Posted by Toby on December 1, 1998, at 15:57:45
I just saw a patient with Xanax abuse/dependence and depression/anxiety due to grief over the death of her husband last year in a tragic car accident. No history of mania, other depressions, no family history of anything. She got out of a drug rehab 3 days ago on Prozac, Neurontin and Zyprexa. She was not told what the latter two meds were for, except "for sleep." She feels bad physically, has gained 25 pounds, is sedated and irritable. Still anxious, not as depressed, working a good program in NA, ready to work through her grief. The doc in the rehab program told her this combination of medication would "keep her clean." Would anyone care to comment on this recent practice of putting recovering patients on $350 worth of medications per month without either a diagnosis that is related to the medication or telling them what the medication is really for? Is anyone really finding that this kind of combination "keeps them clean" if there really isn't a bipolar or psychotic illness present? I'm just wondering if I'm out of the efficacy loop or too conservative or what.
poster:Toby
thread:1417
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19981201/msgs/1417.html