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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on November 30, 2010, at 14:18:32
Could all babblers please stop using the term 'cold turkey' to refer to abruptly stopping medication. Frankly, I find it irritating. Please be nice and consider my mental health.
Cold turkey is a term which is normally used to describe heroin withdrawal. Appropriate terminology please :)
Thanks!
Posted by linkadge on November 30, 2010, at 16:19:47
In reply to Cold turkey - no thank you, posted by ed_uk2010 on November 30, 2010, at 14:18:32
So, you're telling us to just **abruptly** stop using the phrase "cold turkey"? Can't we kind of wean ourselves off the phrase? I dunno, I use the phrase all the time.
I don't know if I can stop using "cold turkey", cold turkey. I might go through withdrawl.
Linkadge
Posted by sigismund on November 30, 2010, at 16:28:13
In reply to Do we have to stop....cold turkey?, posted by linkadge on November 30, 2010, at 16:19:47
So it's either withdrawal for you or no mental health for Ed.
Posted by bleauberry on November 30, 2010, at 18:20:30
In reply to Cold turkey - no thank you, posted by ed_uk2010 on November 30, 2010, at 14:18:32
I don't know if I can just stop using the term "cold turkey" cold turkey. I might go into withdrawals. If that happens, I would rather it be a tolerable controlled smooth withdrawal, not a cold turkey one.
I've never seen any hard science claiming the term is only for heroin withdrawal.
All kinds of phrases in human language have multiple meanings and uses.
Personally I think the term is a bit mild. It doesn't sound appealing to feel like a turkey, much less a cold turkey. But when someone stops a psycoactive brain drug cold turkey, I think it feels much worse than a cold turkey.
Abrupt cessation, abrupt withdrawal....these kinds of terms have a politically correct tone to them, which I don't like, because politically correct usually is a way of disguising the truth or diverting attention from the truth.
Cold turkey is the hell someone feels when they abruptly stop something that causes biological withdrawal. Doesn't matter if it is cocaine, xanax, lexapro, zyprexa, adderal, heroine, jack daniels, whatever. It's all the same. Cold turkey is cold turkey.
Posted by emmanuel98 on November 30, 2010, at 21:11:26
In reply to Re: Cold turkey - no thank you, posted by bleauberry on November 30, 2010, at 18:20:30
I think cold turkey has now entered the english lexicon as a term for abrupt withdrawal with no medical aid. The term originally referred to narcotic withdrawal which causes chills and goosebumps, so your skin looks like a cold plucked turkey. Kicking the habit also comes from narcotic withdrawal, which causes restless leg syndrome.
Posted by Phillipa on November 30, 2010, at 21:53:12
In reply to Re: Cold turkey - no thank you, posted by emmanuel98 on November 30, 2010, at 21:11:26
To me just means stopping either an activity, a food, a med, just about anything all at once. Sometimes it's recommended for lets said alchoholics with a benzo to get through the initial period and prevent seizures. Personally I've cold turkeyed foods, meds, lots of things with no harm. Common phase in the US. Phillipa
Posted by FluffMama on December 1, 2010, at 1:58:55
In reply to Re: Cold turkey - no thank you, posted by Phillipa on November 30, 2010, at 21:53:12
Even my Psychiatrist uses the term, so I'm afraid you're out of luck as far as I'm concerned, although I promise to try and remember your request if my brain is functioning well enough!
GOBBLE!!
Posted by ed_uk2010 on December 1, 2010, at 11:39:05
In reply to Do we have to stop....cold turkey?, posted by linkadge on November 30, 2010, at 16:19:47
>I don't know if I can stop using "cold turkey", cold turkey.
Yes please.
>I might go through withdrawal.
I do hope not :)
Posted by ed_uk2010 on December 1, 2010, at 11:42:26
In reply to Re: Do we have to stop....cold turkey? » linkadge, posted by sigismund on November 30, 2010, at 16:28:13
> So it's either withdrawal for you or no mental health for Ed.
I'm not sure why I find it annoying, I think it's just become so overused. It won't be long before people are talking about cold turkeying from Vicks VapoRub.
Posted by sigismund on December 1, 2010, at 11:55:11
In reply to Re: Do we have to stop....cold turkey? » sigismund, posted by ed_uk2010 on December 1, 2010, at 11:42:26
Well, everything is addictive these days. I prefer the meaning of addictive that was current in 1970. Still, I think the meaning of cold turkey is conveyed by the reality of a benzo withdrawal. I have no familiarity with coming off SSRIs.
Posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 12:12:46
In reply to Re: Do we have to stop....cold turkey?, posted by sigismund on December 1, 2010, at 11:55:11
Kind of for fun I googled cold turkey. Hope this cut and paste works some do some don't. Found it interesting as seems the phrase is used for all sorts of meds. I seriously expected to find something that said when a turkey is cold before cooked. Or frozen. Well will see if it worked. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 12:19:13
In reply to Re: Do we have to stop....cold turkey?, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 12:12:46
Ed seriously just was curious to see what would come up in a search. Yes words can be irritating or phrases. PJxx
Posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 19:56:27
In reply to Re: Do we have to stop....cold turkey?, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2010, at 12:19:13
Ed, the term has never bothered me but I can see why you wouldn't want to use a term that you associate with narcotics. Medication like SSRIs and benzos are a completely different animal..that have nothing to do with turkies. ;)
This is the end of the thread.
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