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Vicc · 08-08-2007, 11:34 PM

Hi Imahotep,

Just to clarify, what I said was: If the doctor who prescribed this drug for you told you it is commonly used, he/she lied to you, It isn't, and thank God! If it were we can look to a future in which many RSD patients, still suffer from the disease and also suffer from obnoxious and uncontrollable lip-smacking and finger rolling (tardiive dyskinesia). I didn't think you would make up such a claim, but some doctors have been guilty of making ex-cathedra pronouncements based solely on flatulence

You said: I can't sugest to someone to ignore medical advice even where I think it's poor. Well, I can. When I do, I rely on scientific evidence, known facts and common sense to point out what's wrong with it.

Tayla, in your first reply you said Antipsychotics are not an uncommon drug here in Australia for the treatment of RSD. You said much more, of course, and I will discuss that in greater detail in a future reply, but those words led me to think warm, fuzzy thoughts about the AMA (possibly the most reactionary organization in the world), and that doesn't happen often.

I guess I'm glad in some ways that the AMA was able to maintain a tight discipline for so many years among physicians in this country; it probably prevented many from from emulating what appears (by your statement, at least) to be happening in Australia: chaos and anarchy.

My next reply (I'm just too tired to try to write it now) will discuss in some detail the differences between the drugs you mentioned as being used off-label in the treatment of RSD (and some others), and prescribing Geodon.

You wrote: If your doctor prescribed Geodon for you I would doubt very much that he prescribed them for any other reason other than he hoped you maybe one of those who did benefit from it. I agree, but doctors are supposed to provide safe, scientifically sound medical advice and treatment, not "hopes" and "maybes"; that a truly dangerous drug will do the job.

I hope you will be able to provide some of that documented evidence that some [RSD] people do well on them...because I intend to introduce evidence, facts and logic that I hope will persuade everyone who reads it that this drug is so dangerous that they should run from any doc who tries to prescribe it for RSD.

Finally (for now): It is NOT about what each of us thinks is a considered risk to take in the search for a better quality of life. That's why we're not allowed to go into pharmacies and pick things off the shelf. Physicians are supposed to consider the risks, THEN offer us that opportunity, after they have exercised their judgement.

Any physician who prescribes an antipsychotic drug -- or any drug with such severe side-effects -- without substantial evidence that it has been shown to be efficacious, is too dangerous to be allowed to write prescriptions.

Finally, finally, I believe I read that you are a nurse: In your professional experience, have you ever treated a pt with tardive dyskinesia? I have worked with many such pts, and if forced to, I would be hard-pressed to choose between it and RSD. I am shocked and sickened at the knowledge that any physician would suggest such a choice even exