Guest guest Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 > Hi all, > > Late last week a woman came in to see me who was looking for help with > hot flushes. She is taking: > Cozaar (anti-hypertensive) > Novotriamzide (diuretic) > Wellbutrin (tricyclic a/depressant) > Trazodone (tricyclic a/depressant) > Gabapentin (a/epileptic) > Olanzapine (a/psycotic) > Zopiclone (hypnotic) > Oxycontin (opiod analgesic) > Oxycocet (opiod analgesic) > > She also suffers from non-stop headaches and depression (but no > epilepsy). She feels her depressions began in 1972 after a serious car > accident in 1969. She's under a terrific amount of stress as her > husband's returned to being an alcoholic. Other than the Wellbutrin, > she's been on the other meds about five years. (Her memory fails > frequently; she was unsure of previous meds) She's tried to come off > some of these drugs before with the aid of her physician, to no avail. > > I am hesitant to do much more than offer dietary advice (she eats alot > of processed and sugary foods) and the name of a good counsellor to help > her deal with the stress. If possible, I'd also like to give her Vitex > and Carduus (non-alcohol form). I haven't been able to track down any > contraindications for either of them, although the Carduus could have an > effect on her meds dosing. She's taken Cimicifuga on her own before > (capsules) and although, originally finding it effective, now feels it > makes no difference. In the name of " (insert appropriate deity) " what on earth is she taking that lot for? Non stop Headaches? Ha ha. Are you serious? Why not copy out the PDR on the side effects of each of those meds and then suggest a lobotomy as more cost effective with less side effects and no headache at all. There is no conceivable justification for that cocktail and she is the victim of intentional or otherwise malpractice. Btw welbutrin is not a TCA and its main side effect is - you guessed it - depression. Etc etc etc Walk away Kerry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 Hi Kerry Perhaps carduus lowering the effective levels of her drugs might be a blessing! Could be a gradual way of weaning her off them without the psychological challenge. But quite a job! Would need co-operation from her other health care professionals who perhaps she should consider changing!() and careful monitoring esp with regard to the apsychotics , antiepileptics and antihypertensives obviously . (It's my opinon that all of us over 40 could do with some crataegus on a fairly regular basis anyway.) (Pass the hedgerow wine this way!) Or You might find diet alone very helpful, isn't it interesting how so many of the same foods benefit mental and cardiac health. They have just started a project locally focusing on improving cardiac health in those with mental health problems because, surprise surprise, it's an identifiiable risk factor and they are going to use diet and exercise. I'm planning to offer input if wanted . I expect most of their client base will also be highly medicated. Also I had a patient who responded well initially to cimicifuga and then not and on discussion with my chinese trained friend realized it was connected to her heart fire and is a circumstance recognised in that tradition (Incidentally I had already changed her treatment based on basic principles and common sense in the necessary way he described and she was OK again next time I saw her, so I think it's essentially all the same stuff looked at from different angles. See you at conference (DV!) love Sally Owen On Tuesday, March 23, 2004, at 11:50 pm, Kerry Hackett wrote: > Hi all, > > Late last week a woman came in to see me who was looking for help with > hot flushes. She is taking: > Cozaar (anti-hypertensive) > Novotriamzide (diuretic) > Wellbutrin (tricyclic a/depressant) > Trazodone (tricyclic a/depressant) > Gabapentin (a/epileptic) > Olanzapine (a/psycotic) > Zopiclone (hypnotic) > Oxycontin (opiod analgesic) > Oxycocet (opiod analgesic) > > She also suffers from non-stop headaches and depression (but no > epilepsy). She feels her depressions began in 1972 after a serious car > accident in 1969. She's under a terrific amount of stress as her > husband's returned to being an alcoholic. Other than the Wellbutrin, > she's been on the other meds about five years. (Her memory fails > frequently; she was unsure of previous meds) She's tried to come off > some of these drugs before with the aid of her physician, to no avail. > > I am hesitant to do much more than offer dietary advice (she eats alot > of processed and sugary foods) and the name of a good counsellor to > help > her deal with the stress. If possible, I'd also like to give her Vitex > and Carduus (non-alcohol form). I haven't been able to track down any > contraindications for either of them, although the Carduus could have > an > effect on her meds dosing. She's taken Cimicifuga on her own before > (capsules) and although, originally finding it effective, now feels it > makes no difference. > > Ideas? Any and all vastly appreciated. > Cheers, > Kerry > > > > > > List Owner > > > > Graham White, MNIMH > > <image.tiff> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 Kerry By the look of these medications, I expect these is a larger psychiatric history. Olanzepine is not prescribed by MD for headaches or seizures. The depression, did it present with psychotic features? Have you thought to review the orthomolecular approach that Dr. Hoffer uses with clients who are taking psychotropic medications. He has 45 years of research that supports the use of vitamins and nutrition changes to stabilize active psychiatric symptoms. His work is easy to access on the internet, along with numerous books and journal publications. His clinical practice is in , BC. Just some thoughts Lorie Crawford, MNIHM Clinical Herbalist Multiple medications > Hi all, > > Late last week a woman came in to see me who was looking for help with > hot flushes. She is taking: > Cozaar (anti-hypertensive) > Novotriamzide (diuretic) > Wellbutrin (tricyclic a/depressant) > Trazodone (tricyclic a/depressant) > Gabapentin (a/epileptic) > Olanzapine (a/psycotic) > Zopiclone (hypnotic) > Oxycontin (opiod analgesic) > Oxycocet (opiod analgesic) > > She also suffers from non-stop headaches and depression (but no > epilepsy). She feels her depressions began in 1972 after a serious car > accident in 1969. She's under a terrific amount of stress as her > husband's returned to being an alcoholic. Other than the Wellbutrin, > she's been on the other meds about five years. (Her memory fails > frequently; she was unsure of previous meds) She's tried to come off > some of these drugs before with the aid of her physician, to no avail. > > I am hesitant to do much more than offer dietary advice (she eats alot > of processed and sugary foods) and the name of a good counsellor to help > her deal with the stress. If possible, I'd also like to give her Vitex > and Carduus (non-alcohol form). I haven't been able to track down any > contraindications for either of them, although the Carduus could have an > effect on her meds dosing. She's taken Cimicifuga on her own before > (capsules) and although, originally finding it effective, now feels it > makes no difference. > > Ideas? Any and all vastly appreciated. > Cheers, > Kerry > > > > > > List Owner > > > > Graham White, MNIMH > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 although you dont give the doses, as well as used in mental health txs,many of these drugs are /were often prescribed for chronic pain (opiods,anti-epileptic,tricyclics). could be because of her accident and/or headaches. potentially she could have an extremely long history of multiple medications which makes it very difficult to treat herbally at this stage . i would want to establish a more detailed history and discuss with her the appropriateness of referring her to counselling/ or a pain clinic if the history indicated this.i would certainly have concerns about addiction and it sounds like she has been in the past.really depends on whether she wants to share this with you and how comfortable and confident you feel in supporting her within the limits of your practice.my experience working with people with similar complex issues is to be realistic to yourself and the pt on what can be achieved and in what time frame. good luck. _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 Thanks all for your comments on the above. Certainly has been an interesting journey! Cheers, Kerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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