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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 4:29:51
No not annoyed over lithium but from what my psychiatrist has said on my records. When i first started to see the last psychiatrist that I had I had to tell him about the psychotic episode that I had (or whatever it was) those who know me know all about it (hi Phillipa) and during that time I was taking a lot of xanax that I was prescribed, was smoking a small amount of pot (maybe $10 worth over a month) and drinking a little bit but nothing else. Though I did a lot of weird things like legally changing my name .etc I told this to my psychiatrist and he was convinced that I had methamphetamine psychosis!!!!! I told him I had never tried meth, and he went on to say "what about speed or ice or goee .etc) thinking I didnt know what meth or amphetamines were. I told him no so many times that I have never had it. This was about 3 years ago.
I saw my records at my GP. He says I have a "history of methamphetamine abuse"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never EVER tried meth or any amphetamine for that matter. I cant believe this. So every doctor that now reads my records will think I am a drug addict. It kind of makes sense as to why every time that I did see him he asked if I had been using drugs which I would say no (I really hadnt) then he would do the whole "What about speed/ice/meth/amphetamines .etc) thing again and I would say no of course not.
I am so pist off!!!!!!! I have read that you can get your records changed but how to do so here in Australia I dont know. Talking to someone here in Sydney too and she tried to get her records changed and it was a disaster. She said she ended up going to court over it and it made things worse.
My parents were always warning me of stuff like this happening if you go to a psychiatrist. I never believed them until now.
Anyone have any similar stories?
With lithium, since i have stopped taking clomipramine and now recently risperidone i have diarrhea about 6 times a day. I was thinking that maybe its not from stopping clomip that has given me diarrhea but rather it stopped the diarrhea from occurring because it made me very constipated while I was on it (went to the toilet about once a week and only if I took laxatives for 3 or 4 days).
Same person I was talking to has been on lithium for 10 years and said that she has had diarrhea for 10 years pretty constantly and that the only thing that stopped it was codeine.
Anyone else here get diarrhea on lithium? I dont know what to take to stop it. Today I left the house for the first time in over one month and I had to take immodium because I had already been to the toilet about 5 times before I left (didnt want to have a diarrhea crisis while driving lol).
Thanks for reading and any help/info .etc would be greatly appreciated.
Take care.
Posted by cactus on October 17, 2007, at 4:52:59
In reply to lithium and annoyed, posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 4:29:51
Go and ask that doctor, who wrote up that diagnosis and what bought him to that conclusion. Did he do a blood test to check for drugs in your system? Or was he just another one of those useless GP that come across mentally ill people and think that they are drug addicts? He cannot make those assumptions without medical proof like a blood or urine sample. It's totally unethical. If he did do that and you had been taking cold and flu tablets or sudafed it would have produced a positive result unfortunately. Good luck mate. I'm an aussie too. I wonder if you can go and demand your medical records from the GP and find a new psych.
Posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 5:13:15
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » alienatari, posted by cactus on October 17, 2007, at 4:52:59
Thanks Cactus. No blood tests at all. And it was the psychiatrist, not the GP. You know how they transfer over the report about your progress and whats wrong with you to the referring GP.
My GP is really good I love her. She showed me the records, i havent made copies but she has given me copies from previous psychiatrists in the past.
I really think I will do that about contacting the psychiatrist. Thanks for that. Its a great idea.
Whats worse is that my dad's friend who is a doctor is another person he forwarded my records too. This other GP I had been seeing because my regular GP is so booked out all the time I couldnt get an appointment. And I really do not like the other GP I have seen in the past, only go to him in desperation and god knows why I let him have my psych records :( I guess because he was always demanding them, saying he couldnt treat me properly without them.
Now before I say this, I am not saying anything bad about anyone that is religious but this guy is a religious freak. He has crosses all over the waiting room, and religious statues (same in the surgery). In the waiting room there is a variety of bibles you can read instead of magazines (I am serious). Though, last time I was there he had some magazines. The radio is set on some Christian station and the receptionist spends all her time highlighting parts of the bible (she usually has several bibles open on her desk at once going back and forth to each one). It is really REALLY weird. God, if he knew I was gay I think he would go crazy. Thats probably also on my records lol ok I guess he knows now.
I dont think I want to see another psychiatrist, ever again If I can help it. They seem to just over-medicate me or treat me like crap.
I hope I'll be ok on just lithium. Seem to be doing well though.
