Posted by JohnL on October 9, 1999, at 6:30:59
In reply to JohnL - finding pdoc frustrating, posted by Lori on October 6, 1999, at 9:19:36
I hear your frustration. It's heartbreaking. In an effort to eliminate confusion though, let's look at the simple facts...the people she's seeing now are failing. That's the facts. Staying with current treatment seems the same to me as staying with a sinking ship. I wouldn't want to jump in the cold shark-infested water to swim to another boat, but if my ship is sinking I've got everything to gain and nothing to lose by taking the plunge. My opinion in this case (just an opinion) is to ditch current treatment and continue seeking a doc who is good with drugs. You can always come back to talk therapy later, but it sounds like a medicine is definitely needed.
There are other choices besides SSRIs. For starters, any of the TCAs. And considering the desperation of the situation, it might be quite realistic to go straight to an MAOI. Matter of fact, if I was a doc, I would say enough already, no more fooling around, let's end the suffering, let's try Nardil or Parnate. This whole case sounds perfectly scripted for an MAOI.
Keep calling around for docs. Find one who has patients on MAOIs. A doc of that calibre can be a life-saver, whether he/she chooses to use an MAOI or not. That might even be the one and only screening question to ask a prospective doc...do you currently prescribe MAOIs to patients? Any doc who prescribes MAOIs is a notch above the rest in my book. It is evidence of aggressiveness and expertise. That's what's needed I think.
I wouldn't hesitate. Ditch the current treatment. Begin prospecting immediately and frantically for a doc who is comfortable with MAOIs. That doc will likely have the agressiveness and expertise to intervene successfully. Again though, just my opinion. That's what I would do in a similar situation.
poster:JohnL
thread:12619
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991016/msgs/12882.html