On the search engine terms on my blog stats the other day, I had “combining Effexor and Cymbalta” listed multiple times. LIKE 25 TIMES. Seems someone had a question that was not getting answered too quickly. It brought to mind, once again, how mysterious these medications can be to people. To most folks (and some . . . → Read More: Combining Effexor and Cymbalta–a good example of what not to do
 3 comments - (Comments are closed)  antidepressants, depression, FDA, medication, medication side-effects 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 4 comments - (Comments are closed) antidepressants, anxiety, benzodiazepines, depression, medication, medication side-effects, therapy What does it mean when someone has a negative reaction to antidepressants? Most people put on antidepressants do well. They have minimal to no side effects and have a gradual improvement in their mood/anxiety. For some people, a trial of an antidepressant is a nightmare. Any time an antidepressant is initiated, you can experience irritability, . . . → Read More: Irritability during antidepressant trials 2 comments - (Comments are closed) anger/irritability, antidepressants, bipolar disorder, depression, medication, medication side-effects The following comment/question brings up a number of issues that are important. I reprint the following without editing . . . I have been on effexor xr for a long time. it’s the only thing that works. I recently spiked a high BP. I thought I might be going through perimenpausal symtoms. I think . . . → Read More: High Blood Pressure with Effexor Comments are closed antidepressants, anxiety, depression, herbal medicine, medication, medication side-effects A therapist writes in with the following question: I had a disagreement with a psychiatrist. I’d thought that in using SSRI’s to treat anxiety–social phobias, social anxiety, etc.–LOW doses are usually given. (5-10mg of Celexa/day). Treating depression usually requires HIGHER doses, (20-60mg Celexa/day). She maintained that higher doses of SSRI’s are required to treat . . . → Read More: Which requires a higher dose of medicine, anxiety or depression? 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 2 comments - (Comments are closed) antidepressants, anxiety, benzodiazepines, medication, medication side-effects Patricia writes in the following question: I need advice on how to taper off of Lamictal. I am taking 100 mg a day. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Lamictal is an easy medication to get off of, as long as you don’t need it! Any time you stop a medication, you must . . . → Read More: Tapering Lamictal 25 comments - (Comments are closed) antidepressants, bipolar disorder, depression, medication, medication side-effects, mood stabilizers 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 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 Most of you who regular readers of this blog do not have to worry about this issue. But psychiatric patients are at greater risk of having Hep C. While 2% of the general population has Hep C, 20 % of persons with severe mental illness have Hep C. Regardless, any patient who faces treatment for . . . → Read More: Depression during Interferon Treatment for Hepatitis C 12 comments - (Comments are closed) anger/irritability, antidepressants, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, medical illness, medication, medication side-effects |
   
Dr. Daniel G. Hartman, aka The Sidewalk Psychiatrist, manages and works at The Philmont Guidance Center, just outside Philadelphia. Learn more about Philmont Guidance Center. |
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