RCA

Are you by any chance a Klonopin sales rep?!?

[surfgirl]

Why do you think telling people what dose of medication  to take is not offering medical advice?  I am sure every ones prescription comes with directions.  Look at the posts on this forum.  People are dependent on his advice.  These are strong, long time addictions going on here, with severe mental problems.  I sense danger.

[justlookingforanswers]

That is exactly my point.  It is the responsibility of the person who is asking for help on this forum to get their medical advice from their own doctor.  This site should be for support, not diagnosis or dosing of prescriptions.  Scary stuff, on that we can agree.

In all fairness, I have found his posts and answers interesting and informative.  I would not, however, treat myself based on them without first discussing  them with my doctor.

[fearfactor]

Anxiety is not a "severe mental problem," however I do also agree that people should consult their own doctors and instructions on their medications regarding dosing.

[surfgirl]

Glad we agree.

[axtywr]

Always, Always, consult your doctor before changing medication/dosages, etc.
When taking benzos and all medications you should always be under a doctor's care.

[s0up]

Most of those posts are pretty accurate based on public resources from doctors,  and people are overall way too trusting with doctors.  I'm not saying to take some random guys forum advice and use that as your dosage regimen, but doctors don't know everything.  They are just people like you and I who have been to a bit more schooling.

  The majority of doctors out there don't personally know how the medications work, or offer any better advice than you can find yourself.  The best way to get informed, is to do research yourself from reliable sources such as wikipedia, schools, and public govt. documentation.  Once you think that YOU are informed, see a doctor, and see how the conclusions match.  Most doctors will look up the drugs for a particular ailment, prescribe what they have had success with, although better alternatives might exist, and they will read the drug scheduling to determine it's safety.  Drug scheduling is really wacked out in the US.  That's why alot of people who don't need them still get long term E.D  benzo treatment with short term drugs like xanax or ativan, because it's schedule IV so docs think it's fine.

It's your responsibility to know what you are putting in your system, nobody else.  He isn't responsible for you, he's merely giving you medical advice from previous experience or personal research, which means alot.  The point in a forum is to grab others opinions, compare them with the facts, and generate your own.

[fearfactor]

I see what you are saying, I just don't like the stigma that comes with thinking one has a severe mental disorder and was commenting on the particular wording she used.  Typically, when people say someone has a "mental problem" they are picturing people like the guy in mental wards in straightjackets, at least in my experience.  I am particularly sensitive about this because I have been called crazy, etc. by my family so much for just simply having panic attacks.

[Barbarella]

Most doctors and therapists don't even understand anything about anxiety and panic attacks unless they experienced it themselves or have a loved one who has it.  They pretend that they understand but most of them don't, but are quick writing a prescription.  

When over 30 yrs ago Dr. Claire Weeks books were sold in the U.S. (she was from Australia) and when she came to the U.S. to give speeches she said she was shocked how little "understanding" there was from the medical community, and she was bombarded with "thank you" letters from people who bought her books and who she has helped so much (including me, no therpaist or meds could ever do) .  People were writing to her that they were labeled as "nut cases/ crazy" etc by society.

When it comes to mental issues unfortunately (and fortunately for the people who suffer from it) there is great "understanding" about depression, schizophrenia etc, but panic attacks?  Very little.

Dr. Weeks took the fear out of me, the fear of dying during a panic attack.  No meds could ever do.  If the dosage was not strong enough it didn't do a thing for me, once the dosage was increased I was so tired I could hardly get my job done, but I still got panic attacks at times.  I think I was on every tranquelizer/anti depressant on the market over these 15 yrs of hell BEFORE I found out about Dr. Weeks. She was a god sent for me, as well as many others.

Did she cure me of it 100%? No, but she cured me 95% of it.  She UNDERSTOOD.  She knew how to approach people like us, and how to take the fearout of us.

[Raine9]

When my doctor gave me a prescription of Xanax back in April of this year, he did not take one minute to explain how addictive the drug is and how severe the withdrawal effects can be.  He gave me a 3 month supply, if I had started taking it without research, I would've been addicted.  So I agree with Ryan that at least some doctors are ill-informed and do not prescribe these drugs properly.

[yellowrose]

i think ryan has done a great job in helping us out and caring enought, to take time and be there for us.
i know i have to talk to my dr first cant get meds without the dr , ryan just helping us out and doing a great job. keep it up ryan i know its coming from your heart.

[pvcqueen]

They never think you could become addicted.

[Ginasouthcarolina]

Ryan has helped me more then any doctors i have seen in 7 years i feel for the first time in my life like i am myself again and i owe it all to ryan and his support and guidence through this process so say what you will i am the happiest i have been in a long time and ryan thank you for helping me through this rough time i really apprietiate it...gina