Dr. Jessica Langenhan

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Quick diagnosis: Personally, i find it very difficult to diagnose in psychiatry in only 15 minutes unless I have a lot of background information (old records, informat... Read More

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4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Alan Ali and 7 doctors agree8 doctors agree

2 comments

A 19-year-old female asked:

Doctor told me to increase citalopram from 20mg to 30mg. been on 20mg for 3 weeks but will i have any bad side effects from increasing?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Unlikely: If you have been taking the 20mg of Citalopram without a problem, it is unlikely you will have a problem with increasing to 30mg. Citalopram tends to ... Read More

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2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Jeffrey Juchau agrees1 doctor agrees

A 36-year-old male asked:

Hi everybody. i have been put on buspar (buspirone) 5 mg a day, add-on to my 200mg zoloft. it's been 9 weeks and no change. what can be done.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Low-dose BuSpar (buspirone): In my experience, 5mg of Buspar (buspirone) is a rather low dose for most people. Also, Buspar (buspirone) tends to have rather subtle effects, compar... Read More

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4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 23-year-old male asked:

What blood tests should i do besides magnesium if i suffer from panic atacks and anxiety.its not a psychiatry prob i tried their medication 8 years

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Causes of anxiety: I would consider thyroid function if that hasn't been done yet. Cortisol is another thing to consider. I usually check these more for depression than ... Read More

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4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 28-year-old female asked:

Sometimes i get so angry that my chest hurts and my heart feels like it's going to explode. i am afraid that i have caused irreversible damage to my heart.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Effects of anger: Anger and stress are not healthy for the heart, but a cardiologist would have to evaluate you to determine what, if any, damage there is. Seeking help... Read More

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588 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 18-year-old female asked:

On 25mg of sertraline for anxiety,been on this for weeks,doc said to go up to 50mg after 1 week,too scared because of side effects i got with 25mg!?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Dosage effects: If you had side effects from starting the 25mg, it is possible that there may be side effects from increasing the dosage. If those side effects are to... Read More

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985 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 37-year-old male asked:

Please share a tip in the form of a haiku on living with manic depressive disorder.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Ignore: Maintain a schedule. Speak openly with doctor. Trust you can treat it.

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558 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowler agrees1 doctor agrees

A male asked:

Is 120/57 blond pressure good for 17 y.o.? i work out a lot. and im taking stimulants in pre workout. also i got blurred sight sometimes and heart ach

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Reconsider stimulant: The goal for blood pressure is to be <120 and <80. I'm not sure what stimulants you are taking before you workout, but stimulants can affect blo... Read More

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433 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 49-year-old female asked:

On 20mg amitriptyline over a year for chronic sinus related headaches. it works for me, but worried about addiction? also, does it cause weight gain?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Amitriptyline effect: Amitriptyline typically doesn't have an addictive quality. Also, if a patient takes the medication appropriately (following prescription directions, n... Read More

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4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A male asked:

Is mixing gabapentin with adderall safe?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Caution with mixing: Gabapentin and Adderall have essentially opposing effects, so it may not make sense to take the two of them together. It is always important to use ca... Read More

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433 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A female asked:

Does psychiatry medicines increase androjen? when i was 16 a had a very feminin body but now i have very thick torso and wide shoulders

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Medication effects: Risperdal and Invega are two psychiatric medications that are known for having hormonal effects, but it can't really be said that all psychiatric medi... Read More

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985 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 63-year-old female asked:

Does 20 mg of cymbalta do much for depression or anxiety?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Cymbalta dosing: 20mg of Cymbalta is on the low end of the dosing range for this medication, but everyone responds differently to medication. Some people are more sens... Read More

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433 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 21-year-old female asked:

My weight is average but i have a high body fat percentage. how do i change this without losing too much weight?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Diet and exercise: I would suggest evaluating your diet (perhaps consulting with a nutritionist) to determine a healthy balance of fat/carbohydrate/protein intake. Also,... Read More

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433 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 33-year-old female asked:

Is it normal for citalopram to cause extreme fatigue, lack of motivation, inability to concentrate and irritability? i have been on it almost 3 months

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Citalopram effects: The symptoms that you list are usually some of the things that Citalopram is prescribed to TREAT, so if you are still having these symptoms or side ef... Read More

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985 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Lois A Freisleben-Cook agrees1 doctor agrees

A 44-year-old female asked:

If i caught a severe case of stomach flu in the summer on a cruise, can i get it again?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Viral recurrence: A variety of viruses can cause GI (stomach) illness, so while you may have better immunity against the virus that made you sick over the summer, it do... Read More

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433 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 24-year-old male asked:

I'm having nausea with strattera 100mg.i start from once to twice a day.i'm on ritalin 40-60 mg per day too.how long it will take nausea to go away?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Possible dose effect: With the Ritalin and Strattera at those doses, you are taking a fair amount of medication. The nausea may be a result of the fact that you are on high... Read More

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594 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 40-year-old female asked:

I get extremely exhausted immediately after eating however i am not diabetic, my fasting blood glucose is very normal. what is happening?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Eval of exhaustion: Your fasting glucose probably won't help explain what is happening after eating, when you are clearly not in fasting mode. It could be helpful to test... Read More

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575 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 23-year-old female asked:

How to get rid of anxiety of being a new parent?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Talk with others: It's not truly realistic to get rid of anxiety about things like parenthood completely, but it is possible to manage your anxiety. Talk to other paren... Read More

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2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Evan Altman and 7 doctors agree8 doctors agree

3 thanks

A female asked:

Are there any vitamins/supplements that help with short term memory loss due to ssris? i've tried paxil, busbar, zoloft - all seem to effect my memory

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Help for memory: There aren't necessarily vitamins with proven direct effects on memory, but the B-complex vitamins support brain/nervous system health. A healthy diet... Read More

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880 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 28-year-old male asked:

I suffer with unwanted thoughts and compulsive actions again and again. i am on medication. please tell me some self help tips.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Other options: I would consult with a therapist who specializes in helping to manage unwanted thoughts and actions. He/she can give you specific tips that are better... Read More

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588 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Al Hegab and 2 doctors agree3 doctors agree

A 34-year-old female asked:

Prescribed citalopram 10mg, pregabalin 50mg twice daily & diazepam 2mg twice daily. have severe long term anxiety. is this combination safe? thanks.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Med safety: The combination of the pregabalin and the diazepam can make you tired and dizzy, so I would advise not taking them at the same time. Also, diazepam is... Read More

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985 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 35-year-old male asked:

Can't sleep very well without taken heavy duty sleep aid muscle relaxer or nyquil. and even when i do take the meds i still feel sleepy no matter what time of day i go bed and get really bad coughing where i can't catch my breath and almost vomits?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Assessing sleep: Taking muscle relaxants or NyQuil is not going to help you to get quality/natural sleep. I would suggest talking to your physician about getting a sle... Read More

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433 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Frank Kuitems and 9 doctors agree10 doctors agree

1 comment

A 51-year-old male asked:

Is it safe to take 5-10 mg reglan qhs only for long term? took 2 months, reflux much better; stopped, much worse. worried about tardive dyskinesia.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Other options: I understand your concerns about long-term Reglan use, and I'm wondering whether you have been tried on other medications for reflux? Other medication... Read More

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985 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 50-year-old member asked:

Why don't sugar and caffeine keep me awake?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Stimulant effects: Some people are less sensitive to the effects of sugar and/or caffeine. Also, sugar, in its simple forms (such as that present in pastries or candy) ... Read More

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558 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowler agrees1 doctor agrees

A 23-year-old female asked:

If the patient doesn't show waxy flexibility at all can they still have catonia schizophrenia?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Catatonia: Waxing flexibility isn't a requirement to have catatonic schizophrenia. Most catatonic cases that I have seen have involved episodes of immobility, ac... Read More

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4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 25-year-old female asked:

Why are misdiagnoses so common for psychiatry?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Misdiagnosing: There are very few things in psychiatry that can be measured with specific, definitive tests--psychiatry relies on observation, assessment through the... Read More

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4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Evan Altman and 4 doctors agree5 doctors agree

A 18-year-old male asked:

Hello, i have been battling with magical thinking ocd for a while. last night i chose not to give in to one of my rituals. however, now a day and a half later i am still thinking about it. will the anxiety eventually vanish about this ritual?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Treating OCD: Be assured that you are addressing your OCD symptoms in the correct way. Choosing not to give into OCD rituals is a key part of the Exposure-and-Respo... Read More

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601 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 34-year-old female asked:

I am 15 wks pregnant, recently tapered off klonopin and was put on buspar (not working, social phobia/panic attacks & unable to leave house). is it safe to have severe anxiety, should i go on low dose klonopin?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Anxiety & pregnancy: Buspar is a different medication than Klonopin, so it is understandable that it was not an even replacement. There are risks to taking Klonopin while ... Read More

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582 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Judith Tellerman agrees1 doctor agrees

A 17-year-old male asked:

I am experiencing impulsive or reckless behavior, socially withdrawn, impaired social skills, compulsive behavior, emotional problems and personality changes.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Recommend assessment: You have described a lot of symptoms that could potentially affect your life and/or that could get worse if not addressed. There are ways to manage th... Read More

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582 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 28-year-old female asked:

My doctor prescribed propranolol for tremors due to cerebral palsy dystonia. can i take it together with paxil?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Typically, yes: Paxil and Propranolol can be taken together. One thing to realize, however, is that Propranolol lowers blood pressure, which can have the effect of ma... Read More

Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

880 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 37-year-old male asked:

Please provide some do's and don'ts on living with bipolar disorder.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Ignore: Make sure you maintain a good sleep schedule and get 6 to 8 hours of sleep EVERY night.

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878 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Ankush Bansal agrees1 doctor agrees

A 61-year-old female asked:

Is taking a ssri safe for 20 or thirty years? does it cause memory loss?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Typically, yes: If you continue to benefit from the SSRI and are not having side effects, I would consider it safe to continue, even for 20 or 30 years. If you are st... Read More

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2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Evan Altman and 3 doctors agree4 doctors agree

A 18-year-old male asked:

Could i take my 20 mg of prozac (fluoxetine) and 5 mg of aripiprazole at night instead of in the morning due to feeling really drowsy?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Timing of medication: It's fine to take those medications at night if you feel they are making you sleepy. The important thing is to try to develop a schedule of taking the... Read More

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985 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 32-year-old male asked:

Is chest pain a serious side effect while taking zoloft? which tests should i do ? thanks

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Chest pain eval: Chest pain is usually something that should be evaluated by your physician regardless of what medication you think it might be a side effect of. It is... Read More

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594 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Frank Kuitems and 6 doctors agree7 doctors agree

A 32-year-old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: ativan (lorazepam) allergy?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Allergy definition: A true allergic reaction to Ativan or any medication (or food) involves either the development of hives or rash and/or difficulty breathing, throat co... Read More

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880 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 31-year-old male asked:

I have been diagnosed with ibs.what type of foods should i avoid . i follow a lacto-vegetarian diet . ?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Foods and IBS: Different people will have different sensitivities to foods with IBS. Dairy products and spicy or acidic foods (like coffee or tomatoes) are often the... Read More

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433 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 63-year-old male asked:

I have tinnitus and have an alprazolam 0.5 rx 2 x's a day. can a person switch quickly to valium without bad adjustment effects? thanks.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Switch to valium: Valium and Alprazolam are in the same class of medications and act on the same receptors, so one is technically a replacement for the other. Valium's ... Read More

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594 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A member asked:

What is pseudoephedrine?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Cold medicine : Pseudoephedrine is an ingredient in some cold medicines, meant to help with nasal/sinus congestion. It is a stimulant that has been used inappropriate... Read More

