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!

Depression Not Getting Better, But Not Out Of Options

Over the past 2.5 years I have been on and off 7 different antidepressants (5 SSRIs, one SNRI) but my doctor has not been satisfied that the benefits outweigh the risks/side effects. He says he is out of drug options and is looking to my psychologist to help me. For about the past year and . . . → Read More: Depression Not Getting Better, But Not Out Of Options

Worked The First Time . . . Why Not The Second?

“Confused” writes in with a question . . .

In the past I have been prescribed Klonopin 1mg 3x a day.   This worked well for me until I built a tolerance. Several years have passed, I never experienced addiction or withdralls. I have been prescibed this medicine again for panic attacks, anxiety & being . . . → Read More: Worked The First Time . . . Why Not The Second?

What is Causing What? . . . Multiple Factors Contributing To A New Mom's Woes

I am a 27-year-old female with an extensive psychiatric history. I have been on almost every type of medication except tricyclics and stimulants.  I am diagnosed with Bipolar I and Borderline Personality Disorder. Currently, I am seeing a new psychiatrist who is “pill-happy”. I feel like she doesn’t listen to me. Right now I am . . . → Read More: What is Causing What? . . . Multiple Factors Contributing To A New Mom's Woes

Getting past the urine drug screen while taking Vyvanse

A colleague writes in . . .

I am an RN in a recovery nurse program secondary to ‘emotional condition’ . . . I had some mental health issues that were not being treated. My psychiatrist, who is an addictionologist, prescribed Vyvance for ADHD since Strattera was not effective and led to flattened affect and other . . . → Read More: Getting past the urine drug screen while taking Vyvanse

Another Klonopin Horror Story . . . why do I prescribe this stuff anyway???

I have had such an overwhelming number of negative comments about Klonopin lately, I thought I would feature it in another blarticle again.  I thought I would use the following comment sent in not long ago . . .

I started Klonopin 8 years ago for “Nocturnal Myoclonus”. I had heard they were difficult to . . . → Read More: Another Klonopin Horror Story . . . why do I prescribe this stuff anyway???

Tapering quickly off Klonopin . . . or . . . how to drive yourself crazy and feel like crap

Dawn writes in . . . actually . . . shouts in . . . 

HI I WAS ON KLONOPIN FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS NOW AND I AM TRYIGN TO WEAN MYSELF OFF. I AM NOTICING I HAVE THE SHAKES, I CANNOT THINK STRAIGHT AT ALL, I CANNOT RETAIN MUCH OF ANYTHING, MY FACE GETS . . . → Read More: Tapering quickly off Klonopin . . . or . . . how to drive yourself crazy and feel like crap

Alcohol and Klonopin . . . decision time

I have been putting this off for a while.  I have a nice lady who lives in difficult circumstance.  She has struggled with addictions most of her life, whether it is food, drugs, and now, alcohol.  Both her circumstance and her biology lead her to be tremendously anxious, depressed and to have mood swings that . . . → Read More: Alcohol and Klonopin . . . decision time

Ak-ak-ak-ak-akathesia . . .the trouble with Abilify

 Now . . . don’t get me wrong . . . I am a big fan of Abilify.  Even if their over the top marketing binge is so financially disgusting to me that I want to reflexively run screaming into the night.  I mean, really, how many prime time advertisements for this product do they . . . → Read More: Ak-ak-ak-ak-akathesia . . .the trouble with Abilify

Using Xanax and Klonopin–is that safe???

It’s nice when things go smoothly, isn’t it . . . Now, personally, I can’t remember a time when things DID go smoothly.  It always seems that something is cropping up and disturbing the day.  Stress from home.  Stress from work.  The kids.  Traffic.  And then . . . once again, you are in panic . . . → Read More: Using Xanax and Klonopin–is that safe???