Posted by harryp on May 8, 2004, at 8:22:06
In reply to i am confused... » Festus, posted by chemist on May 8, 2004, at 0:44:22
I think, chemist, he's probably referring to the countless posts in which people discuss benzo dosages.
Festus,
You have a very legitimate concern. However, I sincerely hope that everyone uses the "common sense test," cross-checks information, and hopefully, gets final advice from their doctor.
The unfortunate reality, however, is that even with access to excellent mental health care, I have found myself largely to be on my own as far as psychopharmaceuticals are concerned. Even good pdocs are often disturbingly passive towards their patients' medication meds, are not well informed, and are not aggressive in finding something that works.
I had to do my own research and be quite bitchy in getting my (excellent, btw) pdoc to prescribe the first drug combination that made it possible for me to contemplate a life that didn't end with suicide on my 30th birthday (I already had detailed plans).
Parnate 40mg/day + 1-4mg/day lorazapam as needed.
(25 mg Trazodone + 1 mg lorazapam for insomnia, Zyprexa for emergencies)
This combo is guaranteed to get a rise from one's internist! After nine years of torture on ineffective, mind-numbing drugs, I'm understandably proud of my "cocktail."
My doctor, fine man that he is, would have much preferred Effexor or Lexapro + a daily antipsychotic. The fact that being an emotionless, overweight houseplant wasn't a satisfactory outcome didn't seem to occur to him. This is a common trait in all the psychiatrists (major med school faculty, btw) I have seen.
Many people here are incomparably worse off than me in the area of medical access. Some of them are receiving non-existant or incompetent care. This is a social shame and inexcusable sin, but as the number of uninsured rise and competent mental health care becomes more elusive, I fear that message boards filled with all-too-experienced users and self-taught pharmacologists may be become more and more the future of psychopharmacology.
poster:harryp
thread:344054
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040505/msgs/344714.html