Posted by erik98225 on November 2, 2004, at 15:32:50
I need a new pdoc.... who isn't benzophobic.... and actually LISTENS to his or her patients.
I have Social Phobia and trouble sleeping. I take Paxil 60mg and Atenolol 50mg. This effectively controls my social phobia, but I have a heck of a time falling asleep, which has been a lifelong issue for me.
I was on Klonopin 6mg (2mg tid) for a while until my pdoc insisted on taking me off of it on the grounds that it is "addictive". She has confused the concept of dependence (needing more of the drug to get the same effect) with that of addiction (continuing to abuse a drug despite harm to self). I have explained the difference to her multiple times but she just doesn't get it.
I feel she has been bought off by the SSRI companies.
She knows of my sleep problems and has tried other sleep medications in the past. Benadryl and Trazodone and Seroquel work, but they are anticholinergic. I am allergic to anticholinergics. They suck all the saliva out of my mouth and make me depressed for 3 DAYS after taking only 1/4 of the recommended dose.
Alcohol works, but it burns holes in your liver.
Klonopin worked as well or nearly as well as alcohol, without any of the side effects of drinking a toxic industrial solvent. But it is off limits, being a benzo.
I haven't asked, but Ambien and Sonata are probably off limits because they are tolerance-producing GABA agonists (like benzos).
My current pdoc schedules appointments in 15 minute blocks (yes FIFTEEN minutes) and they go like this: enter, get lectured for 15 minutes, close the door on your way out. This pdoc is not there to HELP me and not deserving of my money.
I intended to ask her today if she would be willing to prescribe Neurontin (the non-addictive GABA agonist) but had no time to do so.
My GABA system is obviously way out of whack, and sadly, alcohol is the only GABA agonist that is easy to obtain.
I want to get on some REAL medication that will help, and I hate to resort to the expensive gray market, so doctor-shopping I go. If anyone can recommend a good pdoc in the Seattle/Bellingham area I would be extremely grateful (my email is erik98225@hotmail.com)
Also, if anyone who reads this is taking Neurontin I would like to hear about your experiences with it. Thanks very much.
poster:erik98225
thread:410701
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041029/msgs/410701.html