Take care
> Go and ask that doctor, who wrote up that diagnosis and what bought him to that conclusion. Did he do a blood test to check for drugs in your system? Or was he just another one of those useless GP that come across mentally ill people and think that they are drug addicts? He cannot make those assumptions without medical proof like a blood or urine sample. It's totally unethical. If he did do that and you had been taking cold and flu tablets or sudafed it would have produced a positive result unfortunately. Good luck mate. I'm an aussie too. I wonder if you can go and demand your medical records from the GP and find a new psych.
Posted by Squiggles on October 17, 2007, at 6:47:55
In reply to lithium and annoyed, posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 4:29:51
Yes, to diarrhea with lithium, but dose and
diet helps; thanks for the codeine tip; i have
read that opiates would help too-- and wouldn't
it be nice if you could get that instead of
benzos for anxiety.About your file, hmmm.... that may have slipped
in somehow by mistake or even if you tried
amphetamines once 100 yrs ago, there are far
more chances that any tranquillizers you were or
are taking before dx, would have an effect.This sound like the misfortune of "bureaucratic
psychiatry". Personally, i have never read my
file-- i think i would be scared to as i have
seen it and it's thick, very thick.Squiggles
Posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 8:05:05
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » alienatari, posted by Squiggles on October 17, 2007, at 6:47:55
I guess I might try some codeine tomorrow when the diarrhea starts. My dosage is 1250mg of lithium per day, levels at .85.
It would be nice if they gave us opiates instead of benzo's!! (God I hope my psychiatrist isnt reading this, tomorrow I will have "heroin addict" written on my records lol).
I still dont understand it, i keep thinking about the meth thing over and over again. I guess what upset me most is that he didnt even write that i had taken the drug occasionally which is also untrue as I have never had amphetamines but it actually said I had constantly abused methamphetamine which lead to psychosis and all this other crap.
I really dont know if I should read the rest of what he has written. Kind of too scared to.
Howcome your file is so big?
> Yes, to diarrhea with lithium, but dose and
> diet helps; thanks for the codeine tip; i have
> read that opiates would help too-- and wouldn't
> it be nice if you could get that instead of
> benzos for anxiety.
>
> About your file, hmmm.... that may have slipped
> in somehow by mistake or even if you tried
> amphetamines once 100 yrs ago, there are far
> more chances that any tranquillizers you were or
> are taking before dx, would have an effect.
>
> This sound like the misfortune of "bureaucratic
> psychiatry". Personally, i have never read my
> file-- i think i would be scared to as i have
> seen it and it's thick, very thick.
>
> Squiggles
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2007, at 8:29:04
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed, posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 8:05:05
> I guess I might try some codeine tomorrow when the diarrhea starts. My dosage is 1250mg of lithium per day, levels at .85.
Just so's you know, Immodium is an opioid, called loperamide. It is used because it is not able to cross the blood/brain barrier in significant amounts, limiting the effects to the periphery. It is unclear if much of it is even capable of leaving the digestive tract, limiting its sphere of action even further. Your body can become dependent on it, so be aware. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immodium
Lar
Posted by Squiggles on October 17, 2007, at 8:32:46
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed, posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 8:05:05
> I guess I might try some codeine tomorrow when the diarrhea starts. My dosage is 1250mg of lithium per day, levels at .85.
How do you buy codeine-- i think it is not
an OTC product.
>
> It would be nice if they gave us opiates instead of benzo's!! (God I hope my psychiatrist isnt reading this, tomorrow I will have "heroin addict" written on my records lol).I do wish doctors weren't puritanical about
opiates - gee whiz-- chemistry is chemistry is
chemistry; opiates were used in history for
many ailments, and not everyone took large
enough amounts, often enough, to get addicted.
>
> I still dont understand it, i keep thinking about the meth thing over and over again. I guess what upset me most is that he didnt even write that i had taken the drug occasionally which is also untrue as I have never had amphetamines but it actually said I had constantly abused methamphetamine which lead to psychosis and all this other crap.It may somebody else who said that on your
behalf, not knowing exactly what you took--
it could have melatonin and they got the word
wrong, for example;
>
> I really dont know if I should read the rest of what he has written. Kind of too scared to.
>
> Howcome your file is so big?I have not seen others, so i can't compare; but
it looked big to me, and that is probably because
i have been under observation for about 30 years.Squiggles
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2007, at 9:29:25
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » alienatari, posted by Squiggles on October 17, 2007, at 8:32:46
> > I guess I might try some codeine tomorrow when the diarrhea starts. My dosage is 1250mg of lithium per day, levels at .85.
