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☼ meistersinger


meistersinger

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I'm a 54 year old single male that suffers severe depression, as well as diabetes and hypertension, and may possibly suffered aspergers as a child, as I have not been able to hold a professional position for any length of time. I hold a master's degree in library and information science and a bachelor's in Music History. I have always been a loner, preferring the library over a party. Most of my brothers figure me to be a faker with my depression, and would rather throw me out on the street rather than give me support.

 

I was told by a general practictioner many years ago there was a genetic link between diabetes, depression and hypertension. This might be the reason why I have so much trouble with antidepressants. Any research out there to support this?

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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Welcome! You've joined a very supportive group.

 

Someone else with more knowledge about your question will hopefully chime in very soon.

Years:150mg Wellbutrin (to concentrate) 20-30 mg Celexa (rumination).

CT 8/2011 during a pregnancy attempt under MD orders. (Idiot!!!) Pregnancy hormones allowed it.

Felt great with 6 mg of melatonin per night to sleep plus preggo hormones-didn't last:(

Best time of my life. Botched IVF in Dec 2011.Stress.

Bone chilling exhaustion and told to go back on celexa and wellbutrin.

4/9/2012 Back on celexa wb for some relief, wb gave me heart palps so dropped and only need 6.6 mg celexa and 1/4 melatonin pill...IMPROVEMENT because my doses are much lower!

REMEMBER to get your thyroid and hormones checked/out of whack ones can appear LIKE MOOD DISORDERS!!

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Hi meister ~

I'm not aware of a genetic link but there are studies showing a correlation between antidepressant (serotonergics) use and diabetes - uncertain if causal link has been established -

Would you explain what types of problems you have with antidepressants -

 

Welcome -

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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Welcome, meistersinger.

 

Those are very complicated questions. Without looking at any research, I can tell you that depression has been associated with every ill known to humankind. Much of this is in the service of rationalizing prescribing antidepressants to everyone.

 

In other words, much of the research is crap, parroted by doctors like yours. They fail to distinguish between cause and effect. Illness and depression co-occur, is that so surprising?

 

Are people depressed because they're ill? That would be normal, don't you think? Or are people ill because they're depressed? Won't that be blaming the victim?

 

Outlandish to suggest depression is the cause when you consider serious illnesses like stroke or diabetes.

 

As for genetic links between depression, diabetes, and hypertension -- sure, why not? Equally meaningless. Genetics determines everything.

 

Anyway, you might want to do your own research in PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed , a central repository of medical research, and let us know what you find.

 

Here are results for "depression diabetes hypertension" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=depression%20diabetes%20hypertension

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Welcome, meistersinger.

 

Those are very complicated questions. Without looking at any research, I can tell you that depression has been associated with every ill known to humankind. Much of this is in the service of rationalizing prescribing antidepressants to everyone.

 

In other words, much of the research is crap, parroted by doctors like yours. They fail to distinguish between cause and effect. Illness and depression co-occur, is that so surprising?

 

Are people depressed because they're ill? That would be normal, don't you think? Or are people ill because they're depressed? Won't that be blaming the victim?

 

Outlandish to suggest depression is the cause when you consider serious illnesses like stroke or diabetes.

 

As for genetic links between depression, diabetes, and hypertension -- sure, why not? Equally meaningless. Genetics determines everything.

 

Anyway, you might want to do your own research in PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed , a central repository of medical research, and let us know what you find.

 

Here are results for "depression diabetes hypertension" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=depression%20diabetes%20hypertension

 

I looked at the url in this message. While I'm a librarian, I'm not a medical librarian, and am not familiar with Pub Med, a lot of those citations look like they have nothing to do with any of the search terms.

 

Doing a search on Google:

 

http://www.google.com/search?q=diabetes+depression+hypertension+genetic+link&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en

 

I did find some scholarly citations on those terms that were used..

