Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Medication

Learning to empathize

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:49:16 -0800

How can I understand, and empathize, with my fiancee's psychological issues? And other difficult-to-articulate questions. Posting anonymously as this is a fairly private issue I'd rather not have linked to my username.

Background info: I'd say I'm a well-adjusted, psychologically healthy male. I was raised believing in the power of the mind, with "anything's possible if you put your mind to it" as the family mantra. I'm a positive thinker and my own life has been shaped by discipline and self-control. I'm pretty stoic and always try to keep my emotions in check (I rarely cry or get angry, but I'm also upbeat and happy most of the time). Because these values have been reinforced and proven effective for me so many times over, I consider them virtues. I'm a big proponent of setting audacious goals, following my dreams, and being a self-made man.

The downside to this mindset is my difficulty empathizing with my fiancee. She takes two different medications, one for ADD and one for anxiety. This is probably a topic for another AskMe, but these two ailments are things I've always been skeptical of. I guess it's because I have no firsthand experience with them. I tend to agree with people like Thomas Szasz and the "anti-psychiatry" movement that these conditions are real but not necessarily best treated medically. Perhaps they're conditioned by upbringing, compounded by years of self-fulfilling diagnoses, special ed assignments, overstimulation, and psychosomatic confirmation bias. I realize this is controversial, and I don't want to debate it in this thread. Just trying to paint a picture of where I'm coming from.

My instinct, my deep desire, is to try to wean my fiancee off her meds (which she freely admits to hating for a number of reasons) and transition to a better-structured, calmer lifestyle. To help her rein in her issues sans pharmaceuticals. I feel some urgency, because doing nothing is unsustainable in the long term -- she continues to increase her dosage every few years just to get the same effects. How can someone follow that trajectory for a lifetime? It pains me to see her chemically addicted to mind-altering drugs that, as far as I can tell, only mask the symptoms instead of addressing the underlying cause. I'm particularly concerned about side effects that may manifest when we try for kids in a few years.

Anyway, that's a discussion for another time. Let me get to my real question.

When we talk about going off the meds, my fiancee agrees with my motivations but is terrified at the thought. It's not just the addiction talking -- she's fully convinced that her issues are 100% chemical and that there are no viable alternatives to prescription drugs. This is where I find it very hard to put myself in her shoes: she insists that she has no self-control, that it's clinically impossible for her to take any responsibility for her actions. This is contrary to everything I've ever believed about free will and sounds to my ears like pessimism or defeatism. She's playing the victim and refusing to even TRY to resist whatever urges pop into her head. She feels like it's out of her control but I have trouble believing it really is.

An example... something unexpected happens and her anxiety flares up. I try to calm her down. "It's okay," I say softly. I put my arm around her and breathe slowly so she can synchronize with me. I remind her that it's not the end of the world, that we can improvise and work around the obstacle. Her reaction is unexpected to me. She gets angry. "I can't calm down," she snaps. She pulls away from me sharply and does erratic things. It's like my attempts to help are useless, anything I do or say only aggravates the problem. Later she apologizes and tells me that her "brain was going very fast" and she simply couldn't process any stimuli at the time. Trying to help only snowballed the problem and she got angry with me for adding to the noise in her head.

She spends a lot of time angry or worried, even on her medication. I desperately want to help her get past these emotions, which will eat her up inside and make her miserable; training myself to overcome them was one of the best decisions I ever made. I want my fiancee to share my optimism and desire for adventure. I love her and just want to see her happy, not just momentarily but as a general frame of reference for her outlook on life. It's just healthier, for both of us as we head into marriage.

We've done pre-marital counseling, which I thought was great. But all of the counselor's advice built off my supposition that talking through issues in a logical, respectful manner is effective. Unfortunately, in the heat of the moment, clear-headed discussion is impossible (which frustrates me to no end, because I try endlessly to work through every bump in the road, just as was recommended, and seem to end up worse for my efforts).

