What to ask my doctor?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2005
What to ask my doctor?
1
Thu, 10-20-2005 - 10:34pm
Hi, my name is Sheree, and I've suffered from anxiety, bipolar depression (have had only 3 manic episodes ever), and ADHD, and, for a while, was chemically dependent on marijuana to ease my anxiety, b/c I couldn't find a doc to give me anything for the it. The marijuana issue is over (been clean for almost 5 weeks), and in the past 5 weeks, have been in a psych ward for suicidal ideations, and then in an outpatient day program i'm currently in. As far as meds go, I'm on Cymbalta 30 (for depression), geodon 60 mg and seroquel 75mg for bipolar mood swings, and just tried cogentin for the anxiety. Problem is, the cogentin made me have some kind of weird reaction. My hands started shaking the day after I started it, and this isn't my first shaky experience with anticholinergics. They had me on vistaril at the hospital and by the time I left, I was shaking so violently, that I actually had a full-blown seizure. My doc is hesitant to try a benzodiazapine for the anxiety, but it really is the only thing that's worked in the past. I took xanax for about 5 months and never once asked for early refills or reported any "missing" or "stolen" pills (signs of drug-seeking behavior) for it, I actually cut the dose in half because it was making me sleepy. What should I tell my psychiatrist? I've tried buspar, anticholinergics, beta blockers, and numerous antidepressants, all to no avail.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Fri, 10-21-2005 - 12:06am

Hi, Sheree! It would