Posted by bulldog2 on June 7, 2008, at 15:17:29
In reply to Re: Medications and choices » bulldog2, posted by yxibow on June 7, 2008, at 14:09:07
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> > jay you also have to realize that many of her trials were abandoned within a couple day. I wrote that above. So we can't conclude that meds don't work. It's a problem with side effects.
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> I understand this, but also medication side effects can have a placebo effect too. I'm not suggesting that you stop something within a day because it has a dangerous rash, but at some point you either accept the side effects or you accept the disorder.
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> That has to come with one's willingness to put up with some effect that may be annoying but not life threatening or put up with the disorder.
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> Its a choice with living with the illness because the side effects are worse or going forward because the illness is worse.
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> If one thinks that there are no side effect free medication combinations, I have to say there is some unrealistic expectation.
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> I put up with side effects every day. I still take the AP (not for schizophrenia) that probably caused a neurological tic because at the moment -- not forever...
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> ...hopefully, it makes my anxiety and confusion less than it used to be and makes me able to have a stable life and get out the door for the most, and hopefully return me back to as much functionality as I can in life.
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> HIV+ patients put up with side effects every day, even harsher, not just nausea but neurological consequences. And there it is a matter of living, or being ever afraid of the real possibility of developing multiple side illnesses which are the cause of death.
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> Nobody really dies from HIV alone. Its a dramatic example but I know of someone who decided the opposite and I still remember him.
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> And depression can mean for some people, a dangerous condition in the sense that it leaves them vulnerable to thoughts of suicide, low self esteem and reduced functionality that makes it hard to get and go to work.
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> All I'm saying is that sure, if you take a drug and develop a rare rash all over your body or have a 104 degree fever, there is a rationality that says, this is definitely not a good thing.
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> But if you take an SSRI and in the first few days to a week develop nausea -- it may and often does go away. The same can apply with some of the jitters and other effects as doses are raised.
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> Tossed bottles following a trail after 2 days are not medication trials -- 2 days isn't even the length of psychoactive activity at all.
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> Psychoactive substances that are going to help someone will show up several weeks later, and is the reason why agents aren't just stacked on at the same time if possible and tried for a week and dumped.
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> Don't get me wrong -- I'm medication sensitive and there are certain medications I wish I hadn't took -- but, on the other hand, no treatment can have the same result as overtreatment.
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> In the end, since most all of us are discussing as voluntary patients, its a voluntary choice. Have some side effects and pay attention to your life, your hobbies, your work and try not to obsess over the side effects.....
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> .... or choose not to take medication and with a serious depressive disorder, end up with rapid mood swings, retreating, and yes, I don't want to say it or trigger the though, but with the most serious cases, the ideation of suicide -- and even worse, death.
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> I don't want to be on my combination "for life", but if I have to be it on an "indefinite" status, which I don't like either...
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> ...the chances of really bad things are lessened if I choose to continue to work through task oriented goals to gain as much of my life back and be as much as on par with my peers...
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> ...and hopefully gradually reduce my medication requirements.
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> "Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a starter home. Choose dental insurance, leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose your future. But why would anyone want to do a thing like that?..." ....and eventually "...but I chose life." (Trainspotting)
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> As Yogi Berra said, when you see a fork, take it. That's all I can say.
>It's a very delicate balancing act. the pros and cons of sides versus mood enhancement. Now rashes and dangerous side effects are one thing. However people often stop ad's because of anxiety,insomnia or other sides that often pass. I guess one has to make the decision and weigh the pros and cons. Is my life better with the mood enhancement but annoying sides or are the sides so annoying that they negate any positive attributes. Also some have a greater ability to put up with sides. I read a book that said neurotic depressives have a hard time dealing with sides and have a tendency to abandon their meds.
Now if one was told they would die unless they took their meds what would their decision be? depression can be a slow death so maybe that has to be taken into account before discontinuing their meds. It's not an easy decision.
poster:bulldog2
thread:832871
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080606/msgs/833502.html