I'm sorry this is so long. I don't really know how to frame this as a question but I'm getting exasperated. How can I help my fiancee? How can I come to understand her feeling of powerlessness? How can I actually make progress toward helping her overcome it?

My mind is open to new ways of looking at mental health, but it's still difficult for me. I feel that on some subconscious level, she's just lacking confidence in herself, being stubborn, and refusing to take responsibility for her behavior. She's not doing it intentionally, I know. If you think I'm wrong (and I'm sure many here will), how can I internalize the fact that some people literally cannot will themselves through adversity the way I've always done? It's almost impossible for me to accept, as it flies in the face of a lifetime of personal experience and seems ludicrous to me.

Any advice or related info is much appreciated. Throwaway email at empathytrouble@yahoo.com if you need it.

Is passing out yesterday still an emergency today?

DB Cooper — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:01:21 -0800

Where to get 2nd medical opinion as soon as reasonably possible about the medications one is prescribed by county hospital in Dallas? An acquaintance here in Dallas told me just now that his pharmacist said he was being overmedicated. My acquaintance mentioned that he passed out and fell twice yesterday and has mental confusion at times. He says his blood pressure fluctuates between very high and extremely low.

He is uninsured and the Dr(s) at Parkland Hospital have him on the following: losartan, plavix, potassium chloride, amlodipime, isordile, lasix, carvedilol, and aspirin. He called Parkland to tell them he thinks he may be overmedicated and they responded that the first time they could schedule an appointment is in early February.

I told him he should go to the ER because IANAD and I would rather err on the side of caution.

My question: Where in or near Dallas could he get a free/low-cost 2nd opinion before February about his med dosages besides the emergency department of a local hospital?

Unemployed, uninsured... how do I get my medication?

Pleadthefifth — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:09:26 -0800

So, I recently lost my job and, by proxy, my health insurance. I'd been seeing a psychiatrist for over 2 years, when I was employed and insured. Together, we found a good combination of medications that worked for me and my particular brain chemistry. Now, I am running out of medication and don't know what to do or where to look for assistance. (I'm 23 and live in New York City.) I take an SSRI and a benzodiazepine daily for depression and anxiety/panic attacks. I am worried about running out of the medication as sudden discontinuation of benzodiazepines can cause potentially life threatening seizures, as well as the discomfort of sudden discontinuation of the SSRI. What can I do to avoid having a seizure and causing even more medical bills to worry about? Both of my parents are deceased and I have no family to speak of and most of my friends are in similar situations. My googling has turned up nothing of use. Much thanks for any responses.

Non-cavernous pill organizers

Commander Rachek — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:03:21 -0800

I've recently started a very-long-term daily medication. I'd like to keep the pills in some sort of daily/weekly organizer. All of the pill boxes in the drug store are of the gigantic, multiple-horse-pill, large-print variety -- much larger than what I want or need. Where can I buy/how can I make a pill box that holds just one small pill for each day? I'm a college student who moves around a fair bit, so something that can withstand being kicked around in a backpack or duffel bag would be nice, too.

Medication tracking system

lockedroomguy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:31:07 -0800

What's the best pill tracking system for two married people over 70, one of whom is definitely getting forgetful? One takes three pills per day, and the other takes 11, mostly in the morning, but some at other times. I'm looking for a system to help them remember to always take them.

I know there are many containers that have days/built-in calendars etc, but I'm looking for any specific recommendations for people who've used these. I imagine to some extent that what works for you might not work for someone else, but let me know anyway.

Not worried about travel situations, just for when they're at home.

Computer/mobile phone/PDA solutions will not work as they don't have any of those things. Electronic systems could work.

Must be available for purchase or order in the US or Canada

Managing the damage. But how?

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:05:38 -0800

Anti-anxiety medication: blessing or cop-out? About a year ago, I had my first panic attack. It didn't happen in response to any specific situation or trigger; I believe it was more the aggregate response to a lifetime of small but persistent stressors which I could no longer deny or put aside. After a few more episodes, I started seeing a psychiatrist, who eventually put me on 10mg/day of Celexa on the grounds that I was over-thinking myself into a spiral about it and needed to see what it felt like to live without the obsessive, tail-eating thoughts that anxiety disorders produce.

