Good Medicine

I am a twenty-five year old mother, and was diagnosed with agitated depression about 6 months ago. Since then I have endured a "melting" of friends - it amazes me how quick they disappear, side- effects from medication (manic episodes) doctors missing my appointments and not letting me know, a change of diagnosis (now bi-polar affective disorder). I had to see a different GP to the one who had been dealing with me, as he had taken a leave of absence. I went in, taking my husband with me to help explain the difficulties I was having with my medication (Prozac). Rapid cycling, worsening depression, inability to tell dream from reality. The doctor did not have my notes, and started to write out a repeat prescription for Prozac as I was explaining the side effects. My husband tried to intervene, telling the doctor that the tablets were not making me better, and the GP said, "yes, it's good medicine, have you had a holiday lately? You should leave the kids with your mother."

This attitude from a doctor is disgusting, I was just treated as if I was making it up. And, if he had been in possession of my notes, he might have found out that, after a lifetime of mental problems, my mother committed suicide recently. With my husbands encouragement I complained, but was told that I could not see the doctor of my choice as he had a heavy case load. I wrote a letter to my GP, detailing my symptoms and explaining the problems I was having getting to see him. The receptionist phoned later that day to offer me an appointment with him, as he instructed. I have now been prescribed Efexor, Promazine and Beta-Blockers, and referred to a psychiatrist.

Just because someone has a mental illness, doesn't mean that they just need to be drugged up. I'm sure that if I had complained about another drug, i.e. contraception, the doctor would have tried a different one without me having to go to such lengths. Prozac and other drugs cause real side-effects, and not every drug will suit everybody. It is time that doctors stopped prescribing Prozac and the like as an all-curing panacea for all ills. Sometimes it just doesn't work.

Clare S