HS, I have to respond to what appears to be medical advice you are giving.
First, it's all well and good to suggest she get a second opinion, (psychologists are not medical doctors even if they have the title "Doctor"-that means they are Ph.D's in psychology but you'd need a psychiatrist MD for a good discussion about the pharmacological process and the time for the meds to take effect. Most anti-depressants say that it takes 4-6 weeks for full effect). For you to tell her to stop taking her meds is irresponsible, and stems from a tragic event in your family, that MAY have been due to substandard care, also known as human error. Like you said, you are not an MD. I take issue with your mind reading of the doctor, who you accuse of not having "her best interest in mind..."?? Doctors are human and make mistakes, but please, don't attribute their mistakes to some nefarious motive. There is no conspiracy. And patients have duties to read the warnings as well. As a med malpractice attorney, and the wife of a physician, your post clearly bothered me. It obviously pushed a button-lights flashing, etc. So I apologize if my tone is harsh, but I really object to your "instructing" and implying that she is weak, b/c you did it all without drugs. You have kids. Great, me too. IMO, FWIW, It is EASIER to me to function with kids, than without. Harder to spiral and obsess when little ones are hungry.
As to your family's incident, I'm sorry it happened. But you don't know that the doctor even needed to read the warning, given that he may prescribe this medication often and has actually read something about it before prescribing, nor that he "failed" to read the warning at all. Maybe HE KNEW about the warning AND weighed the benefits vs. risks and made the best choice under circumstances that cannot have been optimal in the first place b/c your relative was already in the hospital with a serious condition. ( Like choosing which chemotherapy to give my brother in law -3 experts at Johns Hopkins said one thing, 2 at Stanford said another. Whoever is "wrong" isn't making a "stupid" choice, just a trial and error "wait and see if this helps" attempt to heal a serious condition.) Bad outcomes or unexpected bad events, do NOT necessarily = malpractice, let alone "stupid" professionals. Many people have this misconception. Do you know exactly her weight, liver or kidney metabolic functioning level - b/c diff meds metabolize differently and through various systems in our bodies, or what exact medicine and dosage she is taking? I sure don't. Last but not least, doctors are humans and make mistakes. They work a lot. My H's internship year he worked every day for 342 days in a row, with an average of 7 hours "off", which includes sleeping....Yep, 17 hour days for a year. THEN he did his residency... Don't make them out to be stupid or evil, not having the best interest of the patient in mind. Sorry your relative got sicker. But don't slime the whole profession for that. IF you are sure it was malpractice, hire a lawyer and sue. j-
I think you should maybe go back and reread my posts. I did not tell 2940 to just stop taking her meds. I advised a second opinion and to do some research on them. I did go back and correct myself on the psychologist vs psychiatrist post. I know what a PhD is. And if you care to do a search there are many programs right now where psychologists are able to prescribe medications as well. I know that psychologists are not MDs which is causing controversary over the programs.
I never said that ALL doctors were stupid and irresponsible. If I had I would not be advising a second opinion, instead I would advised a naturalist. I know doctors are humans. When did I say there was a conspiracy? Do not put words into my mouth.
You do not know the details of what happened with my father. You do not know what legal steps we have taken either, I only included what I needed to to make 2940 aware of things that can happen. If you are curious to know my father was not only given a medication he should not have been when there were ALTERNATIVES he was also overdosed which causedother doctors in the same hosptial to raise A LOT of eyebrows and there was bloodwork done which was not properly analyzed to see what was really wrong. You have no idea the pain this situation has caused my family because there are many more details that I will not share.
No I still think her doctor does not have her best interest in mind because by now she should have been referred to a psychiatrist. That is my opinion and I am entitled to it. I know that due to HMOs many times people are not referred in a timely manner. That is why I voiced my concern. I only mentioned going through it without meds, so she knows it is possible to find strength within yourself, it was not to be caddy and it was not to suggest she just stops cold turkey either.
I am aware of that different people have different metabolic rates depending on family/individual histories and organ function. I am also aware that drugs carry specific toxicity levels and every drug regardless of how "safe" are in fact not. Every chemical introduced into the body has a lethal dose that varies from person to person and will react differently when in the presence of other drugs. As drugs are metabolized free radicals are released into the system which can also cause damage. The drugs can cause distruptions in a body's natural circadian rhythm, which could be what 2940 is suffering from with the disruption in her sleep patterns. Not all side effects are even listed in the drug information, only the side effects from the test group are included. Since the test group does not include every single person on earth doctors still do not know 100% for sure how every drug and every drug combination will effect every person. I am aware it is also the patient's responsibility but there are circumstances where the patient does not get a chance to do the research or is so emotionally distraught they just can't.
Your right I am not an MD, not now, but I have had my share of medical/toxicology/biochemistry classes so that in a few years I will be a practicing medical scientist. I never said the advice I was giving was medical either so DO NOT assume.
I do not want to argue with anyone on 2940 thread, The only reason I posted what I did is because I am worried about her and concerned that she is ok.
