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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tonyz on June 29, 2009, at 21:48:35
I had to wait a few weeks to get in to see this guy maybe longer don't remember. W/O looking at the history of my past depressions, he asked about what drugs I had taken. Prior to seeing him I was on 16 mg of valium and 150mg of Nortriptyline, and I was also taking some seroquel
He told me to take Zoloft, Serequel, lamictal, and continue the Nortriptyline. He told me to take between 50-200mg of Seroquel.
I took 100mg the first night. This was last Friday.
Then I reduced to 75mg, but have not gotten really good sleep.I saw him today and he insisted that I need to take Seroquel as much as I can tolerate. I asked what else could I use for sleep and mentioned Restoril and he wrote me a prescription for that. I explained to him my concern with the neuroleptics but he kept insisting that that is what I need and that I had a problem in so far as having too much anxiety over the medications that have been prescribed.
All I know is I feel worse now. It has only been a few days on the Zoloft (50mg) and Lamictal (25mg). I don't see why both of these had to be started at the same time.
When I told him that valium and temazepam are in the same class as benzos and if I took the restoril I should probably reduce the valium - his response was you take what you need.
What kind of doctor is this - who gives me such little guidance and doesn't address my concerns about medications. At least the former guy was willing to work with me (problem was he is out of network).
Now I don't know what to do take the seroquel or just taper it back by 25mg and take the restoril and then knock the valium down some. I think this is very irresponsible to tell me to take as much as I can tolerate of the Seroquel.
Opinions anyone?
Posted by Phillipa on June 30, 2009, at 0:05:17
In reply to Opinions of New Pdoc, posted by tonyz on June 29, 2009, at 21:48:35
Agree and also would be concerned with the atypicals too many side effects. Important to be your own advocate. Doctors don't like that but if they gave us the time we deserve and the information of what they are prescribing the meds for and possible side effects I feel more people would stay on their meds. Do you agree? Is he thinking bipolar? Love Phillipa
Posted by Zyprexa on June 30, 2009, at 7:12:04
In reply to Opinions of New Pdoc, posted by tonyz on June 29, 2009, at 21:48:35
I think its great that you have a doctor that is willing to let you decide what you need to take. If you don't realy like the seroquel and don't feel it is helping much, I would take the lowest dose, 50mg and see what happens. Atleast you could give it a fair trial, and if it does not help any tell them.
Posted by tonyz on June 30, 2009, at 15:52:01
In reply to Re: Opinions of New Pdoc » tonyz, posted by Phillipa on June 30, 2009, at 0:05:17
> Agree and also would be concerned with the atypicals too many side effects. Important to be your own advocate. Doctors don't like that but if they gave us the time we deserve and the information of what they are prescribing the meds for and possible side effects I feel more people would stay on their meds. Do you agree? Is he thinking bipolar? Love Phillipa
Thanks for responding, no he does not think I am bipolar but the relapses of depression have gotten a lot worse in recent years. This one is especially bad - so he feels the (lamictal) mood stabilizer and maybe Zoloft for long term and the
Seroquel and Nortriptyline to get me stable. I don't know what to do at this point.In prior depressions, I came out of it would taper off the medications and be stable. I'm concerned most about the valium and seroquel because cognitively I'm a mess now. I can't say if it's from the meds or the illness. I suffered a lot in 2008 and finally went into a day hospital, I got better there on Nortriptyline, Seroquel (as high as 400mg/ day) and a small amount of abilify. Had also been taken valium at 20mg per night. When I got better I tapered off the valium rather quickly 2.5mg/ week and I think the Seroquel I did something like 25mg a week. The Seroqeul I only took for about 2 months basically starting at 300mg dosage adjusted up and down with a max of 400mg based on doctor's orders. When I was feeling better it got adjusted downward from 300mg to 200mg in a few days, then 25mg every 3-4days, with 25mg the last 3 days. Had also tapered off the valium rather quickly during the same time. I wasn't aware of any problems.
This is the end of the thread.
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