Posted by Racer on May 10, 2008, at 21:49:16
In reply to Re: I dont feel like taking my Abilify, posted by Phillipa on May 10, 2008, at 20:18:34
It may be that the doctor in question is prescribing Abilify rather than a benzo to this patient for a reason. It may not be that the doctor is fundamentally anti-benzo. It may be that is the case -- but we really don't have sufficient information to draw that conclusion.
So, for the sake of argument, I'm going to offer up some scenarios that come to my mind for why a doctor might not prescribe a benzo to someone:
1. The doctor is fundamentally anti-benzo.
2. The patient is not suffering from simple anxiety, but from bipolar disorder.
3. The patient in question has a history of substance abuse, perhaps including abuse of prescribed medications.
4. The patient has had prior bad reactions to benzos or related medications, but for some reason possibly related to the underlying psychopathology does not acknowledge that fact.
5. The antipsychotic medication is the correct indication based on the actual symptomology -- the patient may actually be psychotic, or may be floridly manic.
6. It could just be that the patient actually likes that space of hypomania/mania, and doesn't want his/her mood stabilized for that reason.
Many of you who have read my posts about my problems finding anxiolytic medication which is effective and tolerable know that I am not able to turn to benzos. I have a history of paradoxical reactions, and the times they've had a more beneficial effect they've also increased my depression. Not everyone is a good candidate for benzos.
And I worry a great deal, based on the possibility that this situation involves one of the scenarios above, that advising this poster to give up a medication so soon after starting it may not be the best advice we can offer. Could be Abilify isn't the right medication for this poster. Could also be that it would turn out to be much better than other options already tried.
OK. That's my view, on offer for all. I hope that no one feels offended by these views, but I really felt the need to express them.
poster:Racer
thread:828330
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080510/msgs/828397.html