Posted by Shandra on October 30, 2003, at 20:46:51
In reply to Re: Rollercoaster cont- Supplements instead of Dep etc » Shandra, posted by katia on October 30, 2003, at 13:23:32
Hi there -
You know, I was worried that it would be just as expensive to be on an otc regime as it would be to get prescription meds with insurance. Actually, it's really not, even though I'm taking a few extra things to make it all work (eg the multi w/iron to help with the post-Depakote hair loss, which I really should have been taking anyway).
I actually found that St. John's Wort complex (not just St. John's Wort even) did NOTHING for me until I added in 5-HTP! But when I put the two together, the depression relief was almost instant! No waiting for these supplements to reach levels in the bloodstream - they just really helped immediately - what a relief and with no side effects. I had some constipation with my prescription meds, but since i take the omega 3 supplement to help with my mood (which is basically fish oil in a capsule) that is much better as a side benefit.
Here's how my analysis comes out for meds w/insurance versus my current over the counter supplements:
With Insurance
********
$25 copay for
dr visit x 4 per month*..100
Depakote..................20
Wellbutrin................30
Clonazapam (gen)...........5
Concerta..................30
Total...................$185 per month
* This is not just a good idea, it is a REQUIREMENT obviously when we're talking about seriously controlled drugs. So even if you know what's working for you and just want the darned prescription, you are reliant on the doctor. Especially in the early phases this is crucial, and also in any kind of crisis etc... but I felt like I was ok without it for now.Over the Counter (note I don't need weekly
pdoc sessions to get these supplements so that's a $100 savings right off the top)
********
Co pays......................0
5HTP (low cost but good
quality brand, health
food store)................8
Vit C (gen @ Walmart)........8
St Johns complex (off
brand w/ correct levels
& quality @Walmart)........7
one-a-day memory
(ginko & chorine - only
name brand avail?)........5
one-a-day multi w/iron
(Walmart store brand)......4
Fish oil supp for
omega 3 (off brand @
Walmart....................7
TOTAL......................$39So, even though when you're making weekly trips to the drug store or Walmart or KMart to read labels and stand there staring feeling like "ok what am I trying to accomplish again!?! :)... it winds up being considerably cheaper, again as I said, as long as I'm buying carefully.
The other thing to keep in mind is that since I don't have insurance right now, the $185 option is no longer an option for me - the meds alone without insurance would be $500, and put on top of the *uninsured pdoc appointments* which would run me $150-250 per hour, per week.... it just became absolutely unfeasible. So for me, this was an act of desperation combined with the conviction that I had to do SOMETHING to similate the positive results I was getting with the prescription meds.
Since you are just coming off Depakote, may I suggest that you immediately go on an iron supplement at the very least, and start shampooing with Nizoral shampoo.... I did not have any serious hair loss while I was taking Depakote for several months, but after I stopped (!!!!) it started falling out to beat the band. Nothing prepared me for that, and now I'm looking at having to find creative ways to disguise the fact that my normally luxurious, full, healthy hair is now healthy as it ever was but seriously diminished in volume and therefore limp as an old wet dishrag! Maybe men deal with this differently - but for me at first this hair loss was just a source of puzzlement, then amazement, then amusement, then, low and behold it became NOTICABLE ot other people and panic set in. I truly hope you'll do this since you're coming off Depakote - this side effect evidently isn't something the drug company & all the pdocs seem to think is a big deal - but if you're anything like me, having my hair look at the very least *normal* turns out to be a very, very big deal for me. I really wish someone had warned me about this. It's supposed to last 6-8 weeks (i just learned) AFTer you STOP taking Depakote. As I mentioned in another post, Nizoral is packaged and marketed as a dandruff shampoo (it was available by prescription only until about 2 yrs ago) but I read on an independent hair loss support group site that they've just discovered it stimulates hair growth/regrowth. I would be interested to see how you react to coming off the meds.....
And... I'm really enjoying this conversation - let me know your thoughts ok?? :) Shandra
> Hi Shandra,
> Wow what a long post!
> I'm just curious. You are on all these OTC products - aren't they adding up to be just as expensive as the prescription meds?
>
> How long have you been on the St.JOhn's Wort?
> I've heard it takes like three months to get going.
>
> I can understand your nervousness about meds - even doctors aren't exactly sure what they are about totally. We're the guniea pigs. At this point, I want meds. I just finished Depakote yesterday and I'll be upping the 50mg of Lamictal and see how that does. I'm actually going in the hole per month with meds and doc visits, but to me right now, it's worth it. I can't live the way I'd been anymore. I've been dxed as BPII and Mixed. also after a frustratingly long period of thinking only depression.
> welcome to psychobabble.
> katia
>
>
poster:Shandra
thread:90018
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031030/msgs/275108.html