Name: MO E-mail: (Not Available) Subject: Med Journal
Doc I know that some sort of PDR can be found about anywhere, especially with the web.
I think though, that their stuff is written for doctors, and besides, they are usually stuffed with disclaimers by manufacturers. Even the TV advertisements are more precise about their disclaimers than whatever intended effects of their drugs. It seems to me like the deeper you research a drug the more confused you might get.
From a primary care doctors own mouth we`ve all heard `...that stuff isn`t important` when we speak any worry about the label warnings.
Incidentally, my father was killed by ignorant doctors and nurses mishandling medicines. I don`t trust jaded doctors who assume they are a greater level of `knowing` than their patients. I also don`t like any clouds of confusion about anything I ingest from food to medicines.
Anyway, I`d like to initiate a real trustworthy database just at least for all the PTSD meds that all the Namvets are eating like popcorn. Plain english, real (if not personal) experience, bro to bro, if you will.
With this attitude, I don`t mean to say screw the doctors and pharm companies. It`s just that, as you pointed out, their information based on lab research is readily available if you can read it, and all of it...doesn`t erase the fact that most medicines are gonna act different from person to person.
Lastly, and speaking of depression, I personally don`t think it should be overlooked that side effects of various medicines contribute heavily to depression...themselves! In other words, a vet on VA `care` might be more depressed than he was before he started taking all kinds of medications...because of those medications!
In the end I think vets might benefit by real deal information about meds, based on personal experience, and written in plain english.
Just as an example:
Long before I was taking any VA meds I noticed that Alka-Seltzer Cold Plus would pick me up for a few hours, from the drag effects of a cold (or hangover.) The same drug, put my wife to sleep in 15 minutes. (That was before they took it off the market, changed the mix, and reintroduced it later.)
My point is, whatever the label or the doctor or PDR would say....they wouldn`t tell you THAT!
Looking ahead, if you and others would contribute to a no bullshit database about PTSD standardlly drugs prescribed by the VA, it would be the first place I would look whenever I was prescribed a new med.
That is the ungarnished reason for the Sally Medics Medicine Journal.
