Today kicks off NaNoWriMo, my friends. I attempted NaNoWriMo last year, but pretty much hid my face until it was December was sidetracked by the third day in due to an unexpected but necessary move. This year, I really have no excuse not to participate. I even have a story this time. Sure, none of the characters have names and I have no idea why any of them even know each other, but hey, Harry Potter wasn’t written in a day.

As you read this, I’m probably curled up in the fetal position somewhere.

Anyway, on to the goods. There’s a lot of it. Probably because I’m procrastinating.

This week at Mental Health Notes, I shared some of the brain benefits of pomegranates (and have since been coached on the word’s correct pronunciation), mused about the effectiveness of Bath & Body Works’s new line of sleep-promoting products, and shared online resources for breast cancer patients and prescription medication education (say that five times fast). Ooh, I also got a little creepy with an article about the psychology of Halloween characters, but perhaps the most important post of all was the one about online resources for election education.

Regarding mental health advocacy,the DBSA has launched Find A Pro, a tool geared toward helping along peer recommendations for mental health professionals, and is even giving away cool DBSA-gear to the first 2,000 people who recommend a professional. And, I’ve met two new peeps. Fellow depression survivor and writer Anthony McCune is holding a blog carnival to celebrate the three-year blogiversary of his blog, The Lives and Times…. and mental health blogger Michele Rosenthal writes Parasites of the Mind, a blog about healing post-traumatic stress disorder.

In the world of mental health news, things aren’t as good. The suicide rate for middle-aged folks in America is rising, a new study suggests children with high IQs may be more likely to abuse alcohol as adults, propofol (a sedative used as an anti-seizure medication) may increase the risk of death, and smokers are more likely to have impulsive children (which totally explains my and my best friend’s childhood shenanigans). Oh, and while weight doesn’t seem to play a role in women’s sexual behavior, only 12 percent of women with sexual problems have those problems thanks to personal distress (that means it’s you, guys. That means it’s you).

Here at b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel, times are bittersweet. Several of our very talented and passionate bloggers have decided it’s time for their career paths to take them elsewhere, and they will be deeply missed. Take a moment to say goodbye and wish them well!

• Kendra James of A Hearty Life and Diabetes Notes.
• Kristen King of Lively Women.
• Karen Lynch of Pink Ribbon Review.
• Hope Wilbanks of Weighting Line. (Hope’s predecessor, Diane Penna, has already taken over. Go say hi!)

Please note that these are just the departing bloggers who’ve written goodbye posts or introduction posts. There are others, as you’ll notice when you start looking at the other blogs. Let’s wish them well, and make their replacements feel welcome!

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Procrastination Benefits Everyone

Many folks manage mental illness – whether it’s situational depression, occasional bouts of anxiety, or schizophrenia – with prescription medications. For these folks, trips to the pharmacy are part of their regular routines, and oftentimes they get to know their pharmacists on a first name, “How’s the family?” basis.

Shoot, in small necks of the woods like mine, you may have even went to school with, dated, or attended the same church as your pharmacist.

But how much do you really know about your pharmacist? Does he ever disclose all the secrets of the trade, or does he merely fill your prescription and wish you a good day?

Thanks to 13 Things Your Pharmacist Won’t Tell You, a Reader’s Digest article with information obtained from a group of pharmacists, pharmacy supervisors, and pharmacy owners, you can get the inside scoop on what’s going on in your pharmacist’s head.

You’ll probably already know about some of the information (i.e. pain killers may raise eyebrows, Wal-Mart and Target may be cheaper, and generics are effective money-savers), but some of it may be news to you. For example, some pharmacies give flu shots. Some think you ought not use their drive-thrus. Some even recommend you double-check your prescriptions as there are no national training standards for the pharmacy technicians who often fill your prescriptions.

And, when it comes to doctors’ handwriting and insurance companies, we’re all in it together.

So head on over to the article – you may just learn a few secrets!

Image: morgueFile

Post from: Blisstree

Is Your Pharmacist Keeping Secrets?

And by “one thing” I mean prescribing medication.

Aside from the cost of mental health care, one of the biggest patient complaints I’ve heard since beginning Mental Health Notes and becoming involved with NAMI is the way in which appointments with psychiatrists seem to go these days.

It’s become the norm for a patient to take a half or whole day off work to sit in a waiting room for an hour or more only to see a psychiatrist for a few minutes in order to discuss whether or not a particular medication is working, grab a new or adjusted prescription, and leave in time for another patient to take the seat before the butt warmth has had time to cool.