 

My GP at the time mentioned this to me about 22 years ago, when I was newly diagnosed as a diabetic. That he even knew about this research at the time would have been surprising, given his patient load.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

Link to comment

Hi meister ~

I'm not aware of a genetic link but there are studies showing a correlation between antidepressant (serotonergics) use and diabetes - uncertain if causal link has been established -

Would you explain what types of problems you have with antidepressants -

 

Welcome -

 

I had a GP start me on Prozac, which turned me meaner than a trapped raccoon. Another GP put me on effexor, which gave me tinnitus and nearly wrecked my voice (I'm a lyric tenor and get really particular about my voice). Another GP put me on amitrypheline, which made me feel inebriated all the time. The last GP I had before my current GP, referred my to my current psych, who put me on citalopram and buspar. He changed me to Viibryd since I was having the suicidal thoughts after about 2 years of no problems. He just discontinued viibryd since the side effects were tearing me up after being on this med at 10 mg for the past 6 months..

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

Link to comment
  • Administrator

....I looked at the url in this message. While I'm a librarian, I'm not a medical librarian, and am not familiar with Pub Med, a lot of those citations look like they have nothing to do with any of the search terms.

 

Yes, PubMed's search engine is not the most sophisticated. One would have to do a great deal of reading in the literature to even begin to answer your questions. Plan on reading perhaps 300-500 complete studies. Take into account conflicts-of-interest, a very serious issue in psychiatric research -- many studies have been sponsored in some ways by drug companies to promote their drugs.

 

My GP at the time mentioned this to me about 22 years ago, when I was newly diagnosed as a diabetic. That he even knew about this research at the time would have been surprising, given his patient load.

 

That was because he was making it up. Doctors do this all the time.

 

I had a GP start me on Prozac, which turned me meaner than a trapped raccoon. Another GP put me on effexor, which gave me tinnitus and nearly wrecked my voice (I'm a lyric tenor and get really particular about my voice). Another GP put me on amitrypheline, which made me feel inebriated all the time. The last GP I had before my current GP, referred my to my current psych, who put me on citalopram and buspar. He changed me to Viibryd since I was having the suicidal thoughts after about 2 years of no problems. He just discontinued viibryd since the side effects were tearing me up after being on this med at 10 mg for the past 6 months..

 

These adverse reactions to antidepressants indicate that you should not be taking them. Some people are hypersensitive to the type of stimulation antidepressants provide. We have several people here who have suffered serious iatrogenic damage because they were taking antidepressants despite adverse effects -- which their doctors did not recognize.

 

Few psychiatrists are knowledgeable about and attentive to the risks of these drugs, GPs even less so. Seeing GPs for psychiatric treatment is high risk (not that psychiatrists are a whole lot better).

 

We have a number of topics about dealing with what is called depression, etc. without psychiatric drugs -- see Psychotherapeutic techniques to cope with withdrawal and other topics in our Symptoms and What Helps forum.

 

One thing diabetes, depression, and hypertension have in common is that exercise is good medicine for them. Eating junk food tends to exacerbate these conditions as well. If you are sedentary and eat poorly, you might try some lifestyle changes to improve your overall health.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I had a GP start me on Prozac, which turned me meaner than a trapped raccoon. Another GP put me on effexor, which gave me tinnitus and nearly wrecked my voice (I'm a lyric tenor and get really particular about my voice). Another GP put me on amitrypheline, which made me feel inebriated all the time. The last GP I had before my current GP, referred my to my current psych, who put me on citalopram and buspar. He changed me to Viibryd since I was having the suicidal thoughts after about 2 years of no problems. He just discontinued viibryd since the side effects were tearing me up after being on this med at 10 mg for the past 6 months..

