Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
Wife not getting medications- need to unload-kinda long
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 332150" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>The auto refill is the way to go. You simply MUST call the clinic and make an appointment if she needs one for refills. Then insist on going to the doctor with her. Be open with the doctor about what is going on. Ask the doctor for either 1 month rx's with refills or 3 month rx's if you have mail order pharmacy benefits. Also ask the doctor why she is on so many SSRI medications when she is bipolar and they are known to cause cycling and other problems for people with bipolar. You NEED this info.</p><p></p><p>YOU need to take the scrips from the doctor. Get them filled and set up a pill box. Make sure the medications are where YOU can see them to make sure she is taking them. If she doesn't want to take them, cheeks them, or hides them, ask her why. Let the doctor know what she is doing and why she is doing it. </p><p></p><p>Set up auto refills and also keep track in your planner, phone, or whatever so you can make sure to get the medications on time. </p><p></p><p>You will need to let her know you are doing this because you love her and want her to be healthy and happy. Let her know you are also doing it because she is hard to be around when she is off her medications and the kids do not deserve to have to live with that.</p><p></p><p>Figuring out your bottom, that limit where you will have to separate is also important. I know you love her but you also have to love your kids and yourself. If she is this hard to live with unmedicated, and she is going to refuse medications or not bother to fill them for days or weeks on end, well, it is not healthy for the kids. It is also not safe as when you stop some of these medications you can hallucinate and/or have psychotic breaks. Just because she hasn't yet doesn't mean she might not. It is also hard on her health to go on and off of them the way she is. It is bad role modelling for the kids. </p><p></p><p>FYI: The accepted medication protocol set down by the Board that certifies psychiatrists is first to use mood stabilizers until she is stable. It may take 2 mood stabilizers to do this. SSRIs are NOT mood stabilizers. Next you add anti-psychotics to help with anger and sleep and other problems. After she is stable, if she is still having some problems with depression then antidepressants of any kind can be added. Slowly and carefully. If problems with ADHD symptoms are still there, stimulants or strattera can be carefully added, but only AFTER the mood stabilizers and antipsychotics.</p><p></p><p>I realize that you are already overloaded with responsibility, but taking this on may result in a more productive spouse. Just be SURE to google SSRI withdrawal and each of her medications and withdrawal. You will be shocked. Docs often downplay or tell you that withdrawal does not exist. They are wrong. Many of us here have gone through it or seen our kids go through it. Effexor is one of the worst for withdrawal. You can have serious symptoms if you are 20 MINUTES late with a dose. That is what I dealt with. I behaved much like your wife is while withdrawing from several different SSRI/SNRI medications. Cymbalta has some wicked withdrawal also, but if she has any prozac left a dose of that can really help with withdrawal. Prozac has the longest half-life of any of the SSRIs, so one dose a week can help with the withdrawal. If she has any left have her take one until you can get her into the doctor.</p><p></p><p>The doctor needs to talk to her about staying on her medications. If the Trazadone is for sleep you may want to ask about seroquel. Many here have a dose of it at bedtime and it seems to work well. Ambien and Lunesta may also be options.</p><p></p><p>Hope this isn't too much info. It may help you to do a Parent Report on your wife. You can find it in the FAQ section. It will help you get all the info on your wife in one place.</p><p></p><p>Hugs.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 332150, member: 1233"] The auto refill is the way to go. You simply MUST call the clinic and make an appointment if she needs one for refills. Then insist on going to the doctor with her. Be open with the doctor about what is going on. Ask the doctor for either 1 month rx's with refills or 3 month rx's if you have mail order pharmacy benefits. Also ask the doctor why she is on so many SSRI medications when she is bipolar and they are known to cause cycling and other problems for people with bipolar. You NEED this info. YOU need to take the scrips from the doctor. Get them filled and set up a pill box. Make sure the medications are where YOU can see them to make sure she is taking them. If she doesn't want to take them, cheeks them, or hides them, ask her why. Let the doctor know what she is doing and why she is doing it. Set up auto refills and also keep track in your planner, phone, or whatever so you can make sure to get the medications on time. You will need to let her know you are doing this because you love her and want her to be healthy and happy. Let her know you are also doing it because she is hard to be around when she is off her medications and the kids do not deserve to have to live with that. Figuring out your bottom, that limit where you will have to separate is also important. I know you love her but you also have to love your kids and yourself. If she is this hard to live with unmedicated, and she is going to refuse medications or not bother to fill them for days or weeks on end, well, it is not healthy for the kids. It is also not safe as when you stop some of these medications you can hallucinate and/or have psychotic breaks. Just because she hasn't yet doesn't mean she might not. It is also hard on her health to go on and off of them the way she is. It is bad role modelling for the kids. FYI: The accepted medication protocol set down by the Board that certifies psychiatrists is first to use mood stabilizers until she is stable. It may take 2 mood stabilizers to do this. SSRIs are NOT mood stabilizers. Next you add anti-psychotics to help with anger and sleep and other problems. After she is stable, if she is still having some problems with depression then antidepressants of any kind can be added. Slowly and carefully. If problems with ADHD symptoms are still there, stimulants or strattera can be carefully added, but only AFTER the mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. I realize that you are already overloaded with responsibility, but taking this on may result in a more productive spouse. Just be SURE to google SSRI withdrawal and each of her medications and withdrawal. You will be shocked. Docs often downplay or tell you that withdrawal does not exist. They are wrong. Many of us here have gone through it or seen our kids go through it. Effexor is one of the worst for withdrawal. You can have serious symptoms if you are 20 MINUTES late with a dose. That is what I dealt with. I behaved much like your wife is while withdrawing from several different SSRI/SNRI medications. Cymbalta has some wicked withdrawal also, but if she has any prozac left a dose of that can really help with withdrawal. Prozac has the longest half-life of any of the SSRIs, so one dose a week can help with the withdrawal. If she has any left have her take one until you can get her into the doctor. The doctor needs to talk to her about staying on her medications. If the Trazadone is for sleep you may want to ask about seroquel. Many here have a dose of it at bedtime and it seems to work well. Ambien and Lunesta may also be options. Hope this isn't too much info. It may help you to do a Parent Report on your wife. You can find it in the FAQ section. It will help you get all the info on your wife in one place. Hugs. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
Wife not getting medications- need to unload-kinda long
Top