When did psychiatrists decide it was okay to cut their services in half? Why are psychiatrists now merely tending to “medication management” (i.e. doling out drugs and monitoring their success) and leaving the “dirty work” to psychologists, social workers, and other non-doctor mental health professionals?

Read on.

From the Reuters article Move over Freud: Psychiatrists embrace pill power:

The shift to briefer visits for medication management, reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry, appears to be linked to better psychiatric drugs and pressure from managed care companies, which offer richer financial incentives for brief office visits.

“Psychiatrists get more for three, 15-minute medication management visits than for one 45 minute psychotherapy visit,” said Dr. Ramin Mojtabai of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and formerly of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, where he did the research.

Up for a nice greedy round of money-grubbing, anyone?

Dr. Mojtabai also states that treatment from psychologists and social workers is most likely “short-term cognitive behavioral therapy” rather than the “analysis psychiatrists have traditionally offered.”

Of course, not everyone has dollar signs in their eyes.

While Dr. Mojtabai admits seeing a psychiatrist strictly for medication management and a psychologist or social worker for actual therapy “might not be as efficient” (as what? having a psychiatrist who actually knows more about you than what dosage of Zoloft you’re currently taking? and didn’t he just say the treatment from psychologists and social workers was different from what we can get from the analysis of a psychiatrist?), Dr. Eric Plakun, leader of an American Psychiatric Association committee on psychotherapy, notes that a shift in focus from psychotherapy to the biology of mental illness accounts for some of our psychiatrists’ current unwillingness to do more than drag out the prescription pad.

Plakun said in a telephone interview it is not clear if patients are getting therapy from other providers, or not at all.

“Either way, I’m worried about our patients,” he said. “Patients need the best help we can give them.”

For Plakun, that means offering a range of services, including psychotherapy, and not just medication. “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail,” he said.

Yes, everything does indeed start to look like a nail. If the only skills today’s psychiatrists are coming out of school with (or are willing to use) are the skills to properly medicate someone, does that mean more people than actually necessary are being medicated?

What about you? How would you describe your trips to the psychiatrist’s couch office? How happy are you with the various members of your mental illness management team?

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Is Your Psychiatrist Only Good For One Thing?

One of my mottoes has always been, “If you want something done, get up and do the damn thing.” Having that mentality is definitely one of the reasons I love grassroots movements and advocacy.

It’s also definitely one of the reasons I love passing along information about said grassroots movements and advocacy to you lovely people.

A couple of weeks after the Grab Drug Advertisements By The Pills series here at Mental Health Notes, I received an email from Consumers Union Grassroots Organizer Daniela Nunez about their recent petition to the FDA for better reporting of drug side effects. The Appropriately labeled Prescription for Change aims to urge the FDA to require the same MedWatch 1-800 number given in print drug advertisements to also be given during television drug advertisements, as well as Web site information.

Just to clarify, the MedWatch 1-800 number is the number consumers can call to report drug side effects. Congress passed legislation in 2007 requiring all print drug advertisements to include this number; however, it’s still up to the FDA to determine what kind of information (ahem, this number to report side effects) is included in television drug advertisements.

While briefing me on the current system to report side effects, Daniela explained:

Drug companies often fail to present the benefits and risks of the products they advertise, and it often isn’t until a drug is out on the market and taken by millions that we see safety problems emerge. The easier it is for consumers to report side effects, the earlier the FDA will be able to detect potential safety hazards.

The FDA’s current system for consumers to report drug side effects, called MedWatch is woefully inadequate; it’s estimated to collect only 1 to 10 percent of all adverse events – because consumers don’t know about it!

I have no problem believing that. I didn’t know about it. And believe me, given some of the side effects I’ve experienced – both while I was taking medication and while I was withdrawing from it (Cymbalta, anyone?) – I would have made good use of the number.

Damn good use.

This is a petition I think will interest many people – people who’ve experienced prescription medication side effects, people who want the FDA to make it easier to report side effects, and people who are upset they didn’t even know about this number and therefore want it better publicized, i.e. want it included in the television drug advertisements!

In addition to visiting the Prescription for Change Web site, you can find more information about this petition by checking out the Consumers Union press release and reading The Wall Street Journal’s Health Blog post Consumer Group Says TV Drug Ads Should Carry FDA’s Number.

It’s up to us to make a change.

The above photo belongs to Duchamp and is being used under this Creative Commons attribution.

