Accurately Diagnosing ADHD–Using The Quotient ADHD Testing System to Avoid Unnecessary Exposure to Medicine

The ambiguity of psychiatric diagnosis does not make anything easy. Especially when there is a complicated mish-mosh of symptoms that easily fit into more than one diagnostic category. And, you ARE allowed to have more than one psychiatric diagnosis. But how can I be sure that a child who presents with ADHD symptoms . . . and anxiety, and depression, and a complicated home life, and a complicated school picture . . . actually has ADHD and that the “ADHD symptoms” are not just a result of the other stuff????? . . . → Read More: Accurately Diagnosing ADHD–Using The Quotient ADHD Testing System to Avoid Unnecessary Exposure to Medicine

Ask Three Docs . . . Get Four Opinions . . .

I have been on medications for almost 11 years. I have been through so many. and At the present time I am on Effexor xr 150mg, Prozac 40 mg as the Dr. was trying to wean me from 225 of the effexor xr and add the prozac. 1 mg of xanax 4 x’s a day, . . . → Read More: Ask Three Docs . . . Get Four Opinions . . .

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

Waiting to get better . . . What are YOU waiting for???

” . . . . soooooooooo doc . . . when is this medicine going to kick in . . . ?”

“NOW!!!!”

Oh, that it was so easy. The above question is misplaced, however. Over and over I meet with patients who are on various medications that are shifted and moved and changed and . . . → Read More: Waiting to get better . . . What are YOU waiting for???

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!!!