Jun 16 2008
Mental Health Humor : Ask Dr. Bob Bob: Stopping Meds
-*-*-*-*-*-*SITE MAP *-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Ask Dr. Bob Bob: Stopping Meds is it the right thing to do? This is a loaded question since the side- effects of many meds do sometimes seem worse then the condition they aim to help. (See past posts: MEDS and MEDS part 2 .) Yet, the overwhelming answer from any doctor is NEVER, NEVER, NEVER stop taking your meds with out talking to your own doctor first. There may be some “real” reasons to stop your meds right away. Some can have side-effects of a rash that can cause death! Still, if you are having a real adverse reaction that is not common then call your doctor immediately or get to the hospital A.S.A.P.
Side effect is a subject, we as consumers of mental health medications, need to be especially skilled in and have some knowledge of. We need to be our own advocate, whether we have just been diagnosed or if we are a seasoned vet. We should always ask questions about the meds. Since most meds take any where from 6 to 8 weeks to really kick in.
On their website, the DBSA, has a page with 12 questions we all should have asked and gotten answered before we leave the doctor’s office. On their page titled “Communicating With Your Health Care Provider - What Questions to Ask ” listed here are two examples:
Be sure you know…
- The possible side effects of your medication(s) and what you should do if you experience a troublesome side effect.
- “If your medication needs to be stopped for any reason, how you should go about it. (Never stop taking your medication without first talking to your doctor.)”
It was the lack of meds that put me in the hospital. For two years, I went with out. Sometimes because I thought I could control my uncontrolled disorder and other times because I had a bad reaction to medication. I believe, no let me rephrase that, MY WIFE believes that medications is the only road to keep her husband she knows and loves back. Since she was the one that has stuck by me the longest these past 17 years, I have to believer her! While others have had very bad experiences with meds or claim they don’t work, well, I hate to say it, but meds do work when the missing puzzle of the your own chemistry is not found. Until then, some of us might rightfully feel like a Guinea pig!
Since, we all have different diagnoses, with different degrees of chemical adjustments needed…It is safe to say, not every medication will work the same for everyone. It also is safe to say, that there are those among us, that don’t need meds and can use cognitive therapy and will power to stay balanced. For me, it will be meds with therapy and a network of peer support. I will use every thing at my disposal to keep my balance because without it, I will not survive!
What about you? I know you have your thoughts on meds. Some of us hate them. Some of us can’t live without them… SOUND out and comment below.
How To Support Us: Visiting The site Daily and Telling your friends and family about us. Here is my MS Word Document Flyer for our blog. Please down load it, print it, and pass it out.
Subscribe to Mental Health Humor by Email or RSS FEED
Permission granted for non-profit use by artist: Chato B. Stewart.
Copy The html code below and keep the reciprocal link to use the cartoon for free on blogs & websites.
| <a href=”http://mentalhealthhumor.today.com/”> <img src=”http://mentalhealthhumor.today.com/files/2008/06/mhh_ask_bob_6_16500.jpg” </a><a href=”http://mentalhealthhumor.today.com/”> Permission granted for non-profit use by artist: Chato B. Stewart. </a> |
Who is this big, sexy man? Look at my mug shot.
Hey are you my friend on MySpace YET?
Stay up-to-date with the new cartoons and other fun stuff with my RSS feed.
http://mentalhealthhumor.com/MHHf.doc The file is Word Doc 3mg
Thanks for dropping by:
Chato B. Stewart
Mental Health Advocate - Cartoonist - and a few other things!
http://www.mentalhealthhumor.com
“Using Humor to Heal and Educate with badly drawn cartoons.”
Thx Ken:
*************Tags Below
mental health humor,mental jokes,bipolar joke,mantal cartoons,mood disorder cartoons,cartoons,funny,heath,chato,chato b stewart,psychoanalyzing,psychologist, psychiatrist,Hermann Rorschach,rorshock,Rorschach test,Rorschach,sexy man,myspace,Mental Health, Blog, treat depression, Law & Order, schizophrenia , personal blog , speaker, myspace, sex, illness, Health, science, sexy,teen, Xanax,ZolpidemFree, mental health humor, mental health counseling humor, humor and mental illness, humor and mental wellness,bipolar jokes,bipolar humor,mental health,mental health, mental health, national institute of mental health, mental health act,mental health hotline, mental health assessment,mental health recovery,mental health support groups,mental health counseling,mental health association,education humor , psychology humor,healthcare humor,medical humor,mental health jokes, mental health videos, mental health board
I’m having some issues with meds at the moment, too, not mine, but my son’s. He’s only been on this dosage for a few days, but it’s really screwing with his sleep and appetite. I am not pleased. Considering that I don’t think they’re helping that much…I am not pleased.
Thanks Ken for bring up the subject of medication resistants. At one time or another over the years it happens… you just wake up one day and boom, the meds just stop working… Or like you, the puzzle of the ‘MED COMBO” just can’t be found… That is why none of us should rely just on “a pill” to make us better… It take a whole wellness plan of attack. I’m glad to see you have one and you put it in a book for every one to use. I posted your YouTube video so people can see the guy behind your post. Thanks again.
Fascinating reading… I’ve known way too many people who’ve quit meds cold turkey and had that cause more problems than it solved.
I found out a while back that doctors are supposed to tell us what the side-effects of any medication we take are, but so few actually take the time to do this! It is kind of sad. We do need to be our own advocates and ask about the side-effects and if the medication will interact with any of our other medications as well.
Sierra
http://anxiety.today.com