Post from: Blisstree

The Consumers Union Calls For A Prescription For Change

Remember the Grab Drug Advertisements By The Pills series here at Mental Health Notes? Of course you do! We just finished it yesterday.

In light of that series, I thought now would be a good time to introduce you all to a Web site that was recently introduced to me.

Cary Byrd, the owner and CEO of eDrugSearch.com, emailed me a few days ago to let me know about the Web site. Given this past week filled with posts about prescription drugs, how could I pass up the opportunity to let you all know about this resource?

In Cary’s words, eDrugSearch.com is an “online healthcare resource that enables consumers to quickly access safe, affordable prescription medications through an easy-to-use search engine.”

That’s putting it simply.

When you join eDrugSearch.com, you can:

• Ask the community questions not only about medications but about a variety of medical topics. You can also browse questions that’ve already been asked.
• Rate medications you have experience with and check out ratings from other members.
• Get the scoop on online pharmacies, and keep up with your own online pharmacy (if you use one).
• Earn points redeemable for discounts on medications.

Registration is quick and easy – it only took me a minute or so. Check it out. eDrugSearch.com may prove a valuable resource during your search for effective and inexpensive prescription medications.

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Cary Byrd or eDrugSearch.com. I chose to pass along information about this Web site – on my own and without the assistance of payment – because I genuinely feel it’s worth checking out.

Image source and owner.

Post from: Blisstree

eDrugSearch.com: Find, Compare, And Save Money On Medication

Grab Drug Advertisements by the Pills: Part Six

We’re reached the final installment of Grab Drug Advertisements by the Pills. What have we learned so far? Well, we’ve learned that:

• Drug advertisements can both confuse and educate viewers.
• The FDA regulates what drug companies do and do not have to reveal in their advertisements.
• While the most expensive drugs tend to dominate the advertisement scene, there are ways you can save money on prescription medications.
• Many drug advertisements deal with newer, less-familiar drugs, and why it may be best to wait a while before trying any.
• There are lifestyle changes that can give results similar to what the drugs would provide.

Hopefully the information in this series leaves you feeling more informed; however, I realize some of it may also leave you feeling a bit worried about the power of drug advertisements and drug companies. Coupled with the worry that drug advertisements themselves may cause (regarding your own state of health), you may feel a bit overwhelmed.

Don’t.

Obsessing, especially over your health, can magnify your present symptoms as well as make you feel as if you have symptoms that you don’t actually have.

The best, bottom line advice anyone can give you regarding your health is talk to your doctor. Yes, the point of this series was to encourage you to take a more active role in your health care; however, that doesn’t mean your doctor shouldn’t also play an active role. If a drug advertisement clues you in on a condition you may have, talk to your doctor. If you’re interested in trying a particular drug from an advertisement, talk to your doctor. If you start obsessing over your health, talk to your doctor.

Genuinely feel as if you’re doctor isn’t helping? Find a new doctor.

Good luck on your journey to becoming more involved patients!

The image used is owned by Christopher Walker and is being used on the Creative Commons license.

Post from: Blisstree

Grab Drug Advertisements By The Pills: Stop Obsessing And Talk To Your Doctor

Grab Drug Advertisements by the Pills: Part Five

We’ve determined that most medications featured in drug advertisements are both the priciest and the newest drugs on the market, which unfortunately means you could end up emptying your pockets just to experience some pretty serious, unknown side effects.

However, there is good news. In addition to asking your doctor about cheaper prescription medications that have been around longer (and have better understood side effects), you could also ask your doctor about any lifestyle changes and alternative remedies that may provide similar management benefits and symptom relief.

For example, did you know that each of the following has at some point in time been suggested for depression and/or bipolar disorder treatment?

• Changes in diet/nutrition and exercise.
• An increase in Omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oil and flaxseed oil).
• Joining and regularly attending support group meetings.
• Psychotherapy.
• Phototherapy.
• Acupuncture.

And those are just the simpler approaches. Other treatments alternative to prescription medications include vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), cingulotomy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). (Note that these procedures are quite a bit more…”involved,” for lack of a better word, and could actually be much pricier than even the newest prescription drugs; however, they are alternatives and the side effects are generally pretty well known.)

Now, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting that any of these alternatives are better than any particular medication, nor am I trying to represent myself as some kind of all-natural guru. I completely understand that there are cases in which people need prescription medication. Trust me. I’ve been there.

But I am suggesting that – if you aren’t keen on paying big bucks for a medication that may be harboring some unknown side effects – you ask your doctor about lifestyle changes and alternative remedies.

