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Hi everyone...just to give you an update on my rollercoaster life with my alcoholic husband... as a last resort, he went on his own to see a new psychiatrist last week. My husband has a 10 year history of substance abuse (cocaine, beer)...
In the last year, he has been diagnosed with bipolar and hypomania, and prescribed Abilify and Depokote... He complained about abilify, and said the side effects were bad, so he quit after 2 weeks while he continued abusing drugs. With Depakote, we saw nothing happen, no side effects, nothing good came of it... After the recent kicking him out, and letting him back in, and his family and my family intervening, he has his back against the wall, and ran to the psych on his own.
The psych prescribed him Seroquel...well at lease a 14 day supply to see how he would do, then he meets with his psych again next week to follow up. So far, he has been taking his meds as he should, on his own without me having to remind him like I used to in the past... In the past 5 days, I have already seen a difference (not sure if Seroquel starts working this fast), but he has been very calm, he hasn't raised his voice, the tantrums have stopped, and he is sleeping and eating more... It is peaceful...
Has anyone had any experience with the drug Seroquel? I was told that it works well with people that have mental illness and substance abuse problems... I have already seen changes in my husband, it's remarkable...Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel... I also start my first Al-Anon meeting on Wednesday...
I don't know anything about Seroquel but please please keep me posted as to how well it works, sounds like a miracle!! You will likely find your miracles at alanon face to face meetings also. Please try several times and or several meetings if you are not sure about it at first, as it took me a couple of meetings to know for sure I had found a new home and a new life. Good luck and my prayers for continued recovery!
My ex (crack addict) was diagnosed bipolar1 along with many other things. They had him on Depakote/seroquel combination which is the most popuar combination these days for Bipolar. He was also on risperal (sp?) for the psycotic breaks. He was on a handful of other drugs also but the depakote/seroquel combo was the main treatment. He gained over 100 pounds. His sister was on the same combo and she gained 75 as did his father. Seroquel has that as a main side effect. My ex sat on the couch and didn't move. At all. EVerything became overwhelming for him. He would fall asleep randomly, drool, and the sex became no exisitent. He did this for a few months...maybe a year. I kept telling him that he was over medicated and he needed to talk to the psy about it but he didn't. He just felt sorry for himself and eventually blamed me for his condition and then went off the meds and back to crack and drinking. My SIL spent about 2 years on it and my FIL was never consistent. It is the nature of Bipolar for them to be inconsistent with the medications. The main drug used to be lithuim. It is a salt and is contridictory to use with alcoholics because it is known to cause kidney damage when used long term.
At first I was happy to have a reasonably calm person to live with but eventually, it became as bad as it ever was. The risperdal can be used sporadically, like when they feel themselves getting mad, they can pop one to take the edge off (sounds kind of wrong to me but at least he wasn't drop kicking my butt across the room because the TV was on the fritz) He took it regularly as a dose a day (actually 3 times a day). My ex also went to a dual diganoses out patient rehab that specialized in people with mental illness and addiction. But again, he got out of it what he put into in and that was zip.
Good luck, enjoy the good times, remember the three C's......
Thanks, this helps. My h was diagnosed with bipolar 2/hypomania which is a milder form of bipolar. He doesn't seem depressed. He laughs alot, enjoys music, etc, but it's the tantrums and drug use....
The weight gain won't be so bad since he is a skinny toothpick. Dr started him on 50 mg a day, so not sure if it will be increased next week...his mood seems to have gotten better in the last 5 days. he's not sluggish, slightly groggy, but seems refreshed in the moring. He does become extremely tired and sleepy, and falls into deep sleep at night....
I dunno not to sound cold or anything about him but how are you doing. This roller coaster stuff takes a toll on us. How are you, how are you sleeping, how are you managing. This program is about 'you' and how you are!
I'm fine as long as there is peace in the house... I went to take my daughter to see the fireworks for the 4th, while my H slept in a deep sleep... It felt surreal... I had a great 4th of July, felt like old times... relaxing a bit... if this is what i can look forward too, then its a major sigh of relief
i don't personally think anyone can predict what any A can and will do. Its entirely in their ball park the subject of recovery. Where I make myself sick is trying to control anyone. In fact when I really let go there is such a sense of relief.
For many of us there is a long period of negotiation with what we can and can't live with. I say that entirely without judgment. Whether you stay, leave, whatever with the A is in your ballpark not mine. I can only give you my ESH that when I was with the A I was totally out of control. Al anon gave me many tools that helped me tremendously. I stopped having my whole life energy sapped by his disease. Lo and behold I discovered I have my own serious serious issues with codependency to deal with, with or without him.
Some days are good in recovery some aren't. I know that for me personally I can't guarantee, predict or even some days fathom some As behaviors. My own is pretty perplexing. So I try super hard to focus on my own rather than live in reaction to. Over reacting, like people pleasing is my norm.
I know a fellow on seroquil. He is a recovering A- 2 years clean. He gained a little weight, but that might not be from the drug. he is doing great and he was a giagantic mess. He poured stuff down his throat till he passed out 2 or 3 times a week. Seoquil and 7 meetings a week worked for him I'm glad to say. Laura
Seroquel... I've been prescribed Seroquel before and I did have weight gain. The reason was because after i would take it I would get a buzz like I was stoned and I would get the munchies. I slept like I had not slept in years. It took me off of the roller coaster ride, but made me not care if the house was burning around me. And each month my doc would want to increase the dosage. The max is 300 miligrams. I could not imagine. I was taking 100 milligrams and that was more than enough. Needless to say, I don't go to that Doc anymore, I quit taking the medz and I feel better...even though my hubby is still drinking. The best thing is for me to take care of myself ( a healthy way). Sincerely, Tonya
My AH was on Seroquel when he was in rehab/halfway house. Then for some reason, he switched to Wellbutrin (which doesn't work well) and you can see a huge difference. He's angrier and more high-strung than ever. Thanks for all the comments on this drug.
