Dancing With The Devil . . . or . . . How Did I Allow Klonopin (or Ativan . . . or Xanax . . . ) To Rule My Life

I have been taken aback with the number of severe comments I have gotten from people who have had such a difficult time with Klonopin and other benzodiazepines over the years. In my practice, it has a central role in symptoms relief for many people with generalized and panic anxiety. When starting them, they always . . . → Read More: Dancing With The Devil . . . or . . . How Did I Allow Klonopin (or Ativan . . . or Xanax . . . ) To Rule My Life

Adderall vs. Vyvanse and Dealing With a Difficult Doc

I have a question for you pertaining to Vyvanse and ADHD in general. I’m 23 years old and currently living in Fresno, CA, and have been diagnosed by a couple psychiatrists here and elsewhere with ADHD. One prescribed me Provigil, which seems to work alright, but also gives me bad anxiety at the doses I . . . → Read More: Adderall vs. Vyvanse and Dealing With a Difficult Doc

Vyvanse For Young Patients–Give ’em a Break???

Anne writes in with a common worry:

I have a 7 year old son that has just received a diagnosis of adhd (combined type). we adopted him when he was 4 years old. our psychiatrist has said that she feels that his severe adhd and pattern of his other behaviours are typical of someone with . . . → Read More: Vyvanse For Young Patients–Give ’em a Break???

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

. . . Another Man Done Gone . . .

I caught you knockin’ at my cellar door,

I love you, baby, can I have some more,

Oh, the damage done.

I hit the city and I lost my band,

I watched the needle take another man,

Gone, gone, the damage done.

I sing the song because I . . . → Read More: . . . Another Man Done Gone . . .

Making Effexor more Effective for depression and anxiety

Anne writes in . . . (I) am currently taking effexor. effectiveness marginal. still depressed and still anxious in social circumstances, perhaps, I just need more time with that aspect. what, if any other drug might I combine with the effexor to help with the depression?

The first step, of course, is to make sure . . . → Read More: Making Effexor more Effective for depression and anxiety

Paddling Upstream . . . Figuring Out The Role Of TMS In The Treatment Of Major Depression

Whenever a new medication or new technology hits the market, there is always a learning curve for both the public and for practicing physicians. Tempering the excitement about receiving/delivering help with a dose of skepticism is healthy. It keeps the public and physicians from being bamboozled by snake oil salesmen. That is the whole idea . . . → Read More: Paddling Upstream . . . Figuring Out The Role Of TMS In The Treatment Of Major Depression

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!!!

Picking Between the Least Worst Options

So great to stumble upon your blog. I am a single mom of an amazing 5 year old suffering from ADHD and Sensory issues who has tried every drug in the book. But, the side effects are grueling. With Vyvanse, although his symptoms practically disappeared, he developed severe speech dis-fluency. It was just torture for . . . → Read More: Picking Between the Least Worst Options

Mood Instability . . . PMDD or Bipolar Disorder . . . Or Both?

I am a 29 yo mother and was diagnosed as being bipolar at approximately 25 yo. I have taken a variety of medications(lamicatal, fluoxetine, topamax, lithium) and respond but i have always had “flare-ups” of exaggerated moodiness(rage, sadness, etc) about 2 weeks before my period. Since I have been married my husband has been able . . . → Read More: Mood Instability . . . PMDD or Bipolar Disorder . . . Or Both?