Now, I also have a close friend who has suffered from anxiety his whole life. He has experienced many hundreds more attacks than I have (in addition to managing other factors such as OCD and social anxiety). He, however, has chosen to forego medication altogether, choosing instead to conduct his own personal form of CBT with no medical or psychiatric input.

While I believe he's made very good strides through his own method, and I can admire him for his dedication to staring this thing down through sheer force of will, I also see him succumbing to it again rather more than he wants to admit. I trust his years of experience in this matter, but it seems to me that he ultimately forces himself to suffer unnecessarily.

I feel the Celexa has allowed me to "get out of my own way" and lighten my psychological burden in a way I'm not sure I've ever actually experienced before. Also, panic episodes are so debilitating that I think I've occasionally become sick (flu-like) from the sheer physiological drainage they cause when I let them run roughshod over me. He, meanwhile, believes that drugs simply turn people into "robots" and that they only enable people to hide from themselves and their issues indefinitely. He sees medication as a cop-out and an act of emotional cowardice. He also thinks there is no way to actually confront or reconcile panic disorder while on medication, believing that direct exposure to panic episodes is the only thing that allows you to get comfortable with and work through them.

I recognize the necessity of CBT and working with a therapist to address the individual underlying issues and stressors that cause anxiety triggers to begin with. And I can admire the purity of my friend's method, even if I think he'd get a lot farther by doing it in a more guided capacity outside the vacuum of his own mind. But I can't see any downside (cultural judgments aside) to keeping the attacks at bay through medication until I can afford actual CBT.

So, what's the reality of the situation? Is the use of medication for anxiety disorder just a cheat? Is the best thing just to suck up and let the panic batter you around until you can retrain your own brain? Obviously I'm also dealing with the feeling of being judged by my friend, but I'd like to know what the latest word is from the medical community on the subject. Articles and citations are endless on the Web, but I'd sorta like a boildown from someone with a better handle on reliable information.

Will antianxiety meds take away a temper?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:21:16 -0800

Will antianxiety meds take away a temper? I'm starting to realize that I need to be on antianxeity meds. I have never been on one (only antidepressants) and have been putting it off due to fear of side-effects and guinea pig system until we find one that works.

However, I'm beyond stressed lately even wondering if I have post partum anxiety issues. I love my son to death but when the stress becomes unbareable, one more thing puts me over the edge and my temper goes to a zero to 60 in 3 seconds and I blow up (slamming door, yelling at the animals to get out of the way because they're always at my feet, etc. but never, never do I touch him). I do everything possible not to yell at my son or have him see my blow ups because I grew up this way and I never want my son to feel the way I felt as a kid. Yet yesterday I failed miserably. High stress of the day and high traffic on top of his non stop wailing/screaming/shrililng in a car seat for a 40 min drive led me to just lose it, scream, hit the steering wheel, cry and of course, that made things worse for him. The entire ride I just wailed and cried and my husband had to calm me down via phone. I just can't take it anymore.

And yes, I am in therapy about this and the 9 billion stressors in my life. It just feels like with parenthood, I'm at a breaking point. All I fantasize about is being alone somewhere with no one to bother me and to sleep and not have one person/animal ask me to do something. My husband tries to get it. He doesn't and at times, adds to it. Plus he has his own anxiety/sleep/high stress due to work issues and is on Cymbalta. So we're already quite a pair. :(

I think I want to know what do antianxiety meds feel like? I don't want to be a zombie or neutral since I'm tired to the point of dillirium all of the time (made an appt. for thyroid/diabetes check since I'm concerned). I also am afraid of the weight gain and any other side effects.

I was "good" on Wellbutrin for a year then that stopped working but again, I'm not depressed, suicidal, or anything linked to post partum psychosis. I'm just fed up with stress, feel like I'm ready for a nervous breakdown, while at the same time feeling like I'm going to jump out of my skin 24/7. Even my teeth feel like they're buzzing I'm that wound up all. of. the. time.

