Posted by JohnL on May 2, 2000, at 4:49:27
In reply to Does the book list the meds in the 5 protocols?, posted by S.D. Guy on April 30, 2000, at 21:57:05
> Dr. Jensen's web site explains that the idea is to go through one or more of 5 'protocols', each consisting of a few medications which are tried one at a time for a few days each. Does his book list which medications he uses in each protocol? Are any of them anti-epileptic drugs (besides the common benzodiazepines)?
Yes,
The protocols are discussed throughout the book (soft cover workbook appearance actually), as well as the 10 basic chemical imbalances involved and the different meds in each protocol. Of interest is the statistical odds--in percentage--of a particular protocol working for a particular set of symptoms. These statistics are based on the universe of Jensen's practice--not psychiatry worldwide--though I suspect the statistics would be very similar.The protocol of anticonvulsants and antiepileptics is discussed. This protocol is generally warranted when there are clues of chemical instability. For example, when an initial good response to a med deteriorates. Or when the symptoms indicate cycling. But even in these situations, it is surprising to see how larger than expected percentages of patients got excellent results on other meds we wouldn't at first expect.
Lots of tidbit information on different meds is interesting to me. For example, Zoloft has the highest percentage of success in preventing suicide while Prozac has the least. Prozac and Celexa--despite their obvious differences--are actually more similar to each other than other SSRIs. Celexa is often the best choice for someone with perfectionist personalities. And, for example, SSRIs are not as selective as we might generally think. They all have action at other sites besides serotonin, resulting in subtle but important implications of why one works for someone but another doesn't. The 'seat-belt' strategy of giving the patient a sample of Xanax and/or Stelazine as a remedy to weather bad reactions is interesting.
Though it's a softcover and probably not on any top 10 list selling list, I think it's well worth the $30. It's a book unlike any other, and has the definite potential of adding to one's knowledge of psychiatry. As I've mentioned before, it doesn't replace traditional psychiatry, but rather enhances it and fine-tunes it. Hope this helps.
JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:31396
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000429/msgs/31904.html