Poly Drugging

Medications
1

Should this be acceptable? More and more psychiatrists are poly drugging patients they feel are resistant to meds. I personally had severe side effects from being polydrugged with two atypical anti-psychotics.

Just wondering how many here are polydrugged and what your thoughts are on it.

Poly drug use refers to the use of two or more psychoactive drugs in combination to achieve a particular effect.

To Combine or not to Combine

AntiPsychotic Polypharmacy

2

I was on abilify and my psychotic symptoms were gone but still had mood problems…so he prescribed me latuda because it’s good for mood and I got sick very quick. Then I started naltrexone which I can’t speak enough about and my mood improved vastly even though its sole intent is for alcoholic cravings, it’s done so much for me

3

was the nanaltrexone added with the latuda and abilify or did you stop one of the ap’s?

4

Poly-drugging is not a new thing, they’ve been doing it for years.

5

yes, it’s just becoming more prominent in USA. I think a stat I read in 90% polydrug in China.

1 Like
6

Once I stopped the latuda…like a month later

7

I found it really helpful in the first months out of hospital ten years ago
They are doing it as alternative to
Benzodiazepines … I’m asking for it right now after it - suggested for me short term over the course of the next few very very high stress weeks
Basically I’m being too busy for my own good and have been told to rethink my life if I want to be mentally healthy
For short term use there is nothing wrong with polypharmacology
If you need to though , make sure they’re a slow weight gainer rather than a fast one or you’ll gain too many kg

8

I couldn’t do and had bad reaction. Now I have td from it which may be permanent. Hope not. Weight gain is an issue for me with all ap - I started at 57kg and got up to 98kg, now finally back to 82.

9

I’m sorry to hear
I’m 80kg after being about 67

10

I’m on 160 mg of Ziprasidone, 2,4 mg of Risperidone and 400 mg of Abilify shot and am doing better than I ever have and I don’t even take any meds for the side-effects.

11

I been on Geodon and Seroquel for over a decade. Never had a problem with them. I’ve also been on Wellbutrin a good while.

12

Polypharmacy has saved my life.

13

@anon32099838 Wow! geoden and risperidone have a major interaction against each other. How long have you been on them together?

Drugs.com
Interactions between your selected drugs
    Major
    risperidone ↔ ziprasidone
    Applies to:Risperdal M-Tab (risperidone) and Geodon (ziprasidone)

    Using ziprasidone together with risperiDONE is not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances (for example, magnesium or potassium loss due to severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting). Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with either of these medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.
14

Thanks for the message and the concern. Been on Ziprasidone + Risperidone for 5 years. 2 years after being put on them, Fluphenazine(prolixin) was added. After the Proloxin shot was added I could feel it was messing with my heart, had palpitations and stuff and pain in chest frequently, I’ve had one EKG after first being put on Risperidone but never after that. I was on that 3 AP combo for I believe 2 years. Now, after Abilify, I don’t have the palpitations anymore and pain in the chest(heart area) is really rare, so if that combo for 2 years didn’t kill me I’ll probably be fine on my current meds. The new meds like Rexulti and Vraylar are not available yet in this country and the only one left for me to try was Clozapine, if or when they come available I’m planning to talk to my doc about one of them, for other reasons too not just the heart. But thanks.

1 Like
15

This is why sz treatment is so hard unlike other illnesses. What works well for some, doesn’t for others, and vice versa. There is no one way works method.