So Numb Since Med Increase

xRavenx · Dec 27, 2019 at 07:45 PM

Is anyone else experiencing the feeling of being so numb on their medication, like it is hard to feel any strong emotions, like excitement? I've noticed this since my recent medication increase. Although I am not feeling any intense sadness anymore, I feel almost dead inside. Also, I notice a significant loss of libido. My therapist pointed out my affect is flat.

I want to prevent future Bipolar episodes and stay on my meds, but I don't really think it's normal to feel this way. I want to experience some pleasure in life. Do you experience this on your meds, or have you in the past?

Victoria'smom · Dec 27, 2019 at 08:17 PM

Yes, I changed meds. I refused to feel that way long term.

bpcyclist · Dec 28, 2019 at 03:41 AM

I think I have a bit of this possibly from my lithium. Not sure what your meds are...

Underdevelopment · Dec 28, 2019 at 04:25 AM

Trouble with meds is in essence they're being taken to stop the extreme mood swings. Its very hard to get the balance right between some feelings and too much or none.

Psychs just look for stability. Most don't care if that comes at the cost of feeling ANY emotion. Lithium, Seroquel, Valproate, Saphris, just a few that sapped me emotionally into a void where I could not laugh, cry, there was nothing. Its a very destructive place to be, because it leads to the demise I'd your support network, e.g. family and friends. I hated that feeling, emotionally trapped in my own body.

bpcyclist · Dec 28, 2019 at 07:32 AM

Well, that may be true for some of us, but the problem is, if I go for example without an antipsychotic, I will get psychotic. Bad. So, I have to take them. If I stop my lithium, I will become manic and/or depressed--for certain. I've done it.

So, yeah, it's a balancing act.

xRavenx · Dec 28, 2019 at 01:24 PM

Right now, I am on Seroquel, Lamictal, Latuda, clonazepam. The Latuda dose keeps getting increased since I just had an episode. Maybe I'll have to stay on this combo/doses for now, but I am hoping as time passes that my pdoc lowers a few things so that I do not have to feel like this forever.

bpcyclist · Dec 28, 2019 at 04:06 PM

Well, I really hope this gets better for you soon.

xRavenx · Dec 28, 2019 at 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

Well, I really hope this gets better for you soon.

Thank you. Hopefully.

still_crazy · Dec 28, 2019 at 07:10 PM

hope things get better for you. maybe see about a transition from seroquel and latuda to latuda, as the sole antipsychotic/tranquilizer? not if you don't want to, and i am --not-- trying to play doctor with you at all, its just...

personally, i've done better with just one tranquilizer. when things were very bad, i was maxed out on abilify and i had a low dose of risperidone (ugh) to take, at night, to keep the crazy at bay, strictly as needed. now, im down to a lower dose of the abilify, no risperidone needed (thank God).

the other issue is that latuda might be better in terms of metabolic stuff than seroquel. my current psych briefly brought it up....'great for depression!' blah blah blah...im just stuck on abilify, that's all.

most psych pros aren't so great at balancing these things, to be honest. i mean, many are responsive, if you bring it up, but do try to be vocal with your psych, because its way, way, way easier to load somebody up and stamp "DONE!" than it is to work with a real, live human being whose needs are not static.

downandlonely · Dec 28, 2019 at 07:12 PM

I'm sorry you feel this way, and hope you feel better soon. Definitely communicate your concerns about this numbness with your doctor.

xRavenx · Dec 28, 2019 at 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by still_crazy

hope things get better for you. maybe see about a transition from seroquel and latuda to latuda, as the sole antipsychotic/tranquilizer? not if you don't want to, and i am --not-- trying to play doctor with you at all, its just...

personally, i've done better with just one tranquilizer. when things were very bad, i was maxed out on abilify and i had a low dose of risperidone (ugh) to take, at night, to keep the crazy at bay, strictly as needed. now, im down to a lower dose of the abilify, no risperidone needed (thank God).

the other issue is that latuda might be better in terms of metabolic stuff than seroquel. my current psych briefly brought it up....'great for depression!' blah blah blah...im just stuck on abilify, that's all.

most psych pros aren't so great at balancing these things, to be honest. i mean, many are responsive, if you bring it up, but do try to be vocal with your psych, because its way, way, way easier to load somebody up and stamp "DONE!" than it is to work with a real, live human being whose needs are not static.

Thank you. You are definitely right... a lot of psych pros aren't great at balancing things out. I always have to speak up when things feel "off," although my pdoc is pretty good at listening when I tell her things. Luckily, Seroquel never interfered with my weight. I think I actually prefer it over Latuda, oddly enough. I'm starting to get some side effects on Latuda. All I know, is something is definitely off, and I'll have to talk to my pdoc when I see her in 2 weeks.

Nammu · Dec 28, 2019 at 08:36 PM

I was on the laudta and lamictal combo and felt that way. Stopped the lamictal and now feel normal but stable

Underdevelopment · Dec 28, 2019 at 10:52 PM

The lactimal has been a lifesaver for me, and weight neutral which was a huge factor for me. I take it together with Amoglamelatine/valdoxan. I am sure it's not working as well as it was at first. I feel strong negative suicidal emotions, but rarely elation. Accessing my emotions takes work. It has slowed my racing thoughts a great deal, and when I don't think it's working, backing of my dose soon proves otherwise.

