Posted by Wendy B. on August 1, 2001, at 12:30:36
In reply to Re: diagnosis debacle, posted by mila on August 1, 2001, at 10:09:05
Mila,
> Hi sar,
>
> the before starting meds diagnosis is right.Why? I think that you're right, the Prozac probably did push Sar into a hypo-manic state, but if you read the literature, it doesn't do that to people who are simply depressed. It does it to people who have mania hiding in the background, it *reveals* the mania.
This is why I think neurontin or another mood stabilizer makes sense, although it's of course a non-medical opinion. Sar says she was offered depakote, but I think the neurontin at a relatively high dose would help A LOT.
> Prozac triggers hypomania in you, it did in me, although I am not a bipolar, borderline or histrionic, you would easily confuse me with one when I am on prozac.While I really appreciate most of your posts, her reaction to Prozac and yours may NOT be the same, Mila.
> Prozac will eventually cure your major depression, you seem to respond to SSRI, but social phobia and GAD do not go away without therapy. SSRI masks their presence but doesn't cure them. when you'll try to go off the meds the depression might not return, but these two suckers will. and the vicious cycle will begin again. Social isolation brought by social phobia is very depressing, and GAD is as well.
>
> your problem is not that prozac leads to mistakes in diagnosis, but that it will interfere with therapy. First, your therapy will be geared towards dealing with the consequences of taking prozac instead of dealing with real stuff.What? I don't get this at all... The consequences of taking prozac are that she'll be able to think about and understand the issues in therapy...
>Second, it influences your thinking and doesn't allow for the change in beilefs and new behaviors to take place (it will make you therapy resistant, so to speak).
I totally disagree with this statement. Meds taken concurrently with therapy is still the standard of care. The meds make you able to accept the therapy, because of what they're doing biologically and chemically to your brain. If you don't fix the reuptakes, etc., you can't get the most out of therapy. All IMHO. Sorry, but I couldn't disagree more with what you're saying...
Wendy
poster:Wendy B.
thread:8515
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010731/msgs/8534.html