From: bob@reed.edu (Robert Ankeney)
Subject: Re: Therapist abuse
Organization: Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 15:45:05 GMT

In article <1992Aug11.175741.5055@cs.mun.ca> paulk@garfield.cs.mun.ca (Paul E. King) writes:
>anon-1005@twwells.com (Bones) writes:
>
>>On to what I consider abuse...
>
     { Some deleted }

>>This need to `hear' from god prevented
>>my dr from objectively reevaluating my situation.  God had `told' my
>>dr that I needed emotional work rather than medications and he
>>couldn't very well go against what god `told' him [hindsight on my
>>part].  I had to talk him into giving me any anti-depressants and it
>>wasn't easy to convince him.  Xanax was the only drug he ever
>>suggested on his own.  My internist suggested that xanax might be the
>>cause of some of the speech problems and confusion....it was.  Why
>>hadn't my psychiatrist thought of the connection?
>
>He thought of it, all right, he hadn't told you, that's all. Therapists are
>famous for denying patients the knowledge of the consequences of certain drug
>therapies, perhaps out of the feeling that all psych patients can't decide
>anything for themselves and therefore don't need all that information. 
>Like neuroleptics, for example (is Xanax a neuroleptic?). One of the symptoms
>of ingesting neuroleptics is akathisia(?sp), which includes an uncontrollable
>movement of the lower jaw. Other psychoactive drugs cause you to have 
>a shuffle gait. Akathisia is irreversible after a long therm therapy
>with the drug, and both are apparent to outsiders. Obviously, so are speech
>problems and confusion. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW THESE CONSEQUENCES AND TO
>DECIDE FOR YOURSELF IF YOU WANT TO COPE WITH DEPRESSION OR STUTTER FOR THE
>REST OF YOUR LIFE. After all, if you are from the States, the choice of the
>doctor, and hence, a second opinion, is up to you. Do you even know if you 
>have other options open to you, other than drug therapy, that are probably
>more effective? What about changes in your lifestyle that would break the
>cycle of depression? You need to be made aware of these options and explore
>these avenues. Ask yourself: do you do anything in your life which sets the
>stage for another depressive cycle? And, then, set out to break that habit.

     Just to clarify things, Xanax is an anti-anxiety medication.
Neuroleptics are anti-psychotic drugs, and are the only drugs available
for treating psychosis.  Indeed, long-term use of them can cause akethesia.
Unfortunately, there's no other options for treatment, and most people
are willing to take the risk.
     I agree, you have the right to know about possible side-effects.  At
least the common ones.  A lot of possible side-effects are mentioned by
the drug companies that may have been reported only once or twice, and
no definitive proof exists that that effect was a result.  Pointing out
such side effects may only prove a source of worry to a patient.  It's
not uncommon for a patient to complain of side-effects that are psycho-
somatic.  Personally, I always ask about possible side-effects so I can
be informed enough to watch for them.  I would be upset at a doctor who
did not warn me prior to prescribing something.

     Robert

-- 
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Robert Ankeney                 | "Yield and overcome.                |
...!tektronix!reed!bob         |  Bend and be straight.              |
...!tektronix!bob@reed.EDU     |  Empty and be full."    - Lao Tzu   |