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413 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Gurmukh Singh agrees1 doctor agrees

A female asked:

I took the doxepin 10mg over 2 hours ago n not even slightly tired can i take a 5mg melatonin too?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Combined sleep aides: Generally speaking, if you are not feeling sleepy from the sleep aide you've been prescribed and at least 30 minutes has passed, it's okay to take mel... Read More

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601 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 37-year-old male asked:

Need help with anxiety problem that's getting progressively worse don't know what to do getting harder and harder to leave the house ?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Managing anxiety: If your anxiety is getting worse and it is affecting your ability to function your best and enjoy life, I would suggest seeing a therapist. The therap... Read More

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989 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 29-year-old male asked:

Is it safe to wean off of 16mg subutex and 1mg klonopin simultaneously within a month? i also have clonidine and gabapentin to help with withdrawals.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Tapering off meds: I would consult with a psychiatrist/addiction specialist who can provide a specific plan for tapering off those medications as well as determine for y... Read More

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588 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 30-year-old female asked:

Ive been taking venlafaxine for about 6 months now.. ive been skipping periods is this normal or what .. its driving me crazy?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Missed periods: Many things can cause menstrual irregularities such as missed periods--including stress, sleep changes, diet changes, and medications. I would speak t... Read More

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582 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A member asked:

Where can i find help (housing, testing, therapy) for my 30 yr old sister? she has split personalities, severe bipolar, depression, schizophrenia, al

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Resources: Most counties in the U.S. have mental health programs that can provide assistance for patients with mental health diagnoses even if patients don't hav... Read More

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582 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 28-year-old female asked:

I'm taking lexapro 10 mg ,seroquel 100 and lamotrigine 200mg ,ranitidine 300 mg i missed my periods im very worried can this medication be harmful ?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Side effects: All medications unfortunately have the potential for side effects. Seroquel could POTENTIALLY be affecting your periods. I would recommend talking to ... Read More

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880 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 25-year-old male asked:

I work with money someone handed me money with cocaine in it. could it effect me by touching it or the money?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Unlikely: Cocaine doesn't get absorbed through the skin, so it seems quite unlikely that that would have affected you in any way. When working with money in gen... Read More

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880 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 31-year-old female asked:

I have psos &i really struggle to lose weight. i have been to lots of weight loss groups with no or very little results, is there any medication2 help?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Diet changes: For both weight loss and general help with physical ailments including PCOS, I would consider changing to a plant-based diet. Dr. Neal Barnard has wri... Read More

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588 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Natalie Hodge agrees1 doctor agrees

A 24-year-old female asked:

Is there a way to get rid of anxiety without therapy or medication? i feel like i can overcome it on my own, i just don't know how.

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Anxiety help: Physical exercise, yoga, meditation, and spending time in nature are all relaxing/anti-anxiety practices that you can do on your own. Patients have to... Read More

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433 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 42-year-old male asked:

I need to pass a physical and due to extra stress my blood pressure is a little high. what can i do to lower it overnight so i can pass my physical? i saw my family doctor last week and we discussed the issue. he agreed i was under and little stress an

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Managing stress: Stress can certainly affect blood pressure. It's hard to do things that overnight will change things very significantly, since the effects of stress t... Read More

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985 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 31-year-old female asked:

What is the difference between psychopharmacology and psychiatry? would a psychopharmacologist help more in finding the correct medicine?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Definitions : A psychopharmacologist is typically a psychiatrist who identifies as having studied psychiatric medications in significant depth and has a very techni... Read More

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4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Linda Callaghan and 4 doctors agree5 doctors agree

4 thanks

A 30-year-old male asked:

Some psychiatry medicines give unbearable burning sensation (can't explain) in stomach which is not nausea.but i can cope up with the same medicine of some other brand. why is it so?

Psychiatry 18 years experience

Med side effect: Different brands/formulations of medications can have different coatings or "fillers" (the non-active part of the medicine) that someone might be sens... Read More

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4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Donald Jacobson agrees1 doctor agrees