 

I suspect the GP initially put me on this because, at the tine, the medical insurance I had would not cover care from a psych.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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Call me naive, but when all the fun I'm having with antidepressants started, I turned to a doctor for help, which, according to conventional wisdom, would have been logical. In my neck of the woods, asking for any kind of help is frowned upon. It took me several years to even dare ask for help, no thanks to the ostricization i would be subjected to (again, thanks to my upbringing.) this started when, while still working as an employee to the Department of Defense, I would get migranes and fall asleep in the men's room at the office. (it also didn't help i was traveling 250 miles round trip to work almost every day. You ask , why didn't i just move closer to my duty station? I took a substantial pay cut to take that job! Why did I take the job? To keep the rest of the family (i've always been single and a loner, due to being suspected as an Asperger's child, meaning my mom and my brothers) happy. 2.5 years of doing that every day takes it toll. At the time, I was of the opinion of "just do it!" little did I know the damage I was setting up for myself.

 

I really can't fault my GP for prescribing the Antidepressants: at least they were listening to me vent and trying to help. I seem to get more empathy from a GP than a specialist or a psych. If anything, I don't think a psych can truely evaluate you in a 15-minute session.

 

As for the withdrawal, I am sorely tempted in asking my attorney for my SSDI claim to see if antidepressant withdrawal can be justified for a disability claim. I know what he already thinks of my psych: he is not willing to provide clinical observation. Rather, this psych just parrots back what I say to him.

 

I now understand why my youngest brother and his wife steer clear of psychs. When their 2 youngest children were diagnosed with autism, the first thing the specialists wanted to do was pump them full of meds. My sister-in-law thinks their infant vaccinations were the cause of the autism, as well as the toxic society we live in. I've a feeling she's right.

As a general statement, I'm getting rather disgusted with patient care over the past 40 years. I remember as a kid, when you visited the GP, it was whatever it took no matter how long it took. Ditto for specialists. Nowadays, if you see a doctor for more than 15 minutes, it's a miracle.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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Hi meistersinger,

 

Welcome to the support group. I'm sorry to hear you're not getting support during this time. They just have no clue what it's like. Well just know, we know what it's like and it's miserable. I'm also introverted, love to meditate over anything else. I used to be self conscious of being that way but now I realize that it's only other people being uncomfortable with it that made me uncomfortable. So I decided not to care what others think lol. Now I've attracted more people in my life that accept me.

 

I don't know specifics and technical stuff like Alto and the others here. But if you are interested in learning about natural ways to deal with depression, there are a lot of options. Homeopathy, Reiki, Herbs, vitamins. There's just so much and it really does help.

Taper from Cymbalta, Paxil, Prozac & Antipsychotics finished June 2012.

Xanax 5% Taper - (8/12 - .5 mg) - (9/12 - .45) - (10/12 - .43) - (11/12 - .41) - (12/12 - .38)

My Paxil Website

My Intro

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....I looked at the url in this message. While I'm a librarian, I'm not a medical librarian, and am not familiar with Pub Med, a lot of those citations look like they have nothing to do with any of the search terms.

 

Yes, PubMed's search engine is not the most sophisticated. One would have to do a great deal of reading in the literature to even begin to answer your questions. Plan on reading perhaps 300-500 complete studies. Take into account conflicts-of-interest, a very serious issue in psychiatric research -- many studies have been sponsored in some ways by drug companies to promote their drugs.

 

My GP at the time mentioned this to me about 22 years ago, when I was newly diagnosed as a diabetic. That he even knew about this research at the time would have been surprising, given his patient load.

 

That was because he was making it up. Doctors do this all the time.

 

I had a GP start me on Prozac, which turned me meaner than a trapped raccoon. Another GP put me on effexor, which gave me tinnitus and nearly wrecked my voice (I'm a lyric tenor and get really particular about my voice). Another GP put me on amitrypheline, which made me feel inebriated all the time. The last GP I had before my current GP, referred my to my current psych, who put me on citalopram and buspar. He changed me to Viibryd since I was having the suicidal thoughts after about 2 years of no problems. He just discontinued viibryd since the side effects were tearing me up after being on this med at 10 mg for the past 6 months..

 

These adverse reactions to antidepressants indicate that you should not be taking them. Some people are hypersensitive to the type of stimulation antidepressants provide. We have several people here who have suffered serious iatrogenic damage because they were taking antidepressants despite adverse effects -- which their doctors did not recognize.

