@BpinkJ - I am sorry to hear about your experience with that psych. That's just about a worst-case scenario, and truly, there are better options. I'm also sorry to hear that you learned something the hard way. I don't believe any of us should have to be in defensive-driving mode with a psychiatrist at the first visit. Unfortunately, if you don't have any background info on the doctor from anyone, it is safer to be cautious with a few things. The language we use around harm to others or self has to be pretty carefully chosen. I want to be clear - you didn't do anything at all wrong. The psychiatrist over-reacted. That is clear from the way everyone else responded to you. For next time (new doc), I'd encourage you to work closely with your therapist (who, by the sound of it, you like and trust) for recommendations of doctors that she has personal experience with. I'd also give her a release to speak to anyone you decide to see, and ask that she speak with them prior to your appointment. These things will help, and hopefully, get you a better doctor.
My current T has me diagnosed with PTSD and panic disorder only.
Your therapist may not be qualified to issue diagnosis; you'd need to check the licensing laws in your state - just FYI.
Clonazepam (klonipin) 0.5 mg as needed
Quetiapine 100mg at bedtime
Vistrial 25mg at bedtime
Duloxetine 60mg take in morning
Don't take all these. Especially if you haven't in the past. No one should have 60mg as a starting dose for duloxetine. Unless you are really struggling with sleep, don't take quietiapine or vistrial either. If you started these in the hospital, you should be able to stop them as you haven't been on them long enough for serious withdrawal effects to happen.
@valkeasisu - I know you said you're an RN, and you do know what you are talking about, but I'd think you also know better than to give discontinuation advice over the internet without qualifying it. OP needs to consult someone (pharmacist, prescriber, GP, their insurance nurse-line, etc.) in order to discontinue properly. There's nothing wrong with giving advice on the forum, but (oddly) the more qualified you are to give it, the more you also need to remind your readers that they can't just take the advice of a random person on the internet.
I am hoping the meds they gave me work and help. I just am pissed because I could have been given these meds at home and didn't need the traumatic experience.
The dulo med they gave me one day 30mg twice a day and then moved it to 60 mg once a day.
I take duloxetine. 60 mg knocks me on my ass. It is an unnecessary dose for you this early in the game and especially if you aren't suicidal. 30mg twice in one day is still 60mg. You should be started at 30mg for a week or two.
Also, just wanting to straighten a few things out here about how this works.
@BpinkJ - you were in the hospital, which is why they could ramp up your cymbalta dosage that fast. You were technically under supervision. Sometimes, this is a small advantage to starting meds in a hospital setting, actually. You get to the target dose faster. You'll have more aggressive side effects (the dopey feeling you described), but those should clear in 7-10 days from start. And if they don't, or are intolerable in any way, you can probably follow up with the prescribing physician about tapering down).
The disadvantage in starting meds while on a psych hold is, they will shoot you straight to target dose, and you don't have a chance to see how you do on the minimal therapeutic dosage.
@valkeasisu - I think that's the point you are making. Minimal dosing is always better. But there's no objective measure that 60 is "too much". I happened to need 120mg of duloxetine to stay at a maintenance dose. I'm a rapid metabolizer and always seem to end up at the far end of dosing. Others are exactly the opposite - a little goes a long way.
As far as the rest of it, four meds looks like a big list of meds, but it's not necessarily so.
@BpinkJ - the disadvantage is that you may not be able to tell which med is helping what, exactly. But the three things you can track are your sleep, your mood, and your physical state. Keep a journal; it doesn't need to be complicated, just note the time you take the meds (and how often you take the klonopin), how your sleep is, how your mood is in the morning, afternoon, and night, and whatever side effects you are experiencing and their strength. Sometimes you can just find or make really simple checklists, so you just need to mark things on your own scale of 1-5 or 1-10.
I had a doctor call the police to my home for a suicide check on me, once - nothing nearly as rough as what you went through - and I didn't think it would be possible for me to ever go near that doctor again, even though I was also seeing someone else who worked in the same building. I just want to validate that feeling you are having, of not knowing how to go back to your T - and also, I want to tell you that the feeling will slowly pass. Talk with your T about what happened. I'd bet it'll help you with processing the experience.