Any insights to what they're like would be helpful. I know each case is unique but still, a general knowlege would be helpful and if it takes the 0 to 60 temper away.

I can't really take my 3 weeks of sick leave at once...can I?

sio42 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:19:28 -0800

The trial-and-error method of ADHD drugs: I am already afraid of screwing up my job and I am concerned about all these side effects I read about people having. I can't spend 3 months spaced out or whatever until I find the right drug cause then I'll REALLY screw up at work. Can you help allay my fears or tell me how you and your psychiatrist and/or therapist worked this out? I can't believe I'm not posting this anonymously, but I wanted to be able to reply more easily than I can with an anon post.

Anyways, after working on my anxiety/depression issues for almost a year, I am SO MUCH better now, without any medication. It was just a lot of things falling into place. My most recent questions had to do with moving and life direction and I see now that it was just more of the same flittiness I've had my entire life and is probably the ADHD. But that's not really what I want to ask here.

I am in a decent job. It is ok, my hatred of the mundane aspects aside. However, I know that my problem with follow-through is a big issue. I never really cared at any other job, because it was either customer service, or I was in college and changed jobs almost every year due to needing to schedule classes. But I need to have A job and we know how the job market is right now.

When I go back and read the posts on here tagged with ADHD, people are often saying "straterra/vyanase/adderall/ritalin made me so spacey/tired/crazy/whatever". I CANNOT go through months of being worse than I am now. My position requires me to be here during the open hours of the office, so working PT or from home is not an option, it's already been discussed in a different circumstance. I'm here or I have no job.

I am meeting with a psychiatrist pretty soon. He and I worked together almost a year ago before we decided to take me off meds entirely but I wanted some personal experiences here. My GP at the time (I no longer see her), over two years ago, had put me on adderrall because she thought I was ADHD, but it made me feel crazy after a little while. I think maybe the dosage was wrong and I was having some severe severe depression at the time. She also had me on Lexapro and maybe that didn't act well with the Adderral. Anyways, I figured I couldn't be ADHD because of the effect Adderrall had on me.

Wow, this is long. I guess I'm trying to answer why this hasn't come up before as a diagnosis until now with my psychiatrist and therapist. Basically, they didn't konw what was wrong with me and were trying to help me manage anxiety/depression, which we did a really good job at. But the other ADHD stuff remains, and I meet all the criteria for it in the DSM according to my therapist.

tl;dr: How can I deal with trial-and-error drug testing that may make me worse at work than I already am? I am afraid to tell my boss. How have you adult-diagnosed ADHD folks dealt with this?

Lipid Med Moods

AzraelBrown — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:13:19 -0800

I was recently prescribed simvastatin for high cholesterol. About a year ago I tried Lexapro for anxiety, but didn't do well on it and stopped after a couple months, and otherwise haven't taken any medication for anything. See inside for where the two cross: When I started taking simvastatin, it seemed to me that I had started sleeping better and had more energy when waking up in the mornings. The Wifey recently said - without having heard my thoughts - that she thinks my anxiety has been less since I've been taking simvastatin, too, although she didn't want to say anything since it didn't seem to make sense. I can't imagine placebo effect, since I, even now, don't see any reason for a statin to have any sort of seratonin-related improvement or other mental health impact. Searching for side effects only found the one my doctor warned about, joint pain that's a bad sign, which I don't have nor any other negative side effects. Also, in case you're stalking me, this all started before I started exercising, so it's not that. You're not my doctor, and I haven't brought it up to my doctor since it seems so unrelated, but are there any of you in the MeFi universe with any thoughts on why this might be?

Take Two and Call Your Doctor in the Morning for a Prescription Refill

decathecting — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:41:23 -0800

I am trying to determine the cost of keeping drugs that are available without prescriptions in other countries prescription-only in the US. Please point me towards any studies that have attempted to calculate this or data that might help me calculate it myself. In the US, a large number of drugs require a doctor's prescription. Many of those drugs are available either over-the-counter or behind-the-counter (from a pharmacist) without a prescription in other countries. For example, cough suppressants containing codeine are prescription-only in the US, but behind-the-counter in many European countries.