 

Few psychiatrists are knowledgeable about and attentive to the risks of these drugs, GPs even less so. Seeing GPs for psychiatric treatment is high risk (not that psychiatrists are a whole lot better).

 

We have a number of topics about dealing with what is called depression, etc. without psychiatric drugs -- see Psychotherapeutic techniques to cope with withdrawal and other topics in our Symptoms and What Helps forum.

 

One thing diabetes, depression, and hypertension have in common is that exercise is good medicine for them. Eating junk food tends to exacerbate these conditions as well. If you are sedentary and eat poorly, you might try some lifestyle changes to improve your overall health.

 

One thing I did forget to mention on my original quoate regarding the genetic link between diabetes, depression and hypertension. The GP that mentioned this is an osteopathic doctor. You might want to look at osteopathy, which is a more holistic approach to medicine, according to Wikipaedia. There is a Osteopathic Psychiatry specialization, which I haven't researched. I'd be back with an osteopathic doctor in a heartbeat, if it weren't so damn difficult here in PA to change my PCP under medicaid. I owe my life to an osteopath, I would have died of pneumonia as an infant were it not for him.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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  • Administrator

Osteopath or MD, that explanation originates from an orifice where good information is not usually found.

 

See this NYTimes article published today Study Says DNA’s Power to Predict Illness Is Limited

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment
  • Administrator

He just discontinued viibryd since the side effects were tearing me up after being on this med at 10 mg for the past 6 months.

Please do not just quit Viibryd. Cut the tablets up, or have them made by a compounding pharmacy into smaller dosages. A compounding pharmacy may be able to make it into a liquid for precise titration.

 

We recommend a 10% decrease per month to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

 

From FDA information http://www.drugs.com/pro/viibryd.html

Discontinuation of Treatment with Viibryd

 

There have been reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of serotonergic antidepressants, particularly when discontinuation is abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g., paresthesia, such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, hypomania, tinnitus, and seizures. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms.

 

Monitor patients for these symptoms when discontinuing Viibryd. Reduce the dose gradually whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, consider resuming the previously prescribed dose. Subsequently, the dose may be decreased, but at a more gradual rate [see Dosage and Administration, (2.4)].

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment

Osteopath or MD, that explanation originates from an orifice where good information is not usually found.

 

See this NYTimes article published today Study Says DNA’s Power to Predict Illness Is Limited

 

 

I did find a link to Diabetes outlook to this article abstract, http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/23/10/1556.short . I also found this from the canadian Journal of Psychiatry, http://ww1.cpa-apc.org:8080/publications/archives/cjp/2003/august/ruzickova.asp , and this abstract from Current Diabetes Review , http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cdr/2007/00000003/00000004/art00009. It was 22 years ago that the DO mentioned this to me. Perhaps I remembered what he said wrongly (Hey, at least when I find out I'm wrong, I'll admit it!)

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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Meister~

Just FYI - PA has a strong Certified Peer Specialist network - there is a thread in Taking Action section -

I've looked into doing the training but can't find good resources in CA - I recently sent an email to Georgia about training there but never heard back- if I could find a way to train in PA that would be my preference - EASTERN PA ;)

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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He just discontinued viibryd since the side effects were tearing me up after being on this med at 10 mg for the past 6 months.

Please do not just quit Viibryd. Cut the tablets up, or have them made by a compounding pharmacy into smaller dosages. A compounding pharmacy may be able to make it into a liquid for precise titration.

 

We recommend a 10% decrease per month to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

 

From FDA information http://www.drugs.com/pro/viibryd.html

Discontinuation of Treatment with Viibryd

 

There have been reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of serotonergic antidepressants, particularly when discontinuation is abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g., paresthesia, such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, hypomania, tinnitus, and seizures. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms.

 

Monitor patients for these symptoms when discontinuing Viibryd. Reduce the dose gradually whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, consider resuming the previously prescribed dose. Subsequently, the dose may be decreased, but at a more gradual rate [see Dosage and Administration, (2.4)].

