Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
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Re: To JohnL

Posted by JohnL on November 3, 2000, at 4:46:32

In reply to To JohnL, posted by angelrose on November 1, 2000, at 10:19:04

> Hi John:
> I have added Adrafinil to Prozac, good combo. I'm definitly less tired and more interested in life which is a very pleasant surprise.
> I'm seing my Psychiatrist next week and I'm wondering should I tell him about Adrafinil?
> Also, I'm still experiencing some panic attacks since I've been off the Paxil. My previous Doctor had prescribed some Lorazepam (0.5 mg, take as needed) which I'm still taking. I find it moderately effective but I'm just wondering if there is an alternative? I'm also having horrible nightmares and wake up in a state of panic and dread. I've had this all my life but the Paxil had me sedated, I always slept very well and had no problems with nightmares and restless sleep.
> Just wanted to hear some suggestions before I go see my Psychiatrist.
>
> As always, your suggestions and knowledge are appreciated.
>
> Thanks a bunch.
>
> PS: Decided not to go with Meridia.

Angelrose,
I don't know why, but Adrafinil does seem to work better with Prozac. Hope it continues to improve with you. Though I noticed slight benefits early, Adrafinil really didn't kick in fully until about week 3. I was willing to give it time because it did help a little almost right away, and the lack of side effects was also a good sign.

As far as telling your doctor or not, you'll have to do what you think is best. I personally probably would not. There's no benefit in him knowing. There's no harm in him not knowing. If one of your drugs was a MAOinbibitor, that would be a completely different story. He would have to know. But that's not the case. Your relationship with him is important, and it might imply that you distrust him if he knows you are partially taking matters into your own hands. It might just mess things up. It could even be that he would not be able to treat you any longer because he would perceive himself as being at risk for malpractice in allowing you to take a nonFDA medication, and his insurance carrier probably wouldn't cover him. I did tell a psychiatrist in the past I was trying overseas meds, and he supported it because he wanted me to feel better no matter how that was accomplished. But he politely made it clear that his insurance would not allow him to participate. He couldn't write any more prescriptions for me as long as I was taking a nonUSA drug. From that point on I kept it a secret.

Check out my response to Judy in her post. It shows a chart of what percentage of patients were cured of anxiety/panic with which drugs. It basically implies two things. 1)Try different medication classes, even if there is no clinical justification for doing so; 2)Once you find a drug that is at least somewhat effective, try others in that same class for comparison in an effort to discover a favorite.

I wish it were easier. But hopefully this will at least give you some ideas. "Anything's possible" my psychiatrist used to tell me. The chart proves it. He found a diagnosis was usually not helpful in finding the right drug. Trying different things was the only way. Keep an open mind.
John


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