I've all but given up changing meds, trying to work with my body and mind rather than fight them. Sick of being a guinea pig waiting that elusuve taoer off, taper on process. Changing my environment isn't always possible, but I do where I can. Thinking its time for ECT or something stonger.

Keep you Pdoc in the loop, but self-advocacy is so important. Research what you can, ask your pdoc questions. Just be careful not to trigger their 'God complex'

I wish you well. Its not an easy road to travel, knowing your not well, but not game to have a med change with results a complete unknown.

Xx

*Beth* · Dec 29, 2019 at 09:29 PM

Yes!!!

I feel like a paper bag. Beige, neutral, emotionless. No creativity, no imagination. A big empty. I'm stopping my AP this week, I can't live like this.

Pdoc have a hard job, that I understand. But come on. I feel like ALL I want to do is sleep and eat. That's the story of being on an AP: sleep, eat, gain weight. It's crazier than crazy.

And I'm well aware that next week I might be on an even higher dose AP than I am this week. But right now I'm truly not convinced that I need an AP. I'm not convinced because I'm not feeling much benefit from it.

still_crazy · Dec 29, 2019 at 11:11 PM

back in the days of high dose Thorazine and such, one psychiatrist coined the term 'tranquilizer psychosis.' its a switch...from mania or schizophrenia to apathy, tremor, slowed movements, diminished creativity, now and then Parkinsons type symptoms. blah.

atypicals can avoid some of that, sometimes...i personally find that i have a little more range and less dysphoria with vitamins on board with mine, but...i kinda want off, too. blah.

*Beth* · Dec 30, 2019 at 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by still_crazy

back in the days of high dose Thorazine and such, one psychiatrist coined the term 'tranquilizer psychosis.' its a switch...from mania or schizophrenia to apathy, tremor, slowed movements, diminished creativity, now and then Parkinsons type symptoms. blah.

atypicals can avoid some of that, sometimes...i personally find that i have a little more range and less dysphoria with vitamins on board with mine, but...i kinda want off, too. blah.

Wow. That's a descriptive and solid term..."tranquilizer psychosis". The old, very high doses of thorazine were also known as "chemical straitjackets".

It is better now, but barely. I just cannot understand why, with all the research done, no one can come up with psych meds that aren't debilitating and unhealthy.

Iman · Dec 30, 2019 at 06:54 PM

Seroquel was the least mind numbing for me. I now take Risperidone, Seroquel,clonazepam. The Risperidone is more mind numbing for sure.

Dec 31, 2019 at 07:19 PM

I have on some medications (though not at all times) and not at all on others. I feel just fine, inthat respect, on my current mix. Sometimes it takes a little while to adapt to some meds. Other times they keep the cloudy feeling going. Lithium fit into the latter category for me. I remember as I was weaned off Lithium a cloud cleared.

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So Numb Since Med Increase

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Victoria'smom Legendary Member Since Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 14,897 (SuperPoster!) 11 5,425 hugs given	Dec 27, 2019 at 08:17 PM #2 Yes, I changed meds. I refused to feel that way long term. __________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog
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bpcyclist Legendary Member Since Sep 2019 Location: Portland Posts: 12,681 (SuperPoster!) 4 40.2k hugs given	Dec 28, 2019 at 03:41 AM #3 I think I have a bit of this possibly from my lithium. Not sure what your meds are... __________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield
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xRavenx Magnate Member Since Jun 2016 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,570 7 8,123 hugs given	Dec 28, 2019 at 01:24 PM #6 Right now, I am on Seroquel, Lamictal, Latuda, clonazepam. The Latuda dose keeps getting increased since I just had an episode. Maybe I'll have to stay on this combo/doses for now, but I am hoping as time passes that my pdoc lowers a few things so that I do not have to feel like this forever. __________________ Bipolar 1 Disorder, Unspecified Anxiety Disorder
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bpcyclist Legendary Member Since Sep 2019 Location: Portland Posts: 12,681 (SuperPoster!) 4 40.2k hugs given	Dec 28, 2019 at 04:06 PM #7 Well, I really hope this gets better for you soon. __________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield
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downandlonely Legendary Member Since Mar 2018 Location: United States Posts: 10,760 (SuperPoster!) 6 10.6k hugs given	Dec 28, 2019 at 07:12 PM #10 I'm sorry you feel this way, and hope you feel better soon. Definitely communicate your concerns about this numbness with your doctor.
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Nammu Crone Member Since May 2010 Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system. Posts: 71,232 (SuperPoster!) 13 53.6k hugs given	Dec 28, 2019 at 08:36 PM #12 I was on the laudta and lamictal combo and felt that way. Stopped the lamictal and now feel normal but stable __________________ *Nammu* …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann
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Iman Member Member Since Aug 2014 Location: LA Posts: 44 9 7 hugs given	Dec 30, 2019 at 06:54 PM #17 Seroquel was the least mind numbing for me. I now take Risperidone, Seroquel,clonazepam. The Risperidone is more mind numbing for sure.
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Anonymous46341 Guest Posts: n/a	Dec 31, 2019 at 07:19 PM #18 I have on some medications (though not at all times) and not at all on others. I feel just fine, inthat respect, on my current mix. Sometimes it takes a little while to adapt to some meds. Other times they keep the cloudy feeling going. Lithium fit into the latter category for me. I remember as I was weaned off Lithium a cloud cleared.
	Reply With Quote