I had a job interview this afternoon as a customer service representative with a catering company. I stopped by the clinic this afternoon and started asking questions regarding my case. I asked specifically why their medication office did not call me back yesterday. The receptionist at the front desk told me it takes 2-3 days for a callback from that office (which I think is inexcusable). I also asked this same receptionist about scheduling with a different psych. I was told I need to talk to my current psych to make the change. I really don't want a confrontation with this psych. This is the same psych that my attorney for Social Security Disability appeal what does "no one any favors." From what my attorney's paralegal has told me, he either can't or won't fill out the forms in a clinical manner: he simply parrot's back almost verbatim what I say during my session. Don't get me wrong: he is personable enough (I've delivered pizza to him at home a couple of times when I was still working for Papa John's), but for some reason, (and I suspect it may be his caseload, but I can't be sure), we never get into any kind of discussion of my underlying issues. The conversation is almost always, how are you, then writes me script and sends me on my way. I also wonder why, when he switched me from citalopram and buspar to Viibryd, he didn't check my records on the hospital's Electronic Records system to see if there were any prescriptions that would interact with Viibryd. My PCP does this every time I visit his office. I also have yet to hear why he hasn't put me back in group therapy, as he put me in group when I was referred to him by my PCP at the time. (The PCPs I have had over the past 5 years were part of the area's hospital family practice clinic.) The only thing I can figure is that when the therapist running group had a massive heart attack after my third session with him, I fell through the cracks (again).

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

Link to comment

Osteopath or MD, that explanation originates from an orifice where good information is not usually found.

 

See this NYTimes article published today Study Says DNA’s Power to Predict Illness Is Limited

 

I was just reading http://www.scribd.com/drtd2002/d/46634306-Toward-Osteopathic-Psychiatry that was published in JAOA. From what I find on the difference between MD's and DO's, MD's function primarily on the disease. DO's also function on the disease, but they also focus on the underlying cause of the disease. For example: Before she died, my mother had issues with depression. Her psych was a DO. I remember him getting into an extensive discussion on why she was depressed. Upshot was that she basically gave up. She was left go from her job about 20 years ago, due to rheumatoid arthritis and flat out gave up when she could not find new employment.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

Link to comment
  • Administrator

meistersinger, when your doctor told you there's a genetic link between diabetes, hypertension, and depression, she was just guessing.

 

The more important question is, why is this important to you? Do you find it comforting to think the course of your life and health is pre-determined by an external force?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment

meistersinger, when your doctor told you there's a genetic link between diabetes, hypertension, and depression, she was just guessing.

 

The more important question is, why is this important to you? Do you find it comforting to think the course of your life and health is pre-determined by an external force?

 

Perhaps I should have used predisposed instead of linked, after rereading some of that research. It has been 22 years, and a poor choive of words on the GP and my part.

 

When you consider I can trace diabetes, hypertension and depression back 4 generations on my mother's side of the family, you understand where I'm coming from. Further, it was all limited to the firstborn of our respective families. I suffer all three conditions, so did my mother, as well as my grandmother and great-grandmother. Coincidence? That, and growing up in a church where pre-destination and pre-determinism were pounded in your head, no wonder I've always felt like damaged goods.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

Link to comment

 

He just discontinued viibryd since the side effects were tearing me up after being on this med at 10 mg for the past 6 months.

Please do not just quit Viibryd. Cut the tablets up, or have them made by a compounding pharmacy into smaller dosages. A compounding pharmacy may be able to make it into a liquid for precise titration.

 

We recommend a 10% decrease per month to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

 

From FDA information http://www.drugs.com/pro/viibryd.html

Discontinuation of Treatment with Viibryd

 

There have been reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of serotonergic antidepressants, particularly when discontinuation is abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g., paresthesia, such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, hypomania, tinnitus, and seizures. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms.

 

Monitor patients for these symptoms when discontinuing Viibryd. Reduce the dose gradually whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, consider resuming the previously prescribed dose. Subsequently, the dose may be decreased, but at a more gradual rate [see Dosage and Administration, (2.4)].

I had a job interview this afternoon as a customer service representative with a catering company. I stopped by the clinic this afternoon and started asking questions regarding my case. I asked specifically why their medication office did not call me back yesterday. The receptionist at the front desk told me it takes 2-3 days for a callback from that office (which I think is inexcusable). I also asked this same receptionist about scheduling with a different psych. I was told I need to talk to my current psych to make the change. I really don't want a confrontation with this psych. This is the same psych that my attorney for Social Security Disability appeal what does "no one any favors." From what my attorney's paralegal has told me, he either can't or won't fill out the forms in a clinical manner: he simply parrot's back almost verbatim what I say during my session. Don't get me wrong: he is personable enough (I've delivered pizza to him at home a couple of times when I was still working for Papa John's), but for some reason, (and I suspect it may be his caseload, but I can't be sure), we never get into any kind of discussion of my underlying issues. The conversation is almost always, how are you, then writes me script and sends me on my way. I also wonder why, when he switched me from citalopram and buspar to Viibryd, he didn't check my records on the hospital's Electronic Records system to see if there were any prescriptions that would interact with Viibryd. My PCP does this every time I visit his office. I also have yet to hear why he hasn't put me back in group therapy, as he put me in group when I was referred to him by my PCP at the time. (The PCPs I have had over the past 5 years were part of the area's hospital family practice clinic.) The only thing I can figure is that when the therapist running group had a massive heart attack after my third session with him, I fell through the cracks (again).

 

I had another appointment at the mental health clinic today after reading the riot act to the receptionist yesterday. I spoke to the shrink's nurse. She was surprised I was no longer taking Viibryd, since my records was showing to take it at night. They did not have in my records that I had spoken to the clinic's crisis line, who informed the psych, who had the crisis line call me back and told me to discontinue Viibryd. I told the nurse the issues I was having, and mentioned that I have had physical issues, in one way or another, with antidepressants. I asked her why I was not getting either one on one or group therapy, as I am more than convinced my issues stem from stress, frustration, grief and guilt. I broke down about my guilt feelings regarding responsibility for my mother's death after losing my job. She did indicate that I'm probably pushing it too hard with grief recovery, and I definitely need psychotherapy (as in Freud and Jung). I get to call them again on Tuesday to see if I can get an appointment with a Psychologist. I then made a comment to her about the quality of the psych's records, since it would not pass muster with Social Security, according to my attorney. I emphasized to her that I'm not trying to tell the Psych how to run his business, it's just that Uncle Sugar (and I should know, after working for the Department of Defense for 5 and 1/2 years) expects responses in a certain format and a specific writing style. I then asked her why the psych didn't pick up on any interactions when he described Viibryd, specifically, the contraindications with other SSRI's (since he left me on buspar), aspirin (since I am taking 500 mg of niacin for cholesterol, and take 81 mg aspirin to counteract the flushing that is a side effect of niacin therapy, and the issues passing urine, since I'm taking lisinopril/HCTZ and atenolol for hypertension, in addition to Humanlin-R(Novolin-R) and Lantus for diabetes. She said that it's actually for the pharmacy to catch those interactions, depending on who fills the prescription. While I said nothing, I'm thinking "What a load of bull****." I did mention to her, if that's the case, why didn't he check PDR like my GP does when he prescribes a new medication? She responded Viibryd is a new drug, and all the side effects may not been noticed during trials. Granted, Viibryd is a new drug, but in today's world, where data access is almost instantaneous (although it still takes 24 hours for the FDA to enter bad drug data in the Medwatch database, like I did (along with several thousand people) regarding side effect with Viibryd. (Of course, I should have known to be a guinea pig in the first place). Finally, I did say something about being testing for Asperger's and my reasons for being suspect. (Namely, snippets of conversations my mother had with several people (especially her pastor) regarding my behaviour, behaviours my youngest brother and his wife picked up on (especially when their youngest son and only daughter (who is the youngest in their family) are severly autistic, and assessments I found online that are based on DSM IV) I even mention the Psychologist in the same practice does the testing. She responded back, you've done your homework, haven't you. Unfortunately, I was told I'll need to call back on Tuesday (I also have an appointment with the county housing authority that afternoon). Even worse, it will be another month until I see the actual psych, and I still don't have any advice on how to titrate down on the Viibryd. I HATE MODERN MEDICAL PRACTICE.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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Meister~

