Posted by Garnet71 on January 12, 2009, at 13:02:59
In reply to Re: Scared to try Lamictal - seeking opinions please » Garnet71, posted by yxibow on January 12, 2009, at 1:46:03
Jay,
Some of what you said makes sense. I still stand by that it is unethical and medically unprofessional to widely prescribe SSRIs to such a large population w/o conducting tests (or at least explaining possible biological reasons for symptoms and their associated tests to individuals).
I've found so many articles concerning nutrient deficiencies and depression/anxiety symptoms-and from reputable sources (I know there's a lot of rip off information out there). People with mental illness symptoms are found to be deficient in zinc, vitamin B, magnesium, etc.
Would it not make sense to give a round of simple blood tests to people before prescribing SSRIs?
I also came across a recent article from a researcher who revealed his patients who were so called schitzophrenic--tested positive for Lyme disease. I wonder how many of us have Lyme. I uderstand the tests are not always accurate, but this has never been brought to my attention by any doctor.
i've read countless stories of people who suffered and went undiagnosed for years only to find out they had lead or mercury poison when tested.
Prediabetes and hypoglycemia cause anxiety as well. Glucose tests are not expensive.
Andrenal and pituatary problems--same thing, people going undiagnosed for years before problems are revealed.
This is unacceptable. I disagree with the person who said it is economically impossible to test people with symptoms of depression/anxiety. At the minimum, they should be given, or at least spoken to, about the following:
- Blood test for nutrient/mineral deficiencies
- Blood test for glucose issues
- Screening by neurologist and endochronoligist
- Lyme
- Thyroid
- 24-hr cortisol testI don't understand how the above tests are economically impossible. My insurance company paid $500 a month for SSRIs and psychiatry visits, which would go on indfinitely since these meds only treat symptoms since no one bothers to find the actual cause of the symptoms.
Perhaps the problem is with the medical field itself-treatment revolves around treating symptoms and not curing/finding the actual cause. This is a phenomena I've expeirenced over and over and over as a patient.
Over the past 10 years, I have seen about a dozen or more doctors for depression and anxiety. NOT ONE told me about the above possiblities (excluding thyroid) before reaching for their prescription pads! Several of them did bring up thyroid testing. Before prescribing dangerous medications and some that equate to chemical labotomies, doctors should at least inform the patients about biological conditions and tests available. I feel medically raped.
Now, I ask physicians if they keep up with current research (regarding my condition). I always get the deer-in-the-headlights look.
Oh-about OTCs, remember, some cold medicines (a particular ingredient) were proven to cause stroke. This is not worth the risk, in my opinion, no more than smoking is worth the risks.
The thing about cold/cough medicines, is they supress symptoms which are our bodies natural way of fighting illnesses. Same with some psychiatric care. Masking depression with SSRIs causes emotional numbness in such a way that we never address the psychological issues that may have led to depression. This keeps the problems in our system indefinitely, and can worsen the situation, imo.
Like I said, I feel medically raped, so I am a little biased. However, I don't understand how anyone could disagree with the biological screening I listed above.
poster:Garnet71
thread:872702
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090104/msgs/873543.html