Medications

[cj29]

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.  I just want to address a reoccurring issue that I see here.  While we all have various knowledge and experience with medications, remember we are not doctors and are not qualified to prescribe or give instructions to people how to take their medications.  For people that have been here for awhile, they know that there have been dire consequences when people do this on their own.

It is definitely ok to suggest what to do based on everyone's experiences, and many people know that I am a big proponent of medication combined with talk therapy but that is just my opinion. I always suggest consulting with your doctor on this.  Medical professionals spend years learning about this and are able to understand interactions and how these meds work and affect us.

Remember, people come here confused, scared, and want to learn about anxiety and panic and sometimes will take advice as an 'instruction.'  This is probably the most active forum in all of MedHelp and EVERYONE here does a great job in listening, understanding, and sharing their stories with all members.  There is a sense of community here that is really strong; I just want everyone to remain safe because we care!  

Keep on doing what you do and I will see you all back in the forum!

[MrGreen]

Might be worth adding in that that includes Ryan as well. Most people imagine him to be a doctor. Seek him out for advice. He is just a normal sufferer like us all. Going through his troubles and learning about his medication as he goes ( according to his journal ). So he is no doctor for anybody who thought he was one.

[michaxx2]

Thank you soooooo much for your great advise!!!!! you are absolutely right!!!!   :)

[cj29]

it was more like 25 cents...but every penny was worth it!

[RubyWitch]

Well said, cj! And it was a very, very important point you made. For all the new posters, you must understand, as cj said, that we are NOT doctors on this side of the forum. What we offer you is our own experiences and our own opinions of different meds, what did or didn't work for us, that sometimes we found upping a dosage was what we needed or conversly, lowering it, but we do this ONLY with the advice and approval of our prescribing doctors. You must NEVER change the dosage of your medication or stop it abruptly without first consulting your doctor. I can't emphasize that enough. As cj also pointed out, for those of us who have been here for awhile, we have seen the tragedy that can come from that. Please remember that what you are reading here are just our opinions and are NOT meant as "instructions" on how to self-medicate.
Great post cj, but you knew, as your faithful sidekick, I'd have to pipe in with my 2 cents!
Kinda spooky, eh?
Greenlydia