Recently Answered Questions
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Is variability of blood pressure a symptom of orthostatic hypertension?
Query: Hi doctor, My blood pressure is high when I am up. It is 150/95 mmHg but drops as low as 77/45 mmHg when laying down. My cardiologist told me this makes no sense and dismissed me. I am not lying. This is happening every single time. My left-sided heart, liver, and spleen are enlarged. I have a histo... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thanks for the query. Yes, this can occur. It is called orthostatic hypertension, and it signals an abnormality in cardiovascular autonomic control mechanisms. Diabetes mellitus may be one of its causes as it leads to autonomic dysfunction. Control diabetes, cholesterol... Read Full »
Antidepressants are not helping me. Please suggest.
Query: Hello doctor,I am 65 years old, and I have seen a few psychiatrists from a young age. I have taken a lot of antidepressants. In the past, I have been on Anafranil, Zoloft, Aropax, Cymbalta, Pristiq, Lithium, Avanza, Amitryptiline, Allegron, Tofranil, and Luvox. I have not been on any antipsychotic o... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. If the testosterone levels are low, then it needs to be treated. Also, you get a thyroid profile test, and vitamin D levels as a problem in them can also present similarly. There are plenty of treatment options available. You can discuss with your treating psychiatri... Read Full »
Can discontinuing antipsychotics cause withdrawal effects?
Query: Hi, I am diagnosed of Psychosis (NOS). The first episode was in 2010 and it lasted for three-four months before I was taken to a psychiatrist. I had been thinking that people are tracking me through email, internet. My mobile phone is tapped and all that. I did not get any auditory or visual halluci... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. First of all I must congratulate you for your efforts regarding the illness. Regarding your query, I do not think it is withdrawal psychosis. Though it occurs rare in patients, yours does not seem to be the case. Your recurrence of symptoms is mainly due to ... Read Full »
Why does my father have increased BP and panic attacks after taking antidepressants?
Query: Hello doctor, My father is 68 years old, and from the last six months, he is suffering from a few health problems. He has a severe gas problem and stomach pain. He keeps complaining about gas getting accumulated in his stomach. As a result, he has burping and shortness of breath, and his heart rate... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. As per the case history that you narrated, your father might have a somatoform disorder. It is good that the CT abdomen is fine. Your father's complaints are quite common among this age group. You had not mentioned whether he is having any history of forgetfulness, irri... Read Full »
Does drinking alcohol make Abilify never work again?
Query: Hi doctor, A person used Abilify and drank alcohol heavily on Abilify. Then switched medications and quit drinking for years. Can that person go back to Abilify again? Will it work? Or does drinking alcohol make the medication never work again? Please explain. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Abilify (Aripiprazole) effects can be reduced simultaneously by using alcohol at that point of time. It means, at the time you are taking alcohol as well as Abilify, the medicine may not be able to exert its full effect. But, its effects are not reduced in the fashion t... Read Full »
Is Vraylar effective for schizophrenia's negative symptoms?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 34 year old. I have no allergies to medications. I am schizophrenic. I take Abilify 20 mg and Solotik 200 mg. But, I suffer from negative symptoms (amotivation, alogia, etc.). I heard about a new drug Vraylar (Cariprazine). I would like to know from a specialist about the effica... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Tablet Vraylar (Cariprazine) is a new drug which was approved for use last year. It was found to be effective in negative symptoms of schizophrenia. However, only a few studies are available for its comparison with Abilify (Aripiprazole). These studies indicate that it... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor,Could you please advise me on my medication routine questions? I have a few questions regarding when would be the best time of the day to take psychiatric pills. I had schizophrenia, which was diagnosed a couple of years ago, and I was hospitalized. I did shock therapy and also took inj... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to iclinq.com. I understand your concern. The best time to take Aripiprazole is at night after dinner. There are not many side effects of this medicine. If you have side effects such as weight gain and period irregularity then you need to change it to a female-friendly antipsychotic... Read Full »
Why do I suffer from numbness and itching in my hands?
Query: Hello doctor, I am suffering from anxiety and depression from past few years. I took various antidepressants. Now I am taking Vilazodone, one tablet in the morning and Lonazep 0.25 mg from last ten days. But I am having breathlessness and palpitations when I do any small physical activity and irrita... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I am sorry to know that despite the best efforts you are not responding with current antidepressants and there are active symptoms. I suggest the following treatment given a diagnosis of diabetes with depression. Take Tablet Duloxetine (Duzela M) 30 mg in the morning... Read Full »
I have started taking Aripiprazole, after which I got spontaneous rashes. Is this worrisome?
Query: Hello doctor,I have started taking Aripiprazole 5 mg tablets, after which I started getting spontaneous rashes. My question is, is this effect worrisome (should I go to urgent care)? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Aripiprazole can induce skin rashes though it is not commonly reported. It will be safer to get yourself checked to rule out any systemic involvement, especially if you have any fever, pain, signs of the exfoliating rash. Are you on any other medication that can increa... Read Full »
Can I get tremors from drugs like Abilify and Cymbalta?
Query: Hi doctor, I have schizoaffective disorder. I take Abilify and Cymbalta. But most of the time my hands shake badly. Do you think it could be due to Abilify and Cymbalta or it could be more related to my disease? Does Abilify cause tremors as a side effect? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. How long have you had these tremors? Is it present all the time? Did you develop these tremors only after starting medication or did you have some form of shaking even before medication? Both Abilify (Aripiprazole) and Cymbalta (Duloxetine) are known to be associated... Read Full »