The receptionist probably gave you the most honest and accurate answer ive heard in a long time when she said that the clinical trials don't pick up all the side effects -

The studies are so fraudulent it's amazing - if you haven't read Robert Whitaker's books or David Healy you will probably find them disturbingly enlightening -

I'm not clear on what you're trying to accomplish with Asperger's diagnosis - have your brother's kids found treatment that is not drug-based - I'm not familar with options -

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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Meister~

The receptionist probably gave you the most honest and accurate answer ive heard in a long time when she said that the clinical trials don't pick up all the side effects -

The studies are so fraudulent it's amazing - if you haven't read Robert Whitaker's books or David Healy you will probably find them disturbingly enlightening -

I'm not clear on what you're trying to accomplish with Asperger's diagnosis - have your brother's kids found treatment that is not drug-based - I'm not familar with options -

 

My brother and sister-in-law are using chelation, as they believe the preservatives used in the vaccines were responsible for the autism. The acive ingredient in the chelation (i think) is saffron. As for the Aspergers, I have an appeal with Social Security Disability for depression. From what I've seen online, aspergers and any autism spectrum disorder, Social Security considers them a disability, especially given my past history. I'd still rather work, but I'm running into issues with age and professional discrimination. I'm past the point of throwing in the towel professionally, since the inmates run the asylum (both in library science and information technology.)

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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Also, my full handle is meistersinger. A meistersinger was German craftsmen in the 15th century, that would hold singing contests to see who was the best poet/singer in the burg. The best known meistersinger was Hans Sachs, a native of Nuernbuerg, who was immortalized in Richard Wagner's most accessible opera, Die Meistersinger von Nuernbuerg. Just thought you'd like to know.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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  • Administrator

Official FDA info on Viibryd: http://www.drugs.com/pro/viibryd.html

 

This is readily available to any doctor. There's also the package insert, which describes adverse effects and known drug interactions, and the PDR, as you noted.

 

The poor quality of care you are receiving from the psychiatrist is not unusual. Many of them do not seem to be aware of the PDR, or drug-drug interactions. Who knows where they get their information.

 

(meistersinger, please break your posts up into smaller paragraphs to make them easier to read and follow.)

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I had just had a followup visit with my GP this afternoon (due to my diabetes). He was surprised that I was taken off Viibryd, since last time I saw him I was doing well, until I told him of the side effects that really started to hit about a month later, then I put myself back on due to the discontinuation syndrome I was suffering. I told doc (who is a second year resident out of Penn State Hershey) that, if you read the prescribing information for Viibryd, they recommend taper down, and I was not happy with the psych taking me off of it cold turkey. He says, yes, but you were on the lowest dose available. I let him know that not as screwed up as my body chemistry gets. I told him I was splitting the tablets on going off very slowly. It surprised him, but he got the idea of the slow taper. He asked why I wasn't taking the tramadol, and I told him I was able to get some relief by doing 5 mg of Viibryd, then slowly reducing by 10%, which, after he thought about it, made sense for my condition, since I also told him 1.) most of my problem was helped by talking to someone 2) I'm still dealing with grief issues, and 3). possible loss of residence. At least he's willing to listen, even if he doesn't agree. The real fun is going to be with the psych next month (if I'm still living here.)

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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  • Administrator

Very good to hear you may be able to communicate with this doctor.

 

(I moved your treatment update here.)

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I seem to get more empathy and respect from the GP Residents here than I do the specialists. Now if the psych would make it easier to get disability. I am really not happy with the psych, as he only ever spends 10 minutes with me when I do ser him, whereas the GP, lately, has been spending over an hour, per visit.

