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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cynthia on June 2, 1999, at 20:19:24
I've just moved cities and am inbetween psychiatrists. I've been seeing a psychiatrists for years, okay are you ready for my multiple diagnosis', I have bipolar disorder (cyclothymia mostly), major depressive episodes, OCD - trichotillomania, anorexia, attention deficit disorder and did suffer from all the anxiety disorders except for agoraphobia (I have rid myself of anxiety through cognitive therapy and experimentation with medications). Mostly I am functioning person, working in fields suited to me, design and writing. I am constantly trying to stay on top of these disorders' symptoms with medication, while trying to work through my issues.
When I left Toronto, I had just discovered with my psychiatrist that I had ADD. He gave me some Dexedrine. I am in love with it. Not only for the first time in my life can I get things done without fucking myself over for days and days, but if I take it on my 'down' days of my cyclothymic cycles, I can function much much better than I can with no Dexedrine, and am thus less depressed on these days. So sometimes now, I am doing a little bit of Ativan (1mg) to get to sleep, and a little bit of Dexedrine (5mg) to get myself going and feeling good in the morning. (Dexedrine does not get me to my hypomanic highs, but it guarantees a productive and a good, moodwise, day).
I've seen one psychiatrist in this new city, but he won't give me any Dexedrine (that word deserves a capital letter!). He says because it is addictive. I have incredible amounts of self-control with my years of being a practising anorexic. I have never this far, ever abused a drug. Any advice? I know lots of people must do this medication, but are my motivations for wanting to take it sound (not only to treat my ADD, but help my depressive periods of my cycles)? One more reason for me to love this medication - when I take it I don't suffer from trichotillomania - and that I've had since I was 6 years old.
Currently I am on no medication except for my little bit of Ativan and little bit of Dexedrine.
So is this the road Elvis started out on? Anyone know. At least I won't get fat.
Excuse my silly sense of humour, I am very serious about all of this.
ONE LAST THING, IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS THIS BIG WIDE WEBSITE SUFFERS FROM MULTIPLE DIAGNOSIS, I'D LOVE TO CONNECT WITH YOU.
ps. For your information, from my experience, depression is the most discusting of all the emotional disorders.
thanks, Cynthia
Posted by JohnL on June 3, 1999, at 4:14:43
In reply to Is this the road Elvis started on?Medication Help!, posted by Cynthia on June 2, 1999, at 20:19:24
> I've just moved cities and am inbetween psychiatrists. I've been seeing a psychiatrists for years, okay are you ready for my multiple diagnosis', I have bipolar disorder (cyclothymia mostly), major depressive episodes, OCD - trichotillomania, anorexia, attention deficit disorder and did suffer from all the anxiety disorders except for agoraphobia (I have rid myself of anxiety through cognitive therapy and experimentation with medications). Mostly I am functioning person, working in fields suited to me, design and writing. I am constantly trying to stay on top of these disorders' symptoms with medication, while trying to work through my issues.
>
> When I left Toronto, I had just discovered with my psychiatrist that I had ADD. He gave me some Dexedrine. I am in love with it. Not only for the first time in my life can I get things done without fucking myself over for days and days, but if I take it on my 'down' days of my cyclothymic cycles, I can function much much better than I can with no Dexedrine, and am thus less depressed on these days. So sometimes now, I am doing a little bit of Ativan (1mg) to get to sleep, and a little bit of Dexedrine (5mg) to get myself going and feeling good in the morning. (Dexedrine does not get me to my hypomanic highs, but it guarantees a productive and a good, moodwise, day).
>
> I've seen one psychiatrist in this new city, but he won't give me any Dexedrine (that word deserves a capital letter!). He says because it is addictive. I have incredible amounts of self-control with my years of being a practising anorexic. I have never this far, ever abused a drug. Any advice? I know lots of people must do this medication, but are my motivations for wanting to take it sound (not only to treat my ADD, but help my depressive periods of my cycles)? One more reason for me to love this medication - when I take it I don't suffer from trichotillomania - and that I've had since I was 6 years old.
>
> Currently I am on no medication except for my little bit of Ativan and little bit of Dexedrine.
