In Sickness and In Health . . . Lessons Learned From My Patients

Gabrielle Giffords  and her husband Mark Kelly have made a few appearances lately, telling their story of bravery and determination following the horrific shooting in January that left Giffords near death.  Giffords’ has made a near miraculous recovery, due in large part to a hefty dose of luck, and the determination of those around her, . . . → Read More: In Sickness and In Health . . . Lessons Learned From My Patients

Is It Worth It To Stop Your Medicine? . . . Only Time Will Tell

I have finally reached a situationally stable period of time in my life, and asked my Dr about reducing my meds. I was taking so many – 300 mg Buproprion, 1500 mg Valproic Acid, 600 mg Carbamazepine, 1 mg Clonazepam, 600 mg Seroquel, and 200 mg Lamotrigine. Ee gad! I have been diagnosed Schizoaffective,or . . . → Read More: Is It Worth It To Stop Your Medicine? . . . Only Time Will Tell

Ask Three Docs . . . Get Four Opinions . . .

I have been on medications for almost 11 years. I have been through so many. and At the present time I am on Effexor xr 150mg, Prozac 40 mg as the Dr. was trying to wean me from 225 of the effexor xr and add the prozac. 1 mg of xanax 4 x’s a day, . . . → Read More: Ask Three Docs . . . Get Four Opinions . . .

Making Effexor more Effective for depression and anxiety

Anne writes in . . . (I) am currently taking effexor. effectiveness marginal. still depressed and still anxious in social circumstances, perhaps, I just need more time with that aspect. what, if any other drug might I combine with the effexor to help with the depression?

The first step, of course, is to make sure . . . → Read More: Making Effexor more Effective for depression and anxiety

Paddling Upstream . . . Figuring Out The Role Of TMS In The Treatment Of Major Depression

Whenever a new medication or new technology hits the market, there is always a learning curve for both the public and for practicing physicians.  Tempering the excitement about receiving/delivering help with a dose of skepticism is healthy.  It keeps the public and physicians from being bamboozled by snake oil salesmen.  That is the whole idea . . . → Read More: Paddling Upstream . . . Figuring Out The Role Of TMS In The Treatment Of Major Depression

Patience . . . Patients . . . Stay On Your Medicine Till You Talk To Your Doctor . . . PLEASE!!!

Getting started on medicine is a relatively easy decision.  When folks come in to see me, things are not going well.  Be it depression or anxiety or an out of control kid who is going to fail third grade, they want help . . . like NOW.  I will be the first to admit that . . . → Read More: Patience . . . Patients . . . Stay On Your Medicine Till You Talk To Your Doctor . . . PLEASE!!!

Driving Miss Daisy . . . aka watch what your doin' with them meds!

So . . . I got in my car the other day and, much like every other day, put on my blindfold and sped off to work . . . 

“WHAT?????” you might be rightfully saying . . . “put on your blindfold and started driving?????” . . . “you CRAZY!!!”

Well, of COURSE I . . . → Read More: Driving Miss Daisy . . . aka watch what your doin' with them meds!

Approaching the (possibly) Unapproachable Doctor

I am a 33 year old female diagnosed with major depression 7 years ago and ADD about 5 years ago. I’ve been on several Tricyclics, SSRIs, Cymbalta, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Tegretol, Abilify, Provigil, Klonapin, Synthoid(for slight underactive thyroid possibly contributing to depression),Yaz (for possible PMDD contributing to depression), and Concerta, plus more (many of these I’ve . . . → Read More: Approaching the (possibly) Unapproachable Doctor

Managing Bipolar During HepC Treatment Without Losing Your Liver

I have been on Interferon/Ribovarin (HepC TX) and also have Chronic Fatigue Sydrome separate from HepC. I have been on TX for 6 mos now and the depression is TRULY starting to come through. MY CONCERN is that I am 10 months drug/alcohol free, menopausal & bipolar. I have NOT taken anti-depressants since 2006 because . . . → Read More: Managing Bipolar During HepC Treatment Without Losing Your Liver

Managing the munchies–a typical problem with the atypicals

Are there people out there who have been on Abilify for awhile (3 months to several years) who continue to have an increased appetite from it? Or does this side effect eventually stabilize and no longer be a part of daily life?

I am trying to be patient with being on Abilify b/c I think . . . → Read More: Managing the munchies–a typical problem with the atypicals