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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on April 8, 2014, at 22:47:41
How am I supposed to reconcile that with what my pdoc says?
Confused
Meds bad? Meds good?
Meds needed? Meds a mistake?
Almost off lamictal,
25mgs seroquel, .5 mg klonopin, Effexor xr 150 mgs left to go...
I dunno
Posted by jane d on April 9, 2014, at 5:38:06
In reply to Anti psych med therapist, posted by sleepygirl2 on April 8, 2014, at 22:47:41
> How am I supposed to reconcile that with what my pdoc says?
> Confused
> Meds bad? Meds good?
> Meds needed? Meds a mistake?
> Almost off lamictal,
> 25mgs seroquel, .5 mg klonopin, Effexor xr 150 mgs left to go...
> I dunnoThat's hard. I left one therapist who believed that meds did nothing at all. Since I was practically reeling from the discovery of just how much meds could do for me we really had nothing to talk about. I think I might have been able to deal with a therapist who disagreed with me about the relative value of meds - say one who thought that the disadvantages outweighed the advantages. Especially if they were open to letting me decide whether that was true for me.
But as I recall you've had some doubts yourself. Do you think your therapist has already reached a decision on this. Is that making it harder for you to think through your own decision?
Jane
Posted by SLS on April 9, 2014, at 5:56:15
In reply to Anti psych med therapist, posted by sleepygirl2 on April 8, 2014, at 22:47:41
> How am I supposed to reconcile that with what my pdoc says?
What are you being treated for?
It is unfortunate that you should be offered an either-or choice.
> Confused
I would be, too.
> Meds bad? Meds good?
They are neither and both. They are tools. When matched to the right project, they can be of enormous value. When mismatched, they can do more harm than good.
> Meds needed? Meds a mistake?
Has medication been of any value to you in the past 10 years? If so, in what ways? If they have not been of any value, perhaps they serve no purpose. Of course, it is possible that you need some sort of biological intervention, and just haven't found the right one.
Even when psychotherapy is indicated as the primary treatment, medication can act as a bridge to reduce symptoms until the psychotherapy "kicks-in".
> Almost off lamictal,
> 25mgs seroquel, .5 mg klonopin, Effexor xr 150 mgs left to go...
> I dunnoAre you doing this without a doctor's guidance (not that this is necessarily a bad thing)? If you come off of medication too fast, you might experience a "rebound" phenomenon wherein a withdrawal syndrome occurs that mimicks or exaggerates the original symptoms. This can be confusing and might persuade you to mistakenly restart medication. However, if these symptoms persist and worsen beyond 2 weeks after discontinuation, you might need to reevaluate your mental health status.
How is your level of anxiety?
If you do not need a drug to treat depression, I would expect more anxiety than depression to occur as you discontinue the Effexor.
It is a reasonable decision for you to attempt to discontinue your medication, depending on your history of illness and relative effectiveness of prior treatments. Of course, it is also a reasonable decision to restart drug treatment if you should deteriorate into a more severe state of illness.
I would tell each of your treatment facilitators what the other has said and that you are very confused as to what to do. Perhaps it is not you who needs to start making different decisions. Ideally, your treatment should be multimodal, regardless of the etiology of you illness.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2014, at 9:44:31
In reply to Re: Anti psych med therapist » sleepygirl2, posted by SLS on April 9, 2014, at 5:56:15
Only you know what you need. Meds or no meds. The professionals can't feel what you feel. They can only think based on what they see. Level of functioning. You know the stuff like this. Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on April 11, 2014, at 14:15:20
In reply to Anti psych med therapist, posted by sleepygirl2 on April 8, 2014, at 22:47:41
Sigh. Meds can and really do help.
Eric
Posted by sleepygirl2 on April 18, 2014, at 20:45:44
In reply to Re: Anti psych med therapist » sleepygirl2, posted by jane d on April 9, 2014, at 5:38:06
It's my group therapist. My own t is very pro med, so this is at odds. Getting on meds wasn't my idea of fun, I just wanted something to work.
I'm very motivated to get off meds, but I'm also concerned. I don't want to feel like crap.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on April 18, 2014, at 20:51:46
In reply to Re: Anti psych med therapist » sleepygirl2, posted by SLS on April 9, 2014, at 5:56:15
> > How am I supposed to reconcile that with what my pdoc says?
>
> What are you being treated for?My pdoc says bipolar 2, I say depression and anxiety
>
> It is unfortunate that you should be offered an either-or choice.
>
> > Confused
>
> I would be, too.
>
> > Meds bad? Meds good?
>
> They are neither and both. They are tools. When matched to the right project, they can be of enormous value. When mismatched, they can do more harm than good.
>
> > Meds needed? Meds a mistake?
>
> Has medication been of any value to you in the past 10 years? If so, in what ways? If they have not been of any value, perhaps they serve no purpose. Of course, it is possible that you need some sort of biological intervention, and just haven't found the right one.They have, with anxiety, agitation, irritability, depression.
>
> Even when psychotherapy is indicated as the primary treatment, medication can act as a bridge to reduce symptoms until the psychotherapy "kicks-in".I think therapy has helped.
>
> > Almost off lamictal,
> > 25mgs seroquel, .5 mg klonopin, Effexor xr 150 mgs left to go...
> > I dunno
>
> Are you doing this without a doctor's guidance (not that this is necessarily a bad thing)? If you come off of medication too fast, you might experience a "rebound" phenomenon wherein a withdrawal syndrome occurs that mimicks or exaggerates the original symptoms. This can be confusing and might persuade you to mistakenly restart medication. However, if these symptoms persist and worsen beyond 2 weeks after discontinuation, you might need to reevaluate your mental health status.I'm doing it with my pdoc and slowly. I've had rebound effects, but not major and lasting.
>
> How is your level of anxiety?Up a bit.
>
> If you do not need a drug to treat depression, I would expect more anxiety than depression to occur as you discontinue the Effexor.
>
> It is a reasonable decision for you to attempt to discontinue your medication, depending on your history of illness and relative effectiveness of prior treatments. Of course, it is also a reasonable decision to restart drug treatment if you should deteriorate into a more severe state of illnessI'm reluctant to go back.
>
> I would tell each of your treatment facilitators what the other has said and that you are very confused as to what to do. Perhaps it is not you who needs to start making different decisions. Ideally, your treatment should be multimodal, regardless of the etiology of you illness.Yes. Thank you, Scott :-)
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by sleepygirl2 on April 18, 2014, at 20:52:25
In reply to Re: Anti psych med therapist, posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2014, at 9:44:31
True. I guess so
Thanks :-)
Posted by sleepygirl2 on April 18, 2014, at 20:54:08
In reply to Re: Anti psych med therapist » sleepygirl2, posted by phidippus on April 11, 2014, at 14:15:20
That's what my individual t says, my group t seems anti meds.
Maybe it'd be better if I were on less.
Thanks :-)
Posted by phidippus on April 19, 2014, at 15:33:11
In reply to Re: Anti psych med therapist » phidippus, posted by sleepygirl2 on April 18, 2014, at 20:54:08
You want to be on just the right amount.
Eric
This is the end of the thread.
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