| It's not unusual for people to be prescribed drugs | | | | returned to the city. And he actually discovered |
| for mental and emotional conditions that are | | | | the source of the problem: Because of the stress |
| actually caused by undiagnosed physical problems. | | | | she was under, her adrenaline was very high and |
| In fact, a very thorough physical exam rarely | | | | had thrown other things out of balance. She was |
| precedes a prescription for antidepressants, | | | | told to exercise (the last thing she would have |
| tranquilizers, stimulants, or anti-psychotics. As | | | | considered), drink a lot of water, and take |
| hundreds of thousands of people who take these | | | | potassium. |
| drugs can tell you, they're not easy to quit. And | | | | She followed the advice and, within hours, the |
| they often don't handle the problem: two thirds of | | | | symptoms had disappeared. |
| those who take antidepressants, for example, still | | | | If she had followed the advice of the doctor in |
| feel depressed. With a thorough physical exam, | | | | the hospital, she would now be coping with the |
| it's possible to avoid these drugs, their horrible side | | | | side effects of antidepressants and who knows |
| effects, and the possibility of prescription drug | | | | what else: Since the problem she was having |
| addiction or dependency. But the doctor has to | | | | would not resolve with antidepressants, she would |
| know what to look for. | | | | still have the symptoms - which may have led to |
| A case in point: A few years ago, a friend was | | | | taking one drug after another in an attempt to |
| working very long hours on a very stressful job. | | | | address the original symptoms and cope with the |
| In the middle of the day one Friday, she suddenly | | | | side effects of the drugs she was taking. It could |
| started shaky, her face was tingling, and her | | | | have virtually disabled her for the rest of her life. |
| nerves felt raw. She thought her blood sugar | | | | This story is not unusual - many people in |
| might be very low, or very high, but eating didn't | | | | addiction treatment centers started with one |
| resolve the problem. She didn't have high or low | | | | prescription drug, often unnecessary in the first |
| blood pressure, or any real physical problems for | | | | place, and found themselves in a never-ending |
| that matter, so didn't have a clue what was | | | | cycle that really ruined their lives. |
| wrong. | | | | What kind of doctor do you need to find out if |
| She left work early that day and began a 10-day | | | | there really are physical problems? An M.D. is |
| nightmare that almost ended in her taking | | | | always a good idea - he has the education and |
| antidepressants. | | | | experience needed to recognize a disease or |
| Her doctor, an M.D. who specialized in nutritional | | | | life-threatening situation, and you do want to |
| and alternative therapies, was out of town. | | | | eliminate that possibility. But, beyond that, the |
| Over the next several days, as the problem got | | | | doctor also needs to be very well-educated in |
| worse, she tried everything she could think of. | | | | nutritional deficiencies and imbalances, hormonal |
| She finally went to another doctor, not one who | | | | problems, and so on. Some problems can even be |
| was educated in alternative therapies, and the | | | | addressed by chiropractors - many of whom are |
| doctor couldn't figure it out. | | | | also educated in other non-drug therapies. One |
| After coping with the problem for several more | | | | way or another, you need a doctor who prefers |
| days she went to a second doctor who | | | | to find the source of the problem and treat that |
| suspected she was having a heart attack (the | | | | effectively instead of prescribing drugs for the |
| symptoms now included chest pain, difficulty | | | | symptoms. |
| breathing, etc.) and gave her an ECG. The results | | | | If you're already taking, or are considering taking, |
| were abnormal and she was sent to the | | | | prescription drugs for mental or emotional |
| emergency ward of the nearest hospital. | | | | symptoms, or the physical ailments that can |
| After having another ECG, and blood tests, at the | | | | accompany them, you might consider finding one |
| hospital, the ER doctor told her that the ECG was | | | | of these doctors for a very thorough check up. |
| actually normal, that nothing was wrong physically, | | | | And if you're having trouble getting off the drugs, |
| and gave her a prescription for Prozac. In other | | | | contact a drug rehab referral service that can |
| words, it was all in her head. | | | | direct you to safe and effective treatment. Once |
| Instead of filling the prescription, my friend coped | | | | you get off the drugs, you can look for the real |
| for another few days until her own doctor | | | | problem and resolve it. |