting out of the car when she drove me to school. I would scream and cry, and I didn't know what was wrong with me. I was almost always nauseated, but once I ran away from school, the nausea would calm down, and I would seem to be okay. In the eighth grade, my anxiety was pretty mild. I had it every once in a while. I'm a cheerleader. In eigth grade, I went to Disneyland for USA Cheerleading Nationals. I had a panic attack back stage, was taken to the nurse, and breathed into a paper bag. I was dragged onto the stage, preformed, and once I was off, I felt completely fine. Then we took my eighth grade feildtrip to Great America, a theme park. I was afraid to get on the bus. I cried in front of everyone because I was so scared of getting sick on the bus. My dad has GAD, and I called him. He came, and offered one of his Xanax (Spelling?) but I refused to take it because I hadn't before, and was afraid of a reaction. I finally gave in, got on the bus, and went to Great America. The bus ride home was a piece of cake. Then the first week of summer, I was supposed to fly to Reno, Nevada with my sister and grandmother to visit my cousins. I had a panic attack, and people were scared of me. The flight attendant told me I wasn't allowed on the plane, and my parents came and got me. Then I went to a doctor with my dad (since he has the same disorder). I then started to see a Biofeedback Therapist named Ellen Place. She helped for the majority of the summer, but I was still not fully cured. I started my first of highschool on a rocky edge. I got in a fist fight, and was suspended, but it wasn't until about late December of 2007 that I really got bugged by this. I started to ditch school because I was afraid of throwing up in class. I saw Ellen Place again, and she said just to do my biofeedback therapy. My dad then sent me to a pyschatrist by the name of Hala Saleem who then put me on Klonopin* (I'm sorry my mistake), and Lamictal. It worked very well. Then when I went to see her again, she uped the dosage of Lamictal and added SSRI's to my meds. The upped lamictal made me sick, and I walked home from school (which took me a good hour or so). I then stopped taking the lamictal completely. My dad chewed out Hala Saleem, and he took me to see Dr. Krompier. He told me to stick with the Colopin, and I did so. I have been living my life, easier, getting better grades in school, and I am hoping one day to become a pyschologist to possibly help teenagers who have the same issues as me. Thank you.

side effects to meds

I was wondering if anyone had any side effects and es-ecailly weight gain with these meds:paxil cr,lamictal,ripseridal,ambien. I think it is the risperidal making me gain weight but I don't kknow...   Let me know any advice on antidepressents and antiphycotic meds. Thanks in advance....

 

 i'm new to this communtiy but not to LJ, ive had many journals but they kep getting deleted.
anywho, ivebeen depressed for about 5 years and only started getting help about a year ago.  now im on lexapro, welbutrin, lamictal, and ambien.
ive been getting terribly anxiety and paranoia lately.  i just have fear of social situations and that im going to die when i drive.  i feel like everyone driving is watching me and thinks im a bad driver.
my pysch upted my lamictal to gradually increase it from 100 to 200 mg.  ive been taking it at night ; but the new script on the 25 mg says take 2 twice a day, plus my 100 mg.  
so i' sort of confused, should i take the 100 mg at night and the 25mg during the day when i feel moody? do  i take them al at night? idk im confused.

 So I have been seeing a psychiatrist, whom by the way I dont like very much. First she prescribed me Celexa which kept me up all night and made me feel like a complete retard. The I switched to Zoloft with made me want to sleep all the time. I then moved on to Cymbalta and I contantantly had a knot in my stomach. Do go with the Cymbalta I was given Ativan which I totally abused. When the Cymbalta wasnt working we tried Effexor but after the little breakdown I had at work I figured it wasnt working out too well. So I went to my regular doctor and told her flat out I wasnt going back to the psychiatrist. I also told her that I wanted off the effexor. She gave me some sample packets with different mgs so I can slowly ween myself  off. She also said that I should still see someone because what is happening will most likely not go away. She gave me the number to another psychiatrist (I havent decided yet if I will call) and she also gave me a prescripttion for Lamictal. She said even though its normally prescribed for bi-bolar people (which I am not) she said is helps the small few depressed who dont get help from the above listed ant depressants. 

Has any one taken this befofre?

i had my first therapy appt last week, it went as well as could be expected i suppose. we just went over general history. i have another appt with her next week, on a biweekly plan for now.... i've never been in therapy, so i really have no idea what to expect or any idea where it will go.

i haven't had any physical symptoms of anxiety/panic since the depo wore off (i had one shot, late aug-early nov), but i still deal with racing thoughts/incessant worry.

i've had problems sleeping for that reason for many many many years... my psych switched me off klonopin and onto xanax (in addition to my daily 150mg lamictal), and as of this morning since my racing thoughts are still persistent, from xanax to ativan (so i can sleep longer) along with ablify.

i've never been on either. any input?

her diagnosis right now (she's the first psychiatrist i've ever seen, and i first saw her in october) is bipolar for the following reasons: my mother is bp, my depressive episodes are cyclic, and i've been hypomanic on ssris (off meds i've never experienced anything akin to mania). her opinion is that my heightened anxiety is due to destabilized moods, hence the addition of ablify (we tried a higher dose of lamictal already but i was dealing with too much cognitive impairment... as it is on 150mg i have no retention/recall and a horrible time concentrating on much of anything).

xposted

i thought i originally posted here as well as in in_treatment, but apparently not. so, if you want some background, please reference this post in that community. this post was x-posted there as well.

some follow up:

ok... so, the psych, from my first appt on the 8th, decided to:

a) double my lamictal dose from 100 to 200mg daily, and start taking it before bed, rather than twice daily (50mg x 2) as i had been, thinking this would help with cognition problems. she also thinks that my insomnia, which i think is caused by the lamictal, is caused by my anxiety/moods and once those are under control (hence the dose increase to stabilize my moods) that i'll be sleeping better. prior to this appt i had been taking lunesta to sleep at night and that was working well, i have not taken it since because i figure i should stick to the psych's regimen. i'd like to stop taking the lunesta anyway since it costs $40 a month :/

b) started me on klonopin, .25 before bed (with the lamictal), and .25 as needed, to control my panic attacks/anxiety.

( the results thus far: )

any thoughts? experiences? opinions? any ideas? just looking for some feedback or experiences on either drug or the combination.
my next appt with this psychiatrist is on the 30th (she wanted to see me after two weeks, but i couldn't fit it in my schedule).