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Q Hears Voices All the
Time
To Whom it May Concern,
I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder back in 2002 and started collecting SSI in
2010. There are relatively no medications that work for me; I hear voices all
the time. And more importantly, recently, my symptoms are worsening; they do
seem to worsen under stressful situations. The medications I have taken have
caused allergic reactions, horrible gastrointestinal problems, and most have
made my symptoms worse; I can’t even take an anti-depressant for my depression,
of any kind, because it throws me into a full blown manic attack. My doctor as a
last result attempted to put my on Haldol last summer, but it only worsened my
symptoms (it made the voices sound like they were being turned up and down with
a warbling sound); I can’t even take Clonapin here and there for sleep because
it creates such dry mouth that I wake up choking in the middle of the night.
Right now I am on Seraquel and that is the only thing that helps me sleep (and
is the only thing I’ve taken that doesn’t cause a major problem), but it
doesn’t help with the voices anymore.
Is there anything new on the market that helps with BPD of my kind, or anything
else that might help which would be considered homeopathic; I am really at my
wits ends with the disorder. When I am at home most of the time I just sleep
anymore, because of the depression and then I don’t have to put up with the
voices.
Christina
Christina,
I would first reconsider the
diagnosis. If you have ongoing
auditory hallucinations, this is
more indicative of a primary
psychotic disorder such as
schizoaffective disorder. This
probably won't change your
difficulties with medications but
should be pursued. As for your
medication problems, I would
consider maximizing the Seroquel
since you are able to tolerate it.
Sometimes combining an
antipsychotic in low dosage with the
Seroquel may be helpful. You may
want to try Trilafon or even
Clozapine. Clozapine has to be
monitored closely but can be very
effective. For sleep you may want
to try Restoril (another
benzodiazepine), Trazodone, or
possibly Doxepin. As for homeopathic
remedies, there are not many that
are effective for an illness such as
yours, but I would strongly
encourage you to consider weekly
psychotherapy.
Dr. Plyler
Published
August, 2011
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