Comments on: Ivory Towers and Publishing Houses: Where to find the experts http://www.askdrjones.com/blog/ivory/ Ask Dr. Jones Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:24:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Grant http://www.askdrjones.com/blog/ivory/#comment-8371 Grant Mon, 10 Jul 2006 03:50:42 +0000 http://www.askdrjones.com/?p=57#comment-8371 I think it's very true that the dose of benzos is often inadequate. I've found this to be the case with every doctor I have visited, including psychiatrists. In fact, the psychiatrist I see right now has a 1.5mg per day ceiling for Xanax with ALL his patients. Hmmmm... I didn't think patients should be generalized; I was always under the impression that each patient should be individualized and treated accordingly (as an individual with different needs than Joe Schmoe that the Dr. just had an appt. with). My GF went to a new psychiatrist a few months ago because of insurance reasons, and took her Niravam with her to show the Dr. what she was on. The psychiatrist not only told her not to take them because they were "addictive drugs," but she took them from her! She did pay for them! They were helping her! Why? Why is there such an "anti-benzo" mentality amongst a lot of the "younger" physicians fresh out of med school? Xanax has been the only medicine that has provided me any relief, at all, for my anxiety, and I can't even get the Dr. to increase my dose after 2 years! UGH! I think it’s very true that the dose of benzos is often inadequate. I’ve found this to be the case with every doctor I have visited, including psychiatrists. In fact, the psychiatrist I see right now has a 1.5mg per day ceiling for Xanax with ALL his patients. Hmmmm… I didn’t think patients should be generalized; I was always under the impression that each patient should be individualized and treated accordingly (as an individual with different needs than Joe Schmoe that the Dr. just had an appt. with). My GF went to a new psychiatrist a few months ago because of insurance reasons, and took her Niravam with her to show the Dr. what she was on. The psychiatrist not only told her not to take them because they were “addictive drugs,” but she took them from her! She did pay for them! They were helping her! Why? Why is there such an “anti-benzo” mentality amongst a lot of the “younger” physicians fresh out of med school? Xanax has been the only medicine that has provided me any relief, at all, for my anxiety, and I can’t even get the Dr. to increase my dose after 2 years! UGH!

]]> By: Keith Bass http://www.askdrjones.com/blog/ivory/#comment-8370 Keith Bass Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:31:55 +0000 http://www.askdrjones.com/?p=57#comment-8370 Regena Carter Pelham.....I read your valuable story and comments and know the words of a kindred spirit. You said it all: just how many are out there "suffering in silence".....and even "going silent" (taking their life), when it just hurts so badly that they feel they can no longer endure it? -Keith Bass- Regena Carter Pelham…..I read your valuable story and comments and know the words of a kindred spirit. You said it all: just how many are out there “suffering in silence”…..and even “going silent” (taking their life), when it just hurts so badly that they feel they can no longer endure it? -Keith Bass-

]]> By: Jon Battle http://www.askdrjones.com/blog/ivory/#comment-8369 Jon Battle Tue, 04 Jul 2006 15:07:33 +0000 http://www.askdrjones.com/?p=57#comment-8369 Wayne - very true, very sad. Contrast the ads on TV for medications - the little Zoloft cartoon people who are having a bad day with Oprah and anyone else who can afford a platform to speak their minds. At least the Zoloft ads are making an attempt to explain "things" and get the "its not your fault" message across. The people who need the most help are the ones least equipped to handle the barrage of opinions on the subject. And the marketing BS of "ask your Dr" if "xyz" is right for you is nuts in and of itself. They dont tell you what the drug is for...just "ask your Dr." (during one of your dailt conversations....:) best to you...JonB Wayne - very true, very sad. Contrast the ads on TV for medications - the little Zoloft cartoon people who are having a bad day with Oprah and anyone else who can afford a platform to speak their minds. At least the Zoloft ads are making an attempt to explain “things” and get the “its not your fault” message across.

The people who need the most help are the ones least equipped to handle the barrage of opinions on the subject. And the marketing BS of “ask your Dr” if “xyz” is right for you is nuts in and of itself. They dont tell you what the drug is for…just “ask your Dr.” (during one of your dailt conversations….:)

