Sometimes A Path Less Taken Is The Right Path For You

At the mid-year mark for 12th graders, a common question is . . . “what are you going to do next year”. Here in modestly affluent suburbia . . . the unspoken expectation is college. So that question might as well be “what college do you want to go to?” Which is a fine question . . . → Read More: Sometimes A Path Less Taken Is The Right Path For You

Into Every Life A Little Rain Must Fall–Some Thoughts On Being Prepared

One of the expectations that I have for patients I work is that they are connected with a therapist. My role has been to evaluate for the need for medicine and to periodically assess how well that medicine is working. Medicine is rarely THE answer to behavioral health needs, especially when a patient first arrives . . . → Read More: Into Every Life A Little Rain Must Fall–Some Thoughts On Being Prepared

Folate part 2: MTHFR and genetic testing

The last post about folate deficiency got me thinking. Absolute absence of folic acid is a risk for non-response to antidepressants, but suppose you have adequate intake of folic acid. Is that good enough? In most cases, yes. In some cases, no. Lets look at some chemistry so you have a better understanding of why . . . → Read More: Folate part 2: MTHFR and genetic testing

Is Vitamin B Deficiency A Risk In A Gluten Free Diet?

Awareness of the impact on Celiac disease and gluten intolerance has grown in recent years. In these patients, ingestion of gluten (a protein prevelant in wheat products, but in other grains as well) causes damage to the lining of the intestine as the body treats it like any other allergen. For those of you who . . . → Read More: Is Vitamin B Deficiency A Risk In A Gluten Free Diet?

Getting Better: Choosing a Greater Happiness

The last few mornings I have been reading and meditating on the following passage from a book entitled The Still Point Dhammapada:

“By giving up a lesser happiness one may gain a much greater one. Let the wise give up the lesser to attain the greater.”

As I sat, repeating that passage to myself . . . . → Read More: Getting Better: Choosing a Greater Happiness

As If The Name Wasn’t Cumbersome Enough–Confusion between Brintellix and Brilinta

I recently got notified about the potential for confusion between two medications. Brintellix, a relatively new antidepressant with a novel mechanism of action, and Brilinta, a medication used by cardiology to help prevent blood clots that could result in a heart attack. Obviously, the names are quite similar, but the conditions they treat could not . . . → Read More: As If The Name Wasn’t Cumbersome Enough–Confusion between Brintellix and Brilinta

Eye Don’t Know Why Eye Prescribe This Stuff . . . Additional Worries About Topamax (topirimate)

I got another bulletin of alarm in the mail the other day . . . I get these periodically. They come in a white envelope with a BIG red warning on the front that yet another major side effect was found with one of the many medications that are available for my use. This one . . . → Read More: Eye Don’t Know Why Eye Prescribe This Stuff . . . Additional Worries About Topamax (topirimate)

The Great Divide–Bridging The Gap Between Medical and Psychiatric Care

A couple of articles in my local rag caught my attention (The Philadelphia Inquirer . . . and yes, I still read the paper version of it) and has brought me back to the writing table. Thursday’s article about entitled “A global mental health concern” spoke the growing realization that mental health issues are becoming . . . → Read More: The Great Divide–Bridging The Gap Between Medical and Psychiatric Care

Adjusting Medicine Over The Summer Part I–Antidepressants

A common question as we head into the summer months is what to do about medications. Most parents (and some kids) are very reluctant to change medications over the school year since a return of symptoms covered by the medicine can be very, very disruptive. Summertime is the logical time to consider some changes. Antidepressants . . . → Read More: Adjusting Medicine Over The Summer Part I–Antidepressants

Peeling The Onion–More Is Not Always Better

Once again . . . I find I am on the receiving end of another doc’s desperate attempt to control symptoms. The layering of medicine on top of medicine is an inherent problem in Western Medicine. After all, we are spending more and more of our hard earned dollars to go to see someone for . . . → Read More: Peeling The Onion–More Is Not Always Better