 

Sometimes, with the psych, I wonder if there's a cultural bias, since he's IndoChinese, and I'm caucasian. It wouldn't be the first time I've run into such a situation, remembering the bias I ran into while working as an employee to a Navy Contractor that was minority-owned. I was the only WASP in a workplace that was staffed by those of the Hebraic persuasion. (Being From PA Dutch country didn't help either)

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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The GP Resident may have a more open mind and less invested in psychiatry - I would work with the doc who will respect you as a partner in your healthcare -

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm a 54 year old single male that suffers severe depression, as well as diabetes and hypertension, and may possibly suffered aspergers as a child, as I have not been able to hold a professional position for any length of time. I hold a master's degree in library and information science and a bachelor's in Music History. I have always been a loner, preferring the library over a party. Most of my brothers figure me to be a faker with my depression, and would rather throw me out on the street rather than give me support.

 

I was told by a general practictioner many years ago there was a genetic link between diabetes, depression and hypertension. This might be the reason why I have so much trouble with antidepressants. Any research out there to support this?

 

Here's an article from Dr. Jim Mercola's site that you may find of interest regarding the increased risk of diabetes from taking antidepressants. It's an old article and most of the supporting documentation is no longer accessible, but with your skills as a librarian you might be able to dig up the Journal of the American Medical Association article. (Forget Yahoo - they delete articles within days.)

 

You might also want to take a look at another more recent article from Mercola's newsletter which I posted under 'In the Media' as "Mercola Beats Up on Antidepressants". This article indicates that antidepressants cause thickening of the artieries, which most certainly would be a factor in high blood pressure.

 

Antidepressants seem to screw up everything. :angry:

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Wish me luck. I have a telephone interview on Monday afternoon with Support.com for a work-at-home telephone technical support specialist (something I have been wanting for quite a while, since it doesn't pay to commute to work, given that gas here in Central PA is almost 4.00/gallon.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hope you did well with the job interview today.

As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule.

 

Requip - 3/16 ZERO  Total time on 25 years.

 

Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.

BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10)  Total time on 25 years.

 

Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section.  "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin

 

 

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Wish me luck. I have a telephone interview on Monday afternoon with Support.com for a work-at-home telephone technical support specialist (something I have been wanting for quite a while, since it doesn't pay to commute to work, given that gas here in Central PA is almost 4.00/gallon.

 

So much for that interview. I get an email back from this firm 5 minutes later that I am no longer being considered for a position with this firm. And people wonder why I'm always down?

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Posted Image

 

Sorry to hear this. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule.

 

Requip - 3/16 ZERO  Total time on 25 years.

 

Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.

BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10)  Total time on 25 years.

 

Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section.  "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin

 

 

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  • Administrator

Send a note back saying you're disappointed but "please consider me for a position in the future. I believe I would be a good [insert title of position here] for Support.com because [insert specific reason why you would be the perfect person -- not just because you want a job]." Also, say something complimentary about Support.com as a company -- you might have to do some surfing to find out company goals, etc.

 

In interviews, always present the above points, know something about the company first and describe how you would fit in.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Send a note back saying you're disappointed but "please consider me for a position in the future. I believe I would be a good [insert title of position here] for Support.com because [insert specific reason why you would be the perfect person -- not just because you want a job]." Also, say something complimentary about Support.com as a company -- you might have to do some surfing to find out company goals, etc.

 

In interviews, always present the above points, know something about the company first and describe how you would fit in.

 

The thing that bugs me is that the person interviewing me yesterday had NO say in the hiring process. I found that out when I asked for his email address, so I could send him a thank you note. He refused to give me this information. The interview was primarily an assessment of my tech skills. The only thing I can think of that sabotaged the entire deal was the roughly 3 hours per week I require for my church. Why is it that employers want you on call 24/7, to be available on a millisecond's notice? Is it any wonder someone like myself has anxiety and depression.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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  • Administrator

Send the HR department your note.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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