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

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

My, Oh My, How Time Flies!!! Getting Off Antidepressants After Accidentally Taking Them For A Decade

Mike writes in with a frequently voiced concern:

I am a 48 year old male and I have been on Paxil for about 11 years now and have been wondering about getting off it. I am aware that there is “detox” time needed and I’ll feel like shit (among other things), . . my question . . . → Read More: My, Oh My, How Time Flies!!! Getting Off Antidepressants After Accidentally Taking Them For A Decade

Another Casualty of the Lack of Health Care Reform

Andrea writes in:

I have been taking 100 mg of Lamictal for about two years. In the last 1.5 yrs my doctor added 100 mg of Pristiq. I have recently lost my health insurance and need to get off both drugs as a result. How should I do this? I’m a full time student and . . . → Read More: Another Casualty of the Lack of Health Care Reform

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!!!

Balancing The Need For Benzos and Antidepressants To Cover Anxiety

I noticed another fellow talked about being on 3 mg on klonopin for 15 years. For me, it’s been about .5 to .75 mg per day for 14 months but I have still been unsuccessful coming off of it. Do you recommend using acupucture and meditation during a slow taper? I also take 60 mg. . . . → Read More: Balancing The Need For Benzos and Antidepressants To Cover Anxiety

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 social . . . → Read More: Worked The First Time . . . Why Not The Second?

Rash from Lamictal . . . do you have to stop it?

This letter brings up an important question about Lamictal . . .

I’m a 45 y/o female properly diagnosed and treated as bipolar for 1 & 1/2 years. Prior to this diagnosis, I was treated soley for depression for 10 years (the last 5 as refractory.) I am presently doing GREAT on Lamictal 200mg daily . . . → Read More: Rash from Lamictal . . . do you have to stop it?

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 . . . → Read More: Tapering quickly off Klonopin . . . or . . . how to drive yourself crazy and feel like crap