Posted by Flipsactown on March 4, 2004, at 11:46:25
In reply to Re: Noonday Demon - Very grim, is it true??, posted by jay on March 3, 2004, at 4:57:49
I agree with you about most doctors being too conservative when it comes to prescribing medication. I can understand their concerns because of lawsuits. In my case my pdoc would only prescribe 20mg over the max of prozac. I am currently prescribed 100mg. I researched the net and read where pdocs were prescribing 200mg or more in certain cases. On my own, I took 160mg and got excellent depression relief better than my currently prescribed combo of 100mg prozac, 90mg remeron, 400mg lamictal and 1200mg of lithium. If this present combo does not kick in soon, I will demand my pdoc prescribe 140mg of prozac or maybe try lexapro. Any thoughts or comments?
Flipsactown
> I just had to read William Styron’s “Darkness Visible”, as it seems like a mini-birth of what would then become Solomon’s “Noonday Demon”. One of the most important lessons I have learned, and hope the larger world does as well, is that we have to attack mental illness in no less of a way we do Cancer or other major illness. From medications, such as prescribing the maximum needed dose permanently (so often doctors still think with this “small dose equals better”), and using every medication (in a reasonable but assertive fashion) out there that is needed to provide long-term relief from this mental pain. Solomon does a great job of driving this point home, and the screaming against the “conservative” actions of doctors who prescribe *just* small doses, and such a small variety of medication. Imagine giving one aspirin to a person who just had their arm ripped off? We also need wayyyy more community supports, like lifetime supportive therapy if needed, not just some of these dingy semi-structured community “programs” run by people who have NO idea what the pain and suffering of mental illness is about. Also, if I go to the hospital at “wits end” mentally, I expect the same treatment as if I was having a heart attack, not just somebody with a slight sore throat who needs antibiotics or something minor. We need to stand up and demand these things, no exceptions, because there are people in power who just want to cut corners and see mental illness as simply a “weakness”.
>
> /rant
>
> Jay
poster:Flipsactown
thread:319196
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040304/msgs/320142.html