What I'm looking for are some numbers that would help to quantify the marginal costs of these additional prescription restrictions in the US. The obvious costs would come in the cost of doctor's visits to obtain prescriptions, processing, and monitoring of the prescription system, but there may be other costs I'm not thinking of.

If there's a study that attempts to do this, I haven't been able to find it (perhaps it's buried under all of the Google results for "BUY VIAGRA WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION IN MEXICO!!!"). Any information would be much appreciated.

How does one go about receiving an ADD diagnosis and medical treatment these days?

Rendus — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:12:48 -0800

I'm a 28 year old male in Las Vegas, Nevada. When I was in my late pre-teens, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, and went through various treatments (Ritalin, Adderall, then eventually easing off medications entirely). Now, due to a promising promotion and other life changes, I need to be able to focus beyond what my self-regulation allows me. What can an adult expect to go through to convince a doctor that they have ADD, and to convince them to treat it medically? Initially, I was diagnosed and treated by a Neurologist, through a referral from our family doctor. Later, I was treated by a Psychiatrist (for ADD as well as manic depression and obsessive/compulsive disorder). I haven't been treated medically for ADD since my mid-teens, so I don't know quite where to start.

As an added bonus, I'm currently uninsured and do not have a regular doctor. If I were insured, I'd just start at a general practice doctor and work my way up the chain from there. I'm hoping there are people here with experience regarding if a general practitioner will be willing to diagnose and medically treat ADD, or if it's still mostly in the realm of (more expensive) specialists.

What can one expect, going to a doctor with this sort of treatment request? At least when I was a kid, there was a great deal of concern regarding abuse of these medications, and they are controlled substances. I don't have medical records for my treatment as a child, and I'm not sure they'd satisfy any concerns a doctor may have anyway.

Any hints as to what uninsured pricing for these medications might be would be appreciated, but of less concern to me than going to the right person the first time, and getting things rolling.

(Please note: I am aware of, and respect the idea of non-prescription treatments for ADD. Unfortunately, they rarely work for me, and not to the degree I've experienced lately through other means. I'm at the point where I'm seeking professional medical treatment for the disorder.)

Do you suffer from hypertension?

nathan v — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:14:31 -0800

Do you suffer from hypertension? Help me help other people! I'm preparing a small educational brochure on hypertension (high blood pressure) for a clinic I volunteer at. The primary aim is improve compliance with medication, but there's never anything wrong with honest education to other ends.

So I'd really, really appreciate answers to any of the following:

1) Are there any issues surrounding hypertension that either have confused you in the past, or continue to confuse you? What do you wish that somebody had explained earlier?

2) Have you ever had problems taking your anti-hypertensives as prescribed? If so, why? What kind of problems did you have? Is there anything that your doctor or clinic could have done to help?

3) What's a good way to ask questions about medication compliance? Even asking about it reeks of judgment, and seems to provoke defensiveness. Any suggestions for asking these kind of questions of other people?

I'm already sick. Probably best not to do further damage.

fishmasta — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:07:10 -0800

Is it safe to mix Nyquil with Mucinex (guaifenesin)? YANMD, etc. etc. I plan on getting an appointment set up tomorrow. Just hoping a friendly pharmacist out there might know. I've searched Google and only turn up results for Mucinex DM. I have maximum strength Mucinex (1200 mg Guaifenesin) extended relief tablets as well as the newer Nyquil formula (325 mg Acetaminophen, 15 mg Dextromethorphan HBr, and 6.25 mg Doxylamine succinate). Every website I see warns about taking the Mucinex DM with Nyquil because of the Dextromethorphan in both, but nothing for the normal. I've already taken one of the Mucinex pills, but I was hoping the Nyquil would help put me to sleep. Thanks!

