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 . . . → 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???

Who holds the pills???

I still have a few connections at one of the local psych hospitals in my area, so I hear from time to time complaints and concerns from “the inside”. One of the big questions that comes up is why kids have access to their medicine and, oftentimes, are given complete control of their medicine. This . . . → Read More: Who holds the pills???

Doped Up On Too Many Medications???

I put the following comments in back to back for a reason. Read on . . .

K writes in to say . . . I find being on so many medications made everything worse- not all- but most. The side effects where at times unbearable. But when I was on so many…it made . . . → Read More: Doped Up On Too Many Medications???

Klonopin withdrawal or re-emergence of anxiety???

Erin writes in with a very common question:

I am coming off Klonopin. I am currently at .25mg. and have been for three nights. Does the withdrawal symptoms have a peak and then they get better? I really want to stick it out but I am feeling pretty crappy.

There are a number of . . . → Read More: Klonopin withdrawal or re-emergence of anxiety???

Trial of no medicine–knowing when to stop and think

There comes a time in my work with some of my patients that I have to stand back and say . . . “what are you doing???” When patients come in with a cascade of difficult problems, the knee jerk reaction is to change the medicine. Initially, this might be adding an antidepressant (say . . . . → Read More: Trial of no medicine–knowing when to stop and think

More side effects than help for anxiety

C. writes in about the difficulty he has getting the right medicine to help his anxiety:

I have tried 3 different meds for anxiety – effexor (37.5) , lexapro (10mg) and toprol all have given me severe headaches and I haven’t taken any meds in six weeks and I continue to have severe headaches . . . → Read More: More side effects than help for anxiety

Benzodiazepines and the art of self adjusting medications–how to drive your psychiatrist bananas

In responce to my blarticle about the limits of usefulness of Klonopin, e-chimp writes in with the following barrage of thought provoking questions and comments:

What’s your opinion on the thin line between mis-use and self-medication? Say someone’s prescribed a small supply of 2mg diazepam, finds that this dosage does nothing and adjusts it . . . → Read More: Benzodiazepines and the art of self adjusting medications–how to drive your psychiatrist bananas

Quiting Klonopin–sometimes more is not better

Those of you who follow along faithfully in my writing know that I am a reasonable fan of the anti-anxiety tranquilizers–the benzodiazepines. While some docs I know prescribe them only under duress, I find them a useful option when my patients are suffering from extreme anxiety. Those docs who are reluctant often have a history . . . → Read More: Quiting Klonopin–sometimes more is not better