Posted by dbc on December 11, 2006, at 22:11:52
I have a panic disorder that gets very out of control so i've become accustomed to seeing the inside of ERs. Unlike most panic patients im also being treated for AD/HD-I with dexedrine. I realize this sounds strange but really i have panic regardless of if im taking a stimulant or ssri or snri or most anything.
Yesterday afternoon i went to the ER in a full on panic attack over some imaginery problem that didnt exist, but thats the way panic is. As per usual the second i tell them im taking dexedrine i get a blood test. This is their attempt to be sneaky at checking my amphetamine metabolite level without asking for a urine test. If you're prescribed stimulants you're assumed to be an abuser right off the bat.
The doctor comes in and basically says "you're in here for panic alot" and then starts talking about benzo addiction. Im prescribed xanax by my doctor i just havent had any the last few days. So once again im assumed to be a drug abuser. During this whole time i've made no mention of benzos to any staff member of the hospital in any way. The doctor talks to me about my extensive history of psychiatric drug use and then says he's going to talk to his shrink. (in reality probably checking on my blood test)
He comes back 15 minutes later and asks me "ever tried zoloft". I seriously briefly laughed at that point, he's asking a guy who's taken 300mg of effexor + 30mg of remeron at once if he wants to try another SSRI. This was ridiculous beyond words and i think he realized that and dropped the notion entirely. Finally, im told he wont give me anything to take home but he'll give me "something to calm down and help you sleep". So i agree since i have no other option at this point.
This is where the fun starts. A nurse comes in and starts filling a needle. I ask exactly what im getting and he says "benadryl and diazer...." i dont catch the end of the last word(this was a severe screw up on my part). I ask "what exactly is that" and the nurse replies "oh its something we use alot for anxiety, calms people down".
What the nurse really said was droperidol. If i would have heard the "dol" part you can be sure the IV would have come out of my arm forcefully and i would have been out of that hospital as quick as i could get my clothes on. Yes, thats right they gave a panic patient a powerful anti-psychotic/tranquilizer.
I was instantly very messed up and this part becomes a blur but im told to put my clothes on and i can go home. I some how manage to call and order a taxi and then wait 20 minutes in the 25 degree weather falling asleep standing up. The cab never comes and im so messed up im seeing double. Some how i manage to call a family member and after another round of falling asleep standing up in the cold and having people stare at me i finally get to go home and sleep for 18 hours.
Im so angry at all of this on so many levels i cant even explain. If i had the money to afford an attorney the doctor would have a court summons in his hand right now.
Not only was giving me droperidol grossly inappropriate they then let me loose into the world completely screwed up. Im fairly certain this was a vindictive act on the part of the ER doctor because he perceived me as taking part in "drug seeking behaviour".
poster:dbc
thread:712783
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061206/msgs/712783.html