For sure, I can't count the number of times that I have heard doctors either lie to me, my mother, or close friends about
the medications that they gladly distribute without a second thought. At this very moment my mom is taking 4 different drugs that either increase production or retention of serotonin. From all research I've done, medical reports and personal accounts from forums, if she stopped taking one of them there would be a very significant withdrawl. She ran out of her Klonopin last month for about
a week and a half because she was taking them like candy that month for some reason. For the remainder of that month she was very easily upset, unhappy, and just very obvious general mood issues. She was practically pacing the house all morning on the day that the script
was to be refilled, all she could think about
was getting more klonopin. I've had a doctor give me Tramadol for my hernia pain (which is not normal for that kind of pain). I tried it and had almost no pain relief, probably similar to taking ibuprofen or tylenol, and it made me feel jittery, on edge, and kinda crazy feeling. Immediately upon feeling very odd I decided to research it fully from many online sources that are reputable and trustworthy. I came to find that not only did he give me a very poor med for general analgesic effect (being that it is a weak fake opiod, especially for the acute pain while waiting on a hernia surgery), but Tramadol has many other unwanted properties. It releases serotonin as well as inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine.
I checked source after source to find the same thing, forum posts from people saying that their doctors lied to them and now they are horribly addicted to tramadol (not just the fake opiod). When I was sure of the facts of the matter I became fairly upset. I had been feeling very very odd and unpleasantly jittery from the changes to my serotonin and norepinephrine levels, which I do believe are not necessary to change for a hernia surgery. Now I am in pain, feeling crazy, and angry with the doctor because I know that he gave me the Tramadol because I "look" far different than you might suppose from my posts. I wear a leather jacket because its awesomely comfortable and I have very long hair, so no matter how well spoken or sincere, many people just immediately take me as a druggie or degenerate. So after thinking all this, I finally get up to calling the doctor, I was at my wits end. At first when I called I only got a nurse, and even after asking for him I got the nurse again because he was busy...so I said no problem I don't mind waiting at all. After about
5 minutes he finally got on the phone. In short, to summarize our conversation, I presented the facts about
Tramadol (found from the manufacturer and reliable medical sources) and he only seemed to become suddenly upset. It didn't click at that moment, but he was mad because I was bringing more facts to the table than he had about
the medication that HE prescribed to me, and probably has to maaany other people with the same level of ignorance. I told him my side effects, jitters, feeling kinda crazy, little confused and blurry. He told me he had NEVER heard of someone with those side effects from Tramadol(any forum will say otherwise), and that I should just take tylenol.....for an inguinal hernia that is waiting to have surgery to close it. I went on to ask him specifically if Tramadol had any effect on serotonin or norepinephrine levels, twice I asked him this to be sure of his lie, and both times he said that there is no properties to Tramadol that do that. Then he went on, becoming quite angry at my insistence that it may, to tell me, and I quote, "I don't give a darn what you read on the internet! I don't care if its the Mayo Clinics website, but if your going to listen to them then just don't darken my doorstep." One could guess the conversation did not end well, I kept my cool somehow, but I contacted his superior afterwards about
his behavior. Lol well long story...long, check your meds yourself, check multiple doctors in the same way that you would check multiple car mechanics before settling on one. You don't take your car to the first guy and believe every word he says, you are asking to be taken...but if 3 or 4 different mechanics say the same thing then you can be pretty sure of its legitimacy. Call doctors for quick opinions to see if they coincide with the others, check reliable online sources, read reviews and forum posts from people who have taken the medication in question. I've found that forums can be one of the best places to find the real scoop on a medication and its side effects. As sad as it may be, many people these days that get into the medical field do not do it because of a urge to care for people and heal, its for the big salary. Your body is much more important and difficult to find replacement parts for than your car, be at least as vigilant against bad doctors telling you lies or simply being ignorant.
Hehe this post ended up much longer than I originally intended, as usual. I will end it then with my hopes that you feel better Donna, I will pray for you. Also think possibly about
the option of holistic methods to help alleviate anxiety, discomfort, the jitters, or possibly some depression. I hope to hear soon that you are doing much better, that must definitely be a difficult predicament to be in.
Christian
Post Edited (-Misunderstood-) : 5/24/2010 12:51:57 PM (GMT-6)