>
> So is this the road Elvis started out on? Anyone know. At least I won't get fat.
>
> Excuse my silly sense of humour, I am very serious about all of this.
>
> ONE LAST THING, IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS THIS BIG WIDE WEBSITE SUFFERS FROM MULTIPLE DIAGNOSIS, I'D LOVE TO CONNECT WITH YOU.
>
> ps. For your information, from my experience, depression is the most discusting of all the emotional disorders.
>
> thanks, CynthiaCynthia, I can relate, as I'm sure hundreds/thousands of others can. Believe me, you aren't alone. Though we don't see each other or know each other, we all are in the same boat, same team, with similar battles against a common enemy. I can barely take care of myself, thus I am sorry to not be able to offer any concstructive thoughts on medication for you. However, you don't at all sound like Elvis to me. He was a party animal, apparently without self-control, responsibility, or concern of how his actions might affect others. He had a great life only one in a million could even dream of, and he recklessly destroyed it. You on the other hand are trying to improve and repair a life, not destroy it. Quite a difference. My best repect and wishes to you. JohnL.
Posted by jwill on June 4, 1999, at 12:58:16
In reply to Re: Is this the road Elvis started on?Medication Help!, posted by JohnL on June 3, 1999, at 4:14:43
Your question hits home on some big subjective issues to which there is no provable right answer. I can relate to your diagnoses - multiple phobias, dysthymia, major depression, ADD, and others. After some years on medications (Prozac, Ritalin, Klonipin currently), I often wonder if, given that I'll probably need medication for the rest of my life, and, given that it works only partially, will the situation ultimately spiral into ever-increasing use of medication to the point of such dependency and overuse, it ends up being a danger. I think that the medications prescribed today are better than alternatives used before them, such as alcohol, etc. In the 1800's, and before, alcoholism was far more common than it is now, and was more often fatal. On the other hand, there are so many instances of drugs being declared illegal because they are "too good". Dexedrine, for example, is difficult to get in the U.S., and it has been officially dubbed, addictive. Other drugs/medications, such as quaaludes, opiates, marijuana, and hundreds of others have been declared illegal in the U.S., as immoral (punishable by criminal penalties). It is well documented that pharmaceuticals companies have poured billions of dollars into lobbying and lawsuits to have drugs outlawed. It is less well documented, in almost all cases, as to whether or not the outlawed medicine was indeed, or was not, of greater detriment than help. Certainly, however, there is a nearly infinite amount of wealth to be gained by making a competing drug hard to get. (Note "Partnership for a Drug-Free America" is funded (approx. 90%) by Anhauser-Busch and big tobacco companies). I'm not saying that all drug restrictions are bad, or even most of them. Certainly, there is a need to regulate "medications". It is just unfortunate, and something we all must watch, that the huge potential for monetary gain in pharmaceuticals marketing has, does, and always will drastically alter the medications available, as well as public opinion concerning these medications through the media, in a way that does not correlate with consumer/patient welfare or truth, but does correlate well with profits.
Sorry to run on for so long. I guess I am just saying that Canada is better geared to helping people with medical problems than is the U.S.One last thought: When a patent on a medication expires, and anyone can make it,or, when a highly effective treatment really is found, what is a poor pharmaceuticals firm to do about the drastic shift in demand away from its own products?
Posted by alan on June 11, 1999, at 3:48:09
In reply to Re: Is this the road Elvis started on?Medication Help!, posted by jwill on June 4, 1999, at 12:58:16
Had Elvis been properly medicated by a responsible and competent physician, one who would have prescribed dexedrine--among other things--if it had been appropriate, thus helping Elvis to feel and function better and therefore be more likely to remain compliant, and had this physician monitored him for that compliance, then Elvis might not have died as quickly as he did.
OTOH, it must be admitted that there are people who cannot be stopped from engaging in dangerous patterns of behavior, such as drug abuse; it is the responsibility of the physician to differentiate patients accordingly, and treat them appropriately.
I believe physicans take an oath that would obligate them to rank patient care over fear of the DEA, etc.
This is the end of the thread.
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