For the last four years I've been on Lithium, Cessamet, and 1000mg of Seroquel. Since I started with this dosage I have gained 60lbs, I have short term memory issues where I can't always retain information and have blanked out mid-sentence in staff meetings, I sleep every chance I get, I have terrible cravings for food, and I sleep so deeply that I can't get up when my baby cries and snore so loudly my wife kicked me into the guest room. We haven't slept in the same bed for three years.
I'm tired of living in a mental fog. I used to work out every morning at 6am and run marathons. I used to be mentally sharp and ate healthy. I want to go back to this. Over the years I have tried to switch Seroquel with Haldol, Respirdone, and most recently Zeldox - all three of which left me with crippling Akathesia.
My wife is not supportive at all with a change in meds - I get the feeling that she would rather me be in a mental fog all the time than try a new drug or reduce the amount I'm taking because she is too afraid of risking another manic episode.
I guess what I'm getting at is how much are we supposed to sacrifice to keep at a controlled level with meds. How many side effects are we supposed to put up with? I've heard it said that it is better to be alive and deal with side effects than to be dead - if those are the only two choices then it is a sad world indeed.
I'm tired of living in a mental fog. I used to work out every morning at 6am and run marathons. I used to be mentally sharp and ate healthy. I want to go back to this. Over the years I have tried to switch Seroquel with Haldol, Respirdone, and most recently Zeldox - all three of which left me with crippling Akathesia.
My wife is not supportive at all with a change in meds - I get the feeling that she would rather me be in a mental fog all the time than try a new drug or reduce the amount I'm taking because she is too afraid of risking another manic episode.
I guess what I'm getting at is how much are we supposed to sacrifice to keep at a controlled level with meds. How many side effects are we supposed to put up with? I've heard it said that it is better to be alive and deal with side effects than to be dead - if those are the only two choices then it is a sad world indeed.
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