My doctor is trying to get me down to one pill a day (which I don't think is going to happen but it never hurts to try.)

First to go is the Lexapro because I'm told it could be activating me. It was decreased from 20mg/day to 10mg/day. Next to go I guess is the Cogentin. I'd hate to give up Lunesta because it helps me to sleep.

I will update on my progress as it comes.

Andy...

Tomorrow I go back to partial where there will be access to a pdoc every day if needed. I'm hoping when I see the pdoc tomorrow, I can get the Lexapro decreased again (to 5mg) and the Cogentin increased (to 2mg/day). I'd like to increase the Cogentin to help manage the restlessness I get from Abilify. I haven't been using the lunesta lately because I've been getting to sleep fine. Now I seem to be waking up between 5:30 and 6 in the morning but I lay in bed till around 7 to 8am.

Well I saw the pdoc at the partial program. He increased the Cogentin to 1.5mg/day. He says soon we will be decreasing the Lexapro to 5mg/day and the Abilify to 15mg/day. Abilify has been kind to me this time in not giving me akathesia symptoms like the other three times. I wonder if it's because of the reduced Lexapro.

Well I saw the pdoc today and he sees that there is some progress. I am doing much better now that I am off of the Zyprexa. It was helping me but made me gain over 20 pounds and made me sedated during the day. The pdoc decreased my Lexapro (10 to 5mg) and he increased the Abilify (10 to 15mg). He wants me off of Lexapro because of it's activating properties. He increased the Abilify to help keep me from getting depressed from the decreased Lexapro (a med to treat side effects; Oh Boy!). No, I'm comfortable with the notion of the increased Abilify and decreased Lexapro. I wish it could have been done sooner to maybe offset the need for increased Cogentin. He did confirm that I have Akathesia but isn't completely sure which medication it's from. Well, once we see my reaction to the change of meds, we'll find out. He said that he will see me next week so I have a whole week to adjust to this medication change. Seeing that I've been progressing well at this point, I gather things will only get better from here on out.

I hope you find what works for you.

Just a question though, doesn't it usually take longer than a week to adjust to medication changes?? maybe not.. I have no idea

Well it may be longer than a week for another medication change but he wants to see me in a week for a follow up.

good luck with your journey i know i have a lot of work to go as well

Thanks for the luck. I will definitely take it. I'm doing what I have to do to get better. I'm attending the partial program as requested, taking my medication as my doctor prescribes, and keeping track of my symptoms/side effects. Currently I feel in remission of my symptoms and I've not had major side effects this time with my "cocktail" and I'm feeling great.

Good luck!
One pill a day? Lol, that's a totally foreign concept to my multi-problematic brain & body.

Well I saw a nurse practitioner today which I thought was good. I told her about some increased restlessness and she upped the Cogentin from 1.5mg/day to 2mg/day, which I think will make a big difference. She told me to take all the Abilify at night (I was taking 5mg in the AM and 10mg @ Bedtime; She wants me to take 15mg @ Bedtime). I feel these two changes will definitely help with the restlessness. Lexapro and Lunesta are the same. I don't think I will be getting down to this one pill a day but I feel that's fine. I'm comfortable with taking 3 or 4 medications as long as they are all doing their jobs.

Thanks for your updates, Andy. I have certainly had a bunch of adjustments to my cocktail. I'm okay for right now-- everything seems to be working, but I have noticed that I have mild hyperprolactinemia from the Abilify and the Depakote has caused some GI problems. I actually had to switch from the ER version of Depakote to the EC version because of this. I've chosen to stick with the Depakote as the benefits are worth it (my psychotic mixed episode at the end of May scared me into taking my meds).

Insofar as taking one pill a day, I've given up on that and accepted that I'll probably have to take a variety of things for the rest of my life so that I can retain some semblance of normalcy and functionality. As much as I would like to be "normal," I have come to realize that I am and always will be mentally ill and if I want to enjoy my life, I'll have to take a few pills. If that's what is going to prevent me from destroying myself, then I suppose that I can accept that. At least that's what my mood tells me to write today . . .

Thanks again for the update and let us know how the partial compares to full hospitalization.

Oh partial is way better than full hospitalization. At least with partial you are home during the time you are not in program. Better than the 4 walls of the hospital...

Well in the end, I'm down to 3 medications (Lexapro, Abilify, & Cogentin). I've been sleeping fine lately without the aid of Lunesta but I will be keeping it around just in case. I went back to seeing my regular pdoc from now on now that I'm out of the partial program. She told me that she doesn't want ot completely drop the Lexapro because that could trigger a return of symptoms. That's fine by me. The Abilify I'm taking as a mood stabilizer (even if it's not the best choice). Cogentin is of course for the side effects of Abilify (without it I get restless). I seem to be doing ok, and I'm happy and content. I like how I feel right now and I don't see any reason to change anything at this particular moment...

I'm glad you're feeling better Andy!

Thank you adhdogwalker.

Well the panic attacks started coming back so instead of being on 5mg of Lexapro, I'm now up to 10mg of Lexapro, but other than the increased panic attacks, I'm doing fine. :)