Posted by stargazer on February 23, 2007, at 8:08:00
In reply to Re: Help with my treatment,Suggestion for meds » stargazer, posted by psychobot5000 on February 23, 2007, at 0:57:51
Pbot, that's what I was figuring but have yet to have a pdoc confirm the deficiency as being one of dopamine, although I have though that was the issue. All my current pdoc says is he doesn't know. I just accepted this explanation for so long but since the only meds that have helped involve dopamine, why can't he say the defect is in the dopamine system and prescribe meds that involve this pathway? Is that too much to ask from a supposed psychiatric practitioner who has been treating me for 20 years? Depression really makes me complacent and trusting when skepticsim may have had much better results. Although today I'm getting a second opinion, I know the pdoc and I'm not sure of his capabilities either, although Ivy league affilitated means squat. We'll see.
Prior to starting Emsam in Nov., I had a bad reaction to Cymbalta, as it increased my depression. Other meds, mostly SSRI's have done the same, although in comnbination with other meds (Adderall, Wellbutrin) have helped, none as well as Nardil and Marplan when they initially worked. Both eventually stopped working and Marplan failed on retrial.
I think many of the pdocs don't form any conclusions as to what system is involved in the depression. I think my pdoc just randomly hopes to get something to work without any real analysis of what is causing the symptoms. Why is this? Do they want us to suffer forever or just don't care or just don't know what they're doing. It causes me much distress to think there is really no scientific basis to what they are doing, besides causing me more harm than good. And forget them referring you to someone who might know better than them, that never happens. When i asked my doc for a referral he seemed stumped to come up with a name, so it seemed as though the requewst was a foreign one.
I have asked others here for suggestions for expert psychopharmacologists and have searched online without any results. I am trying to find an answer but it has not been easy despite my ongoing attempts to heal thyself, since the docs seem incapable of offering me much long term relief. Lots of bandaids over the years which are short lived and marginally effective.
Hopefully today's appt will be beneficial else I will know there is no help from psychiatric professionals, only PB'ers on-line, who are more of the experts than the docs. Too bad we can't write our own prescriptions and eliminate the costly, inefficient middlemen.
SG
poster:stargazer
thread:734959
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070219/msgs/735319.html