>
> How do you buy codeine-- i think it is not
> an OTC product.In some jurisdictions, lower concentrations are indeed OTC. Australia and Canada both allow such. Great Britain as well, IIRC.
In Canada, you have to ask the pharmacist for them. Acetominophen with 8 mg codeine (equivalent to Tylenol 1) is OTC, as is codeine cough syrup.
Lar
Posted by Squiggles on October 17, 2007, at 9:40:08
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » Squiggles, posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2007, at 9:29:25
> In Canada, you have to ask the pharmacist for them. Acetominophen with 8 mg codeine (equivalent to Tylenol 1) is OTC, as is codeine cough syrup.
>
> LarThank you Larry. We do have A.C.&C tablets
by "Praxis" in the medicine cabinet-- that
contains 325mg acetysalicylic acid (aspirin),
15mg caffeine, and 8mg codeine. I find the
aspirin actually interacts with the lithium-
negatively a bit-- sort of a fuzzy buzz feeling,
but the caffeine is OK. I'm going to look at
the cough syrup preparations-- maybe they don't
have aspirin.Strange thing has happened lately though, since
my change of life circumstances, i don't have
as much diarrhea; i guess there is less stress even though there is more sadness (not depression), just disappointment. So, i'm better in some resects. I find that staying away from
sugar and oil and eating fiber are all very good.Squiggles
Posted by Phillipa on October 17, 2007, at 10:31:36
In reply to lithium and annoyed, posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 4:29:51
Alien I agree with the drug testing. Can your Dad help you get the records changed? Phillipa
Posted by cactus on October 17, 2007, at 14:59:18
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed, posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 8:05:05
Well if you have a good GP then ask her to give you a new referal to a new psych and not tell him/her about your past. Also you can now get 15mg codeine /paracetamol caps over the counter in Australia and they are great for bad pain and really do constipate you. I have just had a sore back and now you don't have to go to the doctor to get a script. They are called panadiene 15 and you have to ask for them. But don't mess with fire they are very addictive. Good luck and talk to your GP about a fresh start with a new psych and no records. See if she is willing to say in the referal that she feels like she can't deal with you alone anymore and needs the help of a psych to guide her in the right direction. That way there should be no record transfer and you can get a clean start. Good luck
Posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 20:31:20
In reply to Re: lithium and diarrhea » alienatari, posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2007, at 8:29:04
Thanks for the info. I was actually aware of this, I was only ever taking it around once a week. maybe twice at most. It was not that effective for me though.
Take care.
> > I guess I might try some codeine tomorrow when the diarrhea starts. My dosage is 1250mg of lithium per day, levels at .85.
>
> Just so's you know, Immodium is an opioid, called loperamide. It is used because it is not able to cross the blood/brain barrier in significant amounts, limiting the effects to the periphery. It is unclear if much of it is even capable of leaving the digestive tract, limiting its sphere of action even further. Your body can become dependent on it, so be aware. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immodium
>
> Lar
Posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 20:34:29
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » alienatari, posted by Squiggles on October 17, 2007, at 8:32:46
I am in Australia and codeine is over the counter here.
Usually sold as 8-10mg tablets with paracetemol.
I guess I will never know why he wrote this down.
Ive only been seeing a psychiatrist for 6 years or so, well three different ones. I guess mine are not that large yet.
> > I guess I might try some codeine tomorrow when the diarrhea starts. My dosage is 1250mg of lithium per day, levels at .85.
>
> How do you buy codeine-- i think it is not
> an OTC product.
> >
> > It would be nice if they gave us opiates instead of benzo's!! (God I hope my psychiatrist isnt reading this, tomorrow I will have "heroin addict" written on my records lol).
>
> I do wish doctors weren't puritanical about
> opiates - gee whiz-- chemistry is chemistry is
> chemistry; opiates were used in history for
> many ailments, and not everyone took large
> enough amounts, often enough, to get addicted.
> >
> > I still dont understand it, i keep thinking about the meth thing over and over again. I guess what upset me most is that he didnt even write that i had taken the drug occasionally which is also untrue as I have never had amphetamines but it actually said I had constantly abused methamphetamine which lead to psychosis and all this other crap.
>
> It may somebody else who said that on your
> behalf, not knowing exactly what you took--
> it could have melatonin and they got the word
> wrong, for example;
>
>
> >
> > I really dont know if I should read the rest of what he has written. Kind of too scared to.
> >
> > Howcome your file is so big?
