Posted by kalyb on June 10, 2003, at 8:06:58
In reply to Re: An important lesson learned » maxime, posted by Questionmark on June 10, 2003, at 0:42:26
Maxine - I hope you're feeling better now. What a shock...
I know I am careful about checking meds after a small error a few years ago. I went to the doctor, (not one I'd seen before, my usual one was unavailable) knowing I needed some AD's. I told her that SSRI's didn't work well for me, so she told me she was going to prescribe "one of the older types" of AD.
When I got the prescription, it turned out to be Celexa.... which of course I looked up on the net and saw to be... a SSRI.
At the time I was feeling SO depressed I didn't even have the energy to make a fuss so I just started taking it. It wasn't right for me but it got me through a few painful weeks, after which I stopped it, had a few months med-free, then saw my regular doctor for something more suitable. But that one small experience has taught me to be really careful.
I might be being too careful though. When my pdoc prescribed Effexor I started reading through this board and realised that most people start off on either 37.5mg of normal effexor twice a day, or 75mg of XR. I'd been given 75mg of normal effexor to be taken once a day.
So I queried it with my pdoc. He called me and left a message that he finds people have less side effects with the dose I'd been given. And I have to say that in my case, that was perfectly true. He then went on to say that if I wished, in my next scrip he'd give me the XR. I didn't respond to his message, thinking that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" - the 75mg per day of normal was working just fine.
Last week when I went to get a repeat scrip, guess what had been written on it? XR. The pharmacist pointed that out to me, but only after I'd been asking her about diphenhydramine; she casually mentioned "Oh, by the way, you've been given the capsules this time."
I had to go back to the doctor's surgery and see the practice secretary, explain the situation and be given another prescription for the normal Effexor.
I'm seeing my pdoc in about a week's time, so I will be sure to mention this to him!! I'm not happy... but at least I noticed the change. If he *really really* wants me on the XR for some reason, he can give me a scrip when I see him then!!
So you really do have to be alert sometimes... it almost makes me wonder if he didn't do it just to see if I would notice!! To be honest, had I been as depressed as I was when I first went to see him, I wouldn't have cared. Ironic, really....
Kalyb xx
poster:kalyb
thread:232686
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030609/msgs/232848.html