Anticipating change to meds if start cpap

[leptic]

Hi -

As mentioned in my other posts, I've been struggling with a number of symptoms that may well turn out to be associated with sleep apnea that has gone unrecognized (and untreated) for at least three years.

I've been taking 20 mg Cipralex for 'depression' and addressing excessive daytime sleepiness with 32 mg Concerta in the morning and 18mg in afternoon if needed. I think the Cipralex might help slightly with irritability and bad mood that could really be due to sleep deprivation, and while the Concerta does allow me to stay awake it's increasingly felt like that was not a good thing.

I'm hoping that, depending on diagnosis and response to therapy, I will be able to wean myself from the above meds. I'm not going to do anything without consulting my current physician (the one who actually clued into the possible apnea connection), but wondering if others have had similar experiences with this.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I'm hoping that, depending on diagnosis and response to therapy, I will be able to wean myself from the above meds. I'm not going to do anything without consulting my current physician (the one who actually clued into the possible apnea connection), but wondering if others have had similar experiences with this.

I think you answered your own questions right there. I would only add that you keep a notepad next to your bed and make notes about what's happening with your sleep therapy and your day-to-day weaning off the meds. I know that if I don't sleep well my recall can sometimes be impacted... I found this true when I weaned off benzos years ago.

Please register your equipment in your equipment profile so we can better help you:
wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile

[chillAtGVC]

I've been on various anti-depressants for years. I was on a new one that went from totally ineffective to fantastic literally overnight when I stated CPAP. I had to reduce my dosage at that point as I was too energizes in the day. Once I get settled into the machine, I will talk to my doctor about a more reduced dosage or tapering off. So, it can happen but you should not depend on it happening.

[Goofproof]

Anticipating and Assuming, are part of the same worthless logic. We make changes in our lives, then we live with the results. It's useless to count on garrentees, when there are none. Using XPAP will not stop aging either, and by my experence, it hasn't made me any better looking. Jim/b]

[leptic]

Anticipating and Assuming, are part of the same worthless logic. We make changes in our lives, then we live with the results. It's useless to count on garrentees, when there are none. Using XPAP will not stop aging either, and by my experence, it hasn't made me any better looking. Jim/b]

Darn! I was also hoping that it would make me taller and grow more chest hair...

Actually I guess my question was more if people had been misdiagnosed prior to their SA therapy, and were able to stop meds that in retrospect were counterproductive. I'm particularly apprehensive about the Concerta, which might make some sense for narcolepsy alone but even if your doc keeps bumping up the dose this won't make up for the sleep lost to SA. It seems like plowing through sleep deprivation propped up by stimulants is a recipe for disaster.

[Goofproof]

Best thing use your XPAP, correctly optimize your treatment with software, then after that, you will be ready to make SLOW changes in meds, with the doctors guideance. Jim

Messing with meds, is best done in Baby Steps.

[Julie]

Hi, just saw your other note re work performance etc... together with this one and others you've posted, you're working yourself up into quite a state before very much has even taken place. That in itself can jeopardize any therapy, never mind work. Don't you think it would be a good idea to back off until you really have a better picture of where things are going with Cpap, meds, and life in general? We are happy to help, but maybe you need to talk to someone there, in person, if it would help to centre your anxiety. You're trying to second guess things before they've even begun and I don't think that's going to be very productive for you. One day at a time and all that.

[leptic]

Hi, just saw your other note re work performance etc... together with this one and others you've posted, you're working yourself up into quite a state before very much has even taken place. That in itself can jeopardize any therapy, never mind work. Don't you think it would be a good idea to back off until you really have a better picture of where things are going with Cpap, meds, and life in general? We are happy to help, but maybe you need to talk to someone there, in person, if it would help to centre your anxiety. You're trying to second guess things before they've even begun and I don't think that's going to be very productive for you. One day at a time and all that.

Thanks you're probably right. I realize that all the second guessing probably seems (and perhaps is) pretty weird. I'm not sure where you are in Canada, but the access to quality healthcare can be a bit patchy where I live. It's definitely there, but wait lists are very long and sometimes I've found myself in situations where I've had to advocate for myself or family members and knowing the observations to relate - or questions to ask - 'on the spot' can make a big difference when you might wait another eight months to see the doctor for five minutes. I finally ended up going to a private clinic, so the wait is not so bad but here the issue is that things can get expensive if the tests have to be repeated because they are performed and evaluated in a perfunctory manner.

Sorry also if I seem neurotic about the work stuff. The situation is unfolding (unravelling?) rather rapidly on a day-to-day basis and I suppose I've not done very well waiting for my test results (I did the clinic's test the night of May 12). I've never taken significant time off work for health reasons, which is great on paper but I wonder if this hasn't been a form of 'presentee-ism' (the practice of going ineffectually through the motions at work when you should really be confronting health or personal issues).

I will definitely talk with someone at my clinic, but suppose I've been using the forum as a crutch during the somewhat long wait time. Apologies if this has all been a bit melodramatic!

[Julie]

No, no - sorry if I gave the wrong impression - half of us are probably neurotic by now and it's understandable early on when you don't know what to expect... I was just a bit concerned though. Being retired can make you forget what it's like to worry about work, and then facing all this stuff as well can't be fun. Do you meditate?

Does your office encourage full disclosure or 'sharing' about medical problems, or otherwise? I would imagine the instinct would be to keep things to yourself, but that doesn't always work if problems are obvious anyway - OSA's not easy to hide after all - but I wonder if some (not every detail) explanation to the right people (HR?) would at least show them you're on your way, on some kind of timeline vs 'no end in sight', though you may already have done that. But I'm not sure offering to move back down the food chain is the answer... knowing what companies are like.

Anyway, feel free to complain here, or ask questions... possibly in the same thread so we can keep track of things for your sake... and remember you're on a path that will eventually sort itself out better. Do work on one thing at a time and don't sweat the small stuff (unless your diet's bad, it can probably wait a bit for revamping). Good luck and do keep us up to date.