Mama de Cleo rides again

[cleolinda]

So yesterday I got absolutely zero work done because my dogs spent all morning barking hysterically at stove repair people. The two guys themselves were nice; they've been out to our house a total of three times to install a new range for us (and I'll have to take a picture of it; it's totally space-age awesome and... a bit difficult to cook on,

Comments

[aravynkenobi]

I don't think I've ever left a comment on your lj before. I've been a faithful reader of M15M and, recently, the Secret Life of Dolls. But I didn't want to bother you with comments. For some reason, I've decided to say something now. Maybe because I've gone through crazy stuff with meds myself.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the time release of the meds was affected by you cutting the pills. I used to take Tegretol and when we were messing with my dosage, weird stuff happened when I had to cut the pills. Ultimately, I wound up on Depakote, which is much better, but that's beside the point.

I'm truly sorry for all the crap you've had to go through with this. I hope things start getting better permanently in this department. And on a sidenote, your mom is amazing. Just wanted to say that.

[cleolinda]

Yeah, I really do think the cutting was not helpful. That's really very likely what it is. (And thank you!)

[particle_person]

I think the timing was affected by the cutting too. They design these things to dissolve in a certain way, and if you cut them, they dissolve...differently. Actually, that's one of the biggest contrasts between brand name meds and generic meds. Sometimes it makes no difference and you save a lot of money with the generics, but other times it's the difference between no side effects and massive side effects.

[moonyprof]

Whew, what a story! I hope the 200 dosage works out for you. I've been through the whole Lamictal adjustment thing and it can be scary at first, plus you *don't* want to take the generic. Trust me on this.

It's a GOOD idea to pay attention to physical symptoms when you're changing dosage like that. Calling the doctor was absolutely the right thing and it sounds like she took you seriously. I cut my Lamictal all the time because I'm on 250 mg, so I don't know if that was a factor, but everyone's different.

I've never had the Legendary Fatal Rash, but again, it's a good thing to take it seriously. Here's hoping it all works out and that you truly do Feel Better.

[cleolinda]

you *don't* want to take the generic. Trust me on this.

Oh shit...

[moonyprof]

Oh, gosh, that *could* be the problem. Just a personal experience, but FWIW. I was on Lamictal and doing nicely, and then sometime last July Lamictal went generic. Usually I'm cool with generic stuff and I never gave it a second thought. I got crabby and upset and freaked. Finally I was in a faculty meeting and some asshole in Engineering was giving me grief. I thought I was about to jump the table, slam him on the floor, and tear him a new one, a tiny hint that maybe I was a wee bit overwrought

[arachnejericho]

I'm glad now that I fought against getting the generic. Given that I generally do badly on medication changes, the generic probably would not have been nice with me at 400mg going on 500.

[annlarimer]

Can, ah, can I have your Mom's number? Just in case? I've had really bad luck with airlines and hotels the last couple years...

I am grateful when you post Adventures in Modern Meds. Sometimes I need to be reminded that it's not just me.

[cleolinda]

Yeah--I'm sure to a lot of people it sounds really TMI, but I figure it helps people to go, "Oh, shit, that's something I need to talk to my own doctor about, then."

[calatha]

We bought a water heater from Sears and while it was under warranty, one of the elements had to be replaced. Oh sure the part was covered. But to come out and replace it? $125 for a fifteen minute job to install a $17 part. So even when they're legit they're ripping you off.

[symmetryonset]

How time release works: they make a little pill cost with a hard shell and repeat several time. They why your body dissolves the medicine gets to the shell and is slowed down as is dissolves the shell before it get to more medicine. I am not sure why you would be advised to cut a time released pill because then it doesn't work in a time release fashion any more and your system can get to all the med at once.

Just FYI

[fiveforsilver]

Thank you, you know what, I have wondered forever how they did time-release pills. That makes so much sense, wow. Cool!

Also, yeah, cutting a time-release pill sounds like it would totally defeat the purpose.

[smadronia]

So that's how they work? Thanks for that, I've always wondered if that's how they were made.