Dealing with a sore tongue and hair loss: advice from the hive mind?

elfgirl — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:00:52 -0800

I'm coping with two different side effects from two different medications--hair loss and sore tongue/dry mouth. Any advice from the hive mind? Teal deer explanation and questions inside. I'm taking two medications for ADHD/Anxiety management: Strattera and Vyvanse. Both are causing side effects that, while tolerable, are annoying enough that I'd like to help counteract them if possible. Both side effects are fairly common for the types of meds they are, so I'm hoping others have had the same issues and have advice on helping alleviate them.

Hair loss: This is Strattera's fault. I know it's a common side effect of many SSRI/SSNRI/NRI type medications and I had it when I tried Wellbutrin several years ago. Right now, stopping the Strattera isn't an option. It's the best thing I've taken to help with my anxiety and has the added benefit of helping me focus, too. Frankly, as far as positive benefits from psychoactive medications, this is one of the best meds I've ever been on. The hair loss, though, is annoying as I have very fine, thin hair naturally. I've seen stories of people losing over half their hair, and I'd like to get a handle on it before it gets to that point.

Sore tongue/dry mouth: Vyvanse has gifted me with energy and motivation without depression--but a really, really dry mouth. The dry mouth (I think) has led to glossitis. Soreness that initially came and went is now pretty constant and occasionally affects my speech.

So, for either or both of these symptoms, my questions are:
Has anyone else dealt with these side effects from these types of medications?
Did they slow or stop over the course of taking the medication?
Did you find a solution or something that would help counteract the side effects (other than simply stopping the medication)?

Thanks!

Adderall and YOU

ocherdraco — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:38:40 -0800

How did Adderall change things for you? My doctor thinks I may have ADD (not ADHD), and is prescribing Adderall for a few weeks so we can see what happens. I have no idea what to expect, and I know that it works differently for everyone. I'd like to have some individual examples of how it affects people, rather than the more general things I've been able to read elsewhere. How did taking Adderall change your life?

What Should I Tell The Doctor?

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:41:36 -0800

Doctor-Filter: I have an appointment scheduled to see a doctor this afternoon about some... sensitive issues. I'm wondering how free I should be with the information I give them, and whether or not certain factors might discourage them from giving me the treatment I feel like I need. To cut a long story short, I'm under a lot of stress and anxiety of late, and I have been for a while. I've spent many a sleepless night in various states of freak-out, and many restless days gnawing my own nerves ragged. Now, I know the standard reply is "get thee to a therapist"- which is good advice, and I have an appointment booked to see a psychologist next week... I'll see how I go with that, and take it from there- I feel like it could be beneficial... but meanwhile, I need help...

Here's the sensitive bit. I use heroin.. I guess it's a misguided attempt at self-medication. I have done off and on (/often on) for the last few years- not to the point of physical dependency (though on my days off I definitely go into minor withdrawal).. but I consider myself an addict. It's getting to the point where I'm ready to stop, and move on with my life. But I need help to do that.

Of course, when I go see the psychologist next week I'll be straightforward and upfront- no good to obfuscate the facts of the matter, of course! But when I see the doctor today, what I really want is something to help me get through the next couple of weeks without using- I want something for the anxiety, and something to help me sleep. I know that medication isn't an ultimate solution to these problems of mine- it goes to deep and runs too long- but I feel that pharmaceutical assistance would go a long way towards surviving the next few weeks.

I guess my question comes down to this: should I be open about my habit with the doctor when I go to see him (this will be the first time I've attended this particular doctor's surgery)? Or should I just focus on the general stress, anxiety and insomnia that I'm suffering at the moment? Telling a doctor that you (ab)use hard drugs probably wouldn't do me any favours when what I'm ultimately asking for is... psychotropic drugs. What do you think? What are the chances of them prescribing me anything anyway, one way or the other.

I really need help- and at last I'm reaching out for it. But I just don't know what to expect, or whether or not they'll even be willing to help me in the first place, considering as I'm one of "them"- a miscreant who has made a few wrong turns along the way, and now finds himself painted into a corner.