best to you…JonB

]]> By: Regena Carter Pelham http://www.askdrjones.com/blog/ivory/#comment-8372 Regena Carter Pelham Tue, 13 Jun 2006 07:07:11 +0000 http://www.askdrjones.com/?p=57#comment-8372 Hi Dr. Jones, remember me? Panic attacks, avoidance behavior since early childhood, then completely housebound w/ severe agoraphobia for years & years. That daily would have me on the floor, clinging to the carpet so that I could feel some form of stability to grab on to and hang on to until my racing mind could get somewhat calm & deal with the reality of existance. To be alive and helpless to escape such mental, emotional and physical torture is truly the closest to what 'hell on earth' must be like. I was your willing to work with my much trusted psychologist, Dr. Bob Mandell (that actually made home visits to ME) that help peel me off the floor, eventually be able to work my way to your office with Bob in the car, leading to my ability to drive myself to your office and ALSO the blessing of being to endure leaving my home at other times. It was your willingness to 'listen' to me and treatment me with a combination of meds that met & 'worked' for my 'individual' needs. I had go to atleast 15-20 docs for help, took the every med that the FDA and DSM publications recommended. BUT, I got NO RELIEF. And I never got the feeling that the docs (this started in 1982) even really 'understood' or 'got it' when I would tell them relentlessly of what I was suffering. Thank you, Dr. Jones, for your commitment to think and step 'outside the box' in treating me. Maybe, these people need to hear the voice of the patient, the 'victim', the one who utimately is paying the price due to all of this ignorance. I will gladly tell my story, not only to hopefully wake up the 'sleeping righteous', but to help get the TRUTH out and expedite better medical treatment to all of the helpless that are forced to suffer in silence, wreck havoc on their families, give up hope, and God knows how many have ended their lives to finally get relief. I have such empathy for the children that I KNOW are out there suffering from this. Their resulting behavior is not understood by parents, schools or physicians and they are NEVER diagnosed & treated properly. A LOST childhood is horrible and the colateral damage as you continue to live (or manage) thru life is massive. I don't need to research this.... I have lived it! Hi Dr. Jones, remember me? Panic attacks, avoidance behavior since early childhood, then completely housebound w/ severe agoraphobia for years & years. That daily would have me on the floor, clinging to the carpet so that I could feel some form of stability to grab on to and hang on to until my racing mind could get somewhat calm & deal with the reality of existance. To be alive and helpless to escape such mental, emotional and physical torture is truly the closest to what ‘hell on earth’ must be like. I was your willing to work with my much trusted psychologist, Dr. Bob Mandell (that actually made home visits to ME) that help peel me off the floor, eventually be able to work my way to your office with Bob in the car, leading to my ability to drive myself to your office and ALSO the blessing of being to endure leaving my home at other times. It was your willingness to ‘listen’ to me and treatment me with a combination of meds that met & ‘worked’ for my ‘individual’ needs. I had go to atleast 15-20 docs for help, took the every med that the FDA and DSM publications recommended. BUT, I got NO RELIEF. And I never got the feeling that the docs (this started in 1982) even really ‘understood’ or ‘got it’ when I would tell them relentlessly of what I was suffering. Thank you, Dr. Jones, for your commitment to think and step ‘outside the box’ in treating me. Maybe, these people need to hear the voice of the patient, the ‘victim’, the one who utimately is paying the price due to all of this ignorance. I will gladly tell my story, not only to hopefully wake up the ’sleeping righteous’, but to help get the TRUTH out and expedite better medical treatment to all of the helpless that are forced to suffer in silence, wreck havoc on their families, give up hope, and God knows how many have ended their
lives to finally get relief. I have such empathy for the children that I KNOW are out there suffering from this. Their resulting behavior is not understood by parents, schools or physicians and they are NEVER diagnosed & treated properly. A LOST childhood is horrible and the colateral damage as you continue to live (or manage) thru life is massive. I don’t need to research this…. I have lived it!

]]> By: Jim Ehlert http://www.askdrjones.com/blog/ivory/#comment-8373 Jim Ehlert Tue, 11 Apr 2006 15:14:47 +0000 http://www.askdrjones.com/?p=57#comment-8373 Finally figured out how to use the comments page. I agree. In our long Dr / patient relationship it was a trial and retrial to perfect my medication results. Tried Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac and but I was more depressed over sexual dysfunction than my original symptoms. The last few years have been on Wellbutron and Xanax. Increasing the levels to relieve panic and extreme anxiety (within guidelines) 'till they worked was the best advice I think I received from you. Too little did not work with other Drs. Don't write a book so you could not keep paying close attention to your long term patients who you keep healthy. Oprah is in the entertainment business, and the “expert writers” are often in it for the ego trip and to sell books. It is hard to find a Dr. Jones. Finally figured out how to use the comments page.
I agree. In our long Dr / patient relationship it was a trial and retrial to perfect my medication results. Tried Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac and but I was more depressed over sexual dysfunction than my original symptoms. The last few years have been on Wellbutron and Xanax. Increasing the levels to relieve panic and extreme anxiety (within guidelines) ’till they worked was the best advice I think I received from you. Too little did not work with other Drs. Don’t write a book so you could not keep paying close attention to your long term patients who you keep healthy. Oprah is in the entertainment business, and the “expert writers” are often in it for the ego trip and to sell books. It is hard to find a Dr. Jones.

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