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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Quintal on May 22, 2008, at 8:48:21
I just got back from my appointment with Dr. B at the psychiatric hospital. He was very nice and doesn't see what the big problem is with zopiclone. He gave me another 28 tablets to avoid friction with my GP, who Dr. W appointed as prescriber. He said he couldn't take me on as a patient right now, but he would supply me with zopiclone until I can find another doctor who will. If I can't find another doctor to prescribe it he said he may take me on himself. Fingers crossed.
All the other consultants and GPs in the area are fiercely anti-benzo and Dr. B says he is aware of this. While acknowledging that there is a problem with addiction and dependence, in his opinion the 'pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction' in Britain. So long as I'm not abusing them, or have an alcohol habit, he's happy to prescribe them. Such a relief to hear such down-to-earth common sense. I can hardly believe it - I've never had a doctor actually give me a benzo willingly like that for years.
On a more poignant note, as we entered the foyer I saw a woman staring blank-eyed and hopeless out of the window. She had the glassy-eyed somnolence of someone doped up on Zyprexa. Sort of brought back bad memories [shudder]. And as we were leaving, a man was shuffling out of a police van, handcuffed and bewildered, and shivering with fear. I felt a stab of pain in my chest. It was horrible.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on May 22, 2008, at 10:30:32
In reply to Good news with pdoc re: zopiclone, posted by Quintal on May 22, 2008, at 8:48:21
Quintal glad you got you're med scarey about the others. Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on May 22, 2008, at 14:19:11
In reply to Good news with pdoc re: zopiclone, posted by Quintal on May 22, 2008, at 8:48:21
Quintal.
i'm SO happy to hear about that doc B! it's great that he;ll keep you in script and maybe....maybe (fingers crossed) even take you on if you can't find anyone.i'm almost hoping you don't find another doc so you can get this guy. he sounds like a good deal.
and ya. i know what you mean. the pdoc i now see his office is at the hospital though different floor from the 'ward'. it still brings little chills sometimes.
but luckily i've mostly had good experiences at the Hospital...it was the local county clinic i got put in for several days that was straight out of 'cookoo's nest!
so i hear ya with the bad memories and shudders it can bring out.
sometimes even when i just see a police car (or police siren) and someone being put in the back i get a cold chill. oh h@ll who am i kidding. police car, ambulance, firetruck...anyone of those...although i think mostly the firetrucks since those were brought out for the suicide attempts. those make me stop and just kinda stare a bit. i have to shake it off.but remember you are here Quintal. you survived the worst. and please try to remember that if you ever (God forbid) have to take that on again. but you've been there and survived. you can make it out again! you ARE a survivor. and NOW you have Support. a Great doc.
and of course us :^)take it easy Quin
b2c
Posted by torachan on May 22, 2008, at 18:21:12
In reply to Good news with pdoc re: zopiclone, posted by Quintal on May 22, 2008, at 8:48:21
While technically not a benzo, it does closely mimic the effects of a benzo, so that is probably why they view it like a benzo.
You psychiatrist is a smart man. SSRI's and whatever other drug that's available for psych disorders are capable of producing physical dependence. They are NOT addictive, however, when used for the treatment of a psych disorder, including benzos. The reason some of these foolish doctors--they are human, we must not forget--view benzos as addictive is because some users of street drugs do abuse benzos for various reasons, usually to sedate after cocaine use for instance.
It is physical dependence that is the problem, and I've read many stories of people having horrible times discontinuing the supposed non-"addictive" drugs like SSRI's.
Posted by undopaminergic on May 24, 2008, at 15:33:05
In reply to Re: Good news with pdoc re: zopiclone » Quintal, posted by torachan on May 22, 2008, at 18:21:12
>
> The reason some of these foolish doctors--they are human, we must not forget--view benzos as addictive is because some users of street drugs do abuse benzos for various reasons, usually to sedate after cocaine use for instance.
>There are people who use benzos for more than controlling withdrawal effects of cocaine and other stimulants; some people find benzos euphorigenic, and take ever higher doses of them. Furthermore, some people find that benzos are even more difficult to quit than "heavier" drugs of abuse (e.g. cocaine and heroin).
This is the end of the thread.
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