Does this sound like a lot of meds? (tablet happy doctor!)
 

Okay, so 6 years ago I started taking citalopram. Since then, several things have been added and increased and now I'm on:

60mg citalopram (anti depressant)
75mg Amitriptaline (Anti d, but taken to help with sleep)
500mg Quitiapine (never had the reason for this explained to me, think it was just to fob me off.)
8mg diazepam (over the last year its been between 12mg and 4 mg a day.)

And then theres pain meds. Does that sound like a lot, especially as:

1) I'm not pyschotic
2) I'm not depressed!

I saw my doctor today and asked if I could come off some of them and he said no :( He said Quitiapine is a longer acting form of diazepam... but I really dont feel as though I get the same affects from it as I do from diazepam.

Hmmmm

i know you shouldn't stop taking meds against your doctors advice however, what you put in your body is up to you, it is your choice and you have a right to say no and demand at least reasons as to why, you shouldn't come off them, why you take them in the first place etc.

I am no doctor and i dont know your condition so i could never say if its a lot of meds for you.

If concerned, you can always ask for a second opinion i believe.

You may be depressed, but also remember that antidepressants are commonly used for anxiety. Amtripyltine may also be also used for long term headaches and migraines, do you have any of those?

I am also concerned about the quetiapine, although you say you are not psychotic, antipsychotics are used (other than for controlling bipolar disorder and schizophrenia) for sleeping disorders, as unlike diazapam, they are not addictive. Quetiapine is also very sedating. But if you are using the amitriptyline for sleeping, then it is not being prescribed for that. Also you are on a medium to high dose, if you were being prescribed due to sleeping disorders, then the dose would be much lower (usually, but not always, around 100-150mg).

I am prescribed quetiapine for different reasons and also diazapam. I agree with you, they are not the same! I have schizophrenia and I am only on 100mg more than you.

I would talk to your GP again. I would ask in clear detail why he feels quetiapine is in order. Unless you have a diagnosis of schizophrenia (or even schizoeffective disorder)/bipolar disorder or need it for sleep reasons, I would question why it was prescribed in the first place. In fact, I would ask why you need every single medicine, and the reasons why. If your GP is unwilling to give an answer, I would change GP. Ask for another in the same practice.

I personally would be shocked if I were in the same situation. I do think it is a lot of medication (especially if you have to pay for it!), but I am no professional, so it may be medically necessary. I agree with Morpheus, that not taking any of your medication without professional advice is not a good idea either, and in the case of antidepressants, could cause withdrawal effects.

if you are not happy with the meds you are on you can speak to another doctor and see what they think.

That is quite a lot. I am worried about possible interactions. I haven't got my BNF with me, but combining three sedating medications at once is worrying.

The only two non-psychotic/non-bipolar indications I can find in my textbook for quetiapine are "severe behavioural disorders" and "treatment-resistant anxiety", which are both off-label anyway.

I am concerned that your doctor woudn't tell you what the quetiapine is for, and frankly that is misconduct becasue patients should always be told whey they're being given something.

I think you should insist on your doctor telling you why he put you on those meds, and if he won't tell you then write a letter of complaint.

I just get so angry when patients on the ward here take meds when they don't even know what they are called or what they do etc, so I will endeavour to help you as much as possible with this.

I may be wrong on this but...should you be on diazepam for any length of time? My understanding is that doctors are only supposed to give it for a short period due to it being addictive?

"Risk of dependence, particular for treatment periods longer than 12 weeks" - my textbook

I would go back to your GP and ask them again to outline what these meds are for - especially as they have upped the dose on some of them. Did the meds originally come via a psych, or has it only ever been your GP? As I do not think a GP can prescribe anti-psychotics without a Psych consult...

If your GP refuses to explain or work with you, then ask for a second opinion - at that practice, or another one if you can find once suitably near by.

One question I do have - is do you have epilepsy, as I know Diazepam can be prescribed for this (although I think it is PRN), and the explaination of Quitiapine being used as a less addictive alternative could be feasible here - but only if medically required.

Roiben x

I'm sure Roiben is right. I've been on quetiapine for some time now and my gp won't prescribe it without my psych signing it off.

It does seem an awful lot of medication.
Plus that dosage of Quetiapine is HUGE. I might be totally wrong here idk but it does seem really high. Doesn't it knock you for six? I'm having real trouble with my Quet at the moment as it makes me totally unable to function.
What worries me slightly is you saying your not depressed, maybe that had something to do with the medication doing its job? In that case It wouldn't be a good idea to come off it. However as others have said, its your body and you have the right to choose what you pop into it :confused:

whatever you decide, don't stop any of these medications all at once. reduce each very slowly, particularly the quetiapine. the withdrawal effects are horrendous if stopped suddenly.

I've had APs via my GP. Definitely ask for a review of your medication if you're not happy.

It does sound like a lot, but you can of course go to a different doctor for a second opinion.
*hug*

Im on 600mg of quetiapine, 10 mg of citalopram (I dont tolerate ad's well) so yeah I have also at times been on lamotrogine (although it could of been a placebo as it was a drug trial!!) and I've had diazapam prescribed prn as well.

So yeah it does sound like a lot of meds in one way but you need to talk to your dr about it and get him to explain why he has you on the doses and take it from there. If he won't explain then talk to him about coming off them but do it in a tapered manner.

Also where do you live?

I know American psychs are far more trigger happy when it comes to issuing prescriptions?

I would deffanitly talk to your doctor and ask why you are on each one of them. I know everyone has said that and I could repeat everything they have said but really if you don't like something stand up for yourself. I learned that quickly with my doctors here. EVERY doctor I've seen has been like "I'm the one that you need to listen to so start listening to me!!!" Yea it can be frustrating but don't give up.


random swirls...
"I know American psychs are far more trigger happy when it comes to issuing prescriptions?"

Yes I'd have to agree..I called my psychiatrist to complain about the side effects of my medication and what he did in return was writing another script to cover them up..that didn't fly with me so I stopped them all except one. Yes I know you are not supposed to do that but I had to do something.

I dont have much more to say as its all pretty much been said but go back to your dr and ask the reasons for all these meds... and if your dr refuses to answer then maybe seek a 2nd opinion?

also do you see a psychiaratrist or just a gp?
and which presrcibes your meds?

I'm in the process of re-designing the whole of Mental Health Today. It is quite a process. I'm doing more than just putting the old material in a new template. I'm reading most of the material again so that I can improve the meta tags, alt tags for the search engines as well as putting in a special "Related Books" section on most pages.










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^^ that post was odd.

Angel2fire, I hope all goes well

Agree with everyone. Cant really add much. Diazepam is a benzo that interferes with GABA receptors/Benzo receptors and quetiapine is a 5ht2 / dopamine / histamine thingy is it not? both can be sedating though.

I am prescribed same 'amount' though ... 150mg sertraline, 4mg haloperidol, 15mg procyclidine, 160mg propranolol, 4mg diazepam. And metaclopramide (not psychiatritic but interacts and promethazine) So yeah, i guess if 'necessary'. Talk to your dr though. x

I'm on quite the cocktail of meds as well. But I have multiple disorders and probably need the meds.

If you aren't depressed or psychotic that does seem like a lot of meds. Were you either of those things before going on the medication? If so the medication may be the reason why you aren't now. If not, I'd definitely be questioning your doctor about those medications.