>
> I have not seen others, so i can't compare; but
> it looked big to me, and that is probably because
> i have been under observation for about 30 years.
>
> Squiggles
>
>
>
Posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 20:35:41
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » Squiggles, posted by Larry Hoover on October 17, 2007, at 9:29:25
15 mg codeine tablets are available here also without a prescription (in Australia), you just need to ask the pharmacist for it.
> > > I guess I might try some codeine tomorrow when the diarrhea starts. My dosage is 1250mg of lithium per day, levels at .85.
> >
> > How do you buy codeine-- i think it is not
> > an OTC product.
>
> In some jurisdictions, lower concentrations are indeed OTC. Australia and Canada both allow such. Great Britain as well, IIRC.
>
> In Canada, you have to ask the pharmacist for them. Acetominophen with 8 mg codeine (equivalent to Tylenol 1) is OTC, as is codeine cough syrup.
>
> Lar
Posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 20:37:23
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » alienatari, posted by Phillipa on October 17, 2007, at 10:31:36
I dont know, I doubt it. I dont think he would even be able to see my records for that matter.
> Alien I agree with the drug testing. Can your Dad help you get the records changed? Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on October 17, 2007, at 20:48:02
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed, posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 20:37:23
What is the significance of an entry like
that in your medical record, Alienatari?Squiggles
Posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 20:53:43
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » alienatari, posted by cactus on October 17, 2007, at 14:59:18
Thats a really good idea, thanks. I guess at the moment I dont want to see a psychiatrist though as I am relatively mentally well. But if I need to in the future that is what I will do. I wouldnt want a new psychiatrist reading about these lies :(
I have taken the 15 mg codeine before when I had my impacted wisdom teeth surgically removed. The doctor that did the surgery told me to take Neurophin (sp?) plus for the pain but I was on epilim at the time and I was told you shouldnt take nSAIDs with epilim. So the chemist recommended the medication you described, was really good. 30mg of codeine was effective for the pain.
I had diarrhea this morning and I took an 8mg tablet. Don't know how effective that is going to be, maybe I should have taken two. I havent had diarrhea again though.
With panadeine 15, did you find it really hard to actually get? When I went to get another packet 2 days later (they give you enough for about 1 - 1 1/2 days only for those that have not used it) it was a different pharmacist and he didnt want to sell me it. So I showed him my gums and it looked really gross from the surgery and he then gave me a packet.
Maybe its just this chemist as they are quite weird. I wanted to buy benadryl to help ease the side effects of coming off of clomipramine (read here I think, might be another site, that it could help). I really dont know if it this type of cough syrup has any abuse potential but the chemist wouldnt sell me it.
Thanks again and take care
> Well if you have a good GP then ask her to give you a new referal to a new psych and not tell him/her about your past. Also you can now get 15mg codeine /paracetamol caps over the counter in Australia and they are great for bad pain and really do constipate you. I have just had a sore back and now you don't have to go to the doctor to get a script. They are called panadiene 15 and you have to ask for them. But don't mess with fire they are very addictive. Good luck and talk to your GP about a fresh start with a new psych and no records. See if she is willing to say in the referal that she feels like she can't deal with you alone anymore and needs the help of a psych to guide her in the right direction. That way there should be no record transfer and you can get a clean start. Good luck
Posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 23:20:20
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » alienatari, posted by Squiggles on October 17, 2007, at 20:48:02
I have no idea. Just dont like the idea of other doctors thinking I have had a past on-going psychosis from drug abuse when I never abused drugs.
> What is the significance of an entry like
> that in your medical record, Alienatari?
>
> Squiggles
Posted by cactus on October 18, 2007, at 1:19:27
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed, posted by alienatari on October 17, 2007, at 23:20:20
if you have never abused drugs then you DESERVE a fresh start. If you're feeling well now then wait until you feel the need to see a new psych. You might not even have to if you are doing this well
Posted by Squiggles on October 18, 2007, at 8:25:33
In reply to Re: lithium and annoyed » alienatari, posted by cactus on October 18, 2007, at 1:19:27
I hope they don't consider smoking
marijuana cigarettes or getting
drunk at college parties, "drug abuse
leading to psychosis", in moderate amounts
of course. The 20 to 30 prescription
psychotropic drugs that some patients
are given, without monitoring withdrawal
properly, is a far more dangerous practice,
especially when doing recreational drugs
when young is typically for one day at
special occasions, rather than years of
daily psychiatric medication.Squiggles
This is the end of the thread.
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