Any advice is much appreciated- thanks guys.

Oh, and I'm in Australia, if that makes any difference.

Please make this Libirum stop spoiling my water

reverendjim — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:45:40 -0800

My doctor recently prescribed some Librium for awful stomach cramps. It seems that it is making all my food and drink now taste just terrible, like it's all got nutrasweet in it. I know the simple answer here is "just stop taking it", but that's really not an option. The Google is useless on this, and I really miss drinking water that tastes like water, and not water with some awful chemical in it. I guess, long question short: Is this the medication causing this or do I have a brain tumor?

Mixing migraine and ADHD meds?

brevator — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:51:50 -0800

Possible problems mixing migraine and ADHD meds? I've recently been diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed Adderall XR. I also take triptan medications for my migraines. The latest I'm trying is Frovatriptan with varying degrees of success. As my last migraine started I asked my wife to see if she could find any problems with taking these two medications together (I had already taken the Adderall earlier). She was unable to find any conflicts, and I took them with no apparent problems. I've since looked myself and also turn up no conflicts.
My main concern is the vasoconstrictive effect of the triptan, combined with the increased norepinephrine released due to the Adderall. I know that norepinephrine has vasoconstrictive effects as well and I worry about constricting my vessels to the point of causing blockage (ischemia) or hemorrhage.
Are these rational concerns, or should I trust that since it doesn't say anything in the documentation I'll be okay?
I have a doctor's appointment soon and will be discussing this with him, but I figured I'd see what the hive mind thought about this.
(you are not a doctor, pharmacist, or neuroscientist, and even if you are you do not know me or my brain and only an idiot would listen to people on the internet etc.)
Thanks in advance

Access to ADHD medication in east Africa?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:02:02 -0800

Expat in Kenya looking for ADHD medication. American living in Kenya, working for an NGO. Diagnosed with ADHD six years ago, was on medication for a few years at my old job before going off it. It seems I need it at this job.

Do not have health insurance, although I could get it. Would have to be cheap, though.

I was on Adderall before but I'll take anything. (Haven't tried Strattera but willing to give it a shot - i.e., I'm not just looking for stimulants.)

Anyone know my options? Nairobi? Kampala? Shipping anything from the States can take months, so local is better.

Meds from overseas?

jnnla — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:13:35 -0800

Prescription medication from other countries to the US - logistics? I have recently been prescribed Lexapro in combination with a CBT regimen which has been working very well in combating mild depression / anxiety. My insurance company may be reluctant to cover the drug.

This is frustrating in that it seems to be working for me very well, but I can not pay full price for it (over 100 dollars for a one-month supply) and do not want to have to discontinue using it after just starting (about 6 weeks in). As such I am looking for advice on getting it for cheap from other countries (I DO have a prescription for it).

-Is this even possible / Legal? (If not legal, I am still interested in the logistics from an educational standpoint)

-Is "generic" brand lexapro from other countries trustworthy? Is there a way to be sure? (I understand it hasn't been released as a generic in this country - which makes me suspicious of foreign generics)

- Are there reputable foreign companies that provide US customers with prescription medication? Are some more reputable than others?

-Are there people who do purchase prescription medications from other countries regularly, safely and reliably?

-What are the risks involved?

For full disclosure, I am increasingly frustrated with the US healthcare system and in my experience road-blocks are thrown up EVERY STEP of the way by insurance companies. I have never been on any sort of prescription medication before and am extremely healthy, yet I am finding it very difficult to work within the system to get the help that I need (and a treatment that is indeed working thus far). I am ignorant of the other options out there and have heard about people getting meds from overseas....so I'm wondering what the deal is.

How do I refill my prescriptions while abroad?

c_griffin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:53:26 -0800

What do I do about getting my prescription medications while I'm staying in another country? I'm a student studying abroad in Wellington, New Zealand for a semester. I've had a pretty terrible time getting any sleep since I was about 14, but recently my doctor prescribed Ambien CR to me and it works like a dream (sorry about the cheesy pun).

Without it, I'm basically up until 4-5am. I've never spent this amount of time in a foreign country before, so I've never had to worry about filling prescriptions abroad. What do I do in this situation? Will this even be an issue? Anything is helpful, I'm completely in the dark right now and my doctor didn't seem to have much advice.

Thanks!

How can I fatten up my Kindergartner?

Anonymous — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:24:42 -0800

My six-year-old son takes a stimulant medication, and going off it is not an option. In the two months he's been taking it, he's lost a considerable amount of weight. Have any of you faced this with your kids or yourself, and if so, what did you do? He drinks two Ensures a day, but that's not a good long-term solution. I've tried putting half-and-half on his oatmeal and butter on his noodles, but he's eating so little that it's not helping much. He's smart and understands that he needs to eat more, but he has no appetite at all. He'll eat a few bites for breakfast (before he takes his medication; he's never liked breakfast), not eat anything during the day, and then eat what would be a reasonable dinner if it weren't his only meal of the day.

I've tried tempting him with milkshakes, avocados, ice cream, whatever he wants, and he just can't bring himself to eat it. What he does eat is healthy; there just isn't enough of it. He has a fast metabolism and is very active, so he burns up calories like crazy.

We'll be seeing his doctor soon, so I can run ideas past her.

Is drinking alcohol while taking antidepressants a serious danger?

meantime — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:25:47 -0800

I take prescription medication (paroxetine) in the morning and also enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two in the evening. The sticker on the medicine bottle warns me not to do this, but I do it anyway. How serious are consequences? I take Paroxetine (Paxil) 20mg daily (in the morning). I also drink. On average 2 beers or glasses of wine after dinner - and about once a week, I go out with friends and drink more than that.

There has always been a sticker on the medicine bottle that says "Do not drink alcoholic beverages when taking this medication." That sounds more severe than warning messages on other medications that say something like "Drinking alcohol can increase the effects of drowsiness", etc.

I am trying to assess the real effects that drinking and taking Paroxetine is having on my body.

I am an otherwise healthy male in his early 30s. I am no longer depressed (I started taking the meds about 5 years ago) but I have fought depression throughout my life and do not suffer any side effects, so I've decided to stay on them.

Is Klonopin as strong as they say?

ishotjr — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:12:50 -0800

Seeking first-hand experiences with Klonopin for muscle twitches but also for other reasons. I have a severe ongoing eyelid twitch. I was prescribed Klonopin, but am concerned about side effects and haven't taken it yet. Especially looking for people's experiences with Klonopin as taken to relieve muscle twitching, but other first hand experiences are helpful too.

I gotta pee

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:56:25 -0800

Despertaly needing some extra income, I've applied to Target for a position unloading trucks at night. I have two concerns. Drugs and money. I do not do any illicit or illegal drug, and haven't for over six months (pot). I do, however, take a rather low dose of Lithium (300mg daily) as well as Prozac (60 mg), Serequal
Serequal (50mg) and 1-2 mg of Klonopin a day.
Additionally I take massive vitimas and minerals. I inject (MD prescribed) 2 mg of liquid (obviously) B12 every 3 days. Orally I take 10,000 MG of B12, 35 of Niacin,45 MG of B6, a liquid concoction of 130 nutrients and vitamins. 10 ml of cod liver oil, 15 mg of Flaxseed oil, and a quart of sugar free fruit juice.
This is excessive, but temporary. My concern is...the urine/drug test, not only will I pass it, but will I come off as a freakin psyco dude.
And if I can slip this in, I'm used to making a salary. I am supposed to ask them for an hourly wage, which they will meet, offer a comprmise, or just laugh and tell me to hit the highway? What's that kinda job pay in the North East (US)? $15?
This is not as desperate as it might come across, but things will be pretty grim if I don't get a second job.
Advice?
Sorry for the length and the rambling on about me and my rather minor problems. Thanks for any imput.