Stopping some meds

[Ashes]

My doc has been trying to help me sleep.  He says the reason Im so depressed is because Im not sleeping.  I have to get my sleep under control so we can get the Bipolar under control.  All that may be true but all he has done is made things worse.  When he first saw me I was switched from lamictal to lithium and he has added 6 more meds sense then.  He has me on 8 pills a night and its not working.  I still cant fall to sleep then when I do I have crazy dreams and Im wide awake every hour. 
My lithium level was to high so they stopped the lithium and I have decided to stay on 2 or 3 of the meds he has given me.  I will stick to haldol, depakote and possibly if the shakes are to bad cogentin.  Anyone have any advice on how to approach this doc when my next apt comes?

[Ashes]

Correction he added 5 more medications.

[Phyllis]

if you feel like you are on too many meds, let your doc know. have them explain to you what each med is for. It is true, we have to get our sleep under control in order for us to get well, and it is a difficult thing to do, I know.

[Paz]

 I would let the doc know that the combo of meds is causing you to have crazy dreams, perhaps your body is sensitive to one of the meds?
 Have they given you anything specifically for sleep? Or anything that you can take to help you relax prior to bedtime?

[Ashes]

Everything the doc was giving me was supposed to make me tired.  Ive been on sleeping pills before and they didn't work.  He had me on trazodone a couple of months ago. 
I stopped taking 3 meds and I am feeling a little better.  I'm sleeping better than I was while on them.  It still isn't great but it is better than how I was on all those pills.  I made sure to stay on an anti psychotic and a mood stabilizer, so Im now taking 3 meds.  I have an apt friday.

[Phyllis]

it seems like I am forever getting my sleeping pills changed. I do know that if I don't take seroquel, I will not get ANY sleep what so ever, disrupted or not. My pdoc is running out of options for me. Right now the one I am on (Remeron) is not working. But, I don't know if that is because I am sick or not. (Having bad coughing attacks that keep me up and wake me up when I do fall asleep). I hope things work out for ya!

[Ashes]

Thanks Phyllis,
I hope your coughing gets better.  Seroquel is one that did make me sleep it has so far been the only one.  I used it for about 10 or so months the first 6 it worked great then stopped.  They started changing the dose then the med. 

Paz,
I think you where right I believe it was the vistaril that was causing the dreams.