Have any of you tried making lifestyle changes and/or alternative remedies for treating mental illness? Share your story below!

Image source and owner.

Post from: Blisstree

Grab Drug Advertisements By The Pills: Lifestyle Changes And Alternative Remedies

Grab Drug Advertisements by the Pills: Part Four

Now that you know that the most expensive prescription medications tend to dominate the drug advertising scene, it’s probably no surprise that these same prescription medications are also the newest drugs on the market.

However, here’s something to which you may not have given much thought: Because these new drugs are new drugs, they don’t have as much clinical trial time under their belts. The most pressing problem this poses is that there could be serious side effects, risks, and dangers associated with the drug that we (the scientists, drug companies, doctors, and patients) don’t know about yet.

So, how can you better protect yourself from these risks?

• If you and your doctor are interested in trying a new prescription medication, check with the drug’s maker, first. Find out how long the medication was on the market before the drug company began to advertise the drug. Pfizer, for example, claims to wait six months while Bristol-Meyers goes the distance with a one-year wait.
• If your doctor prescribes you one of the newer medications, get as much information (from your doctor and the drug company) about known side effects and even whether or not there may be some side effects that haven’t been officially claimed yet.
• If your doctor wants to prescribe one of the new prescription drugs but you don’t feel comfortable taking something so new, ask about alternatives, i.e. drugs that have similar benefits but have been on the market much longer.

Don’t worry – waiting for the drug to be on the market longer won’t seem as slow as that little fella at the top of this post

Do you have experience with taking a newer medication that put you in danger because of unknown side effects? Share in the comments!

Image source and owner.

Post from: Blisstree

Grab Drug Advertisements By The Pills: Take Your Time

Grab Drug Advertisements by the Pills: Extra!

CFS Squared and Baldiness blogger Laura clued me in on “Big Bucks, Big Pharma” documentary when I announced the Grab Drug Advertisements by the Pills series.

After googling “Big Bucks, Big Pharma” I found the Media Education Foundation’s (MEF) Big Bucks, Big Pharma: Marketing Disease & Pushing Drugs, which directs readers to this relatively short trailer.

Certain direct quotes from the trailer hit home with this Mental Health Notes series (Grab Drug Advertisements By The Pills), such as:

• “Both doctors and the public want to reach for the newest prescription drug.
• “You can’t sit down to TV at night and not see half a dozen drug company commercials.”
• “Millions of Americans watch the ads and then ask their doctors for prescriptions.”
• “The reason we’re seeing so much consumer advertising is because it works.”
• “They do it by telling people, ‘Ask your doctor.’”
• “They can sell us almost anything.”

And those are just within the first 29 seconds of the video.

Wow.

Give the video a look, check out what else MEF has to say about Big Bucks, Big Pharma, and let me know what you think.

At the very least, it’ll probably make you look at the next Zoloft advertisement a bit differently – no matter how cute those little neurotransmitters are.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Post from: Blisstree

Grab Drug Advertisements By The Pills: Big Bucks, Big Pharma

Now that you know how drug advertisements can both educate and confuse you, and the FDA regulations in place to help them do just that, let’s consider the cost of the prescription medications featured in the most recent drug advertisements.

Simply put, it’s pretty dang high. The most expensive drugs tend to dominate the advertisement scene.

Why?

Well, skepticism and criticism common sense tells me it’s because they’re the most expensive. Drug companies want to get the most expensive drugs out there in the public eye in order to make more money. Of course, you shouldn’t quote me on that. I have no sources, nor do I have some kind of insider knowledge. I’m just making an educated guess.

The bad news is that drugs featured in recent advertisements are new, which means they’re protected under patent law, and no one can create a generic version for a cheaper price.

The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to take the name brand version of the drug. If your doctor thinks a particular drug in a particular advertisement may benefit you, s/he can always suggest an alternative (possibly even another name brand drug) that could have the same benefits at a much more affordable cost.

So, the next time you encounter an advertisement for a drug you think may help you, bring it to your doctor’s attention and ask if there are less expensive alternatives – maybe not generic versions, but other drugs with similar benefits. Do the same if your doctor seems to be eager to prescribe the new medication simply because it’s new.

Is your wallet currently suffering due to these expensive prescription medications? Want to rant, vent, and lash out? Use the comments!

Image source and owner.

Post from: Blisstree

Grab Drug Advertisements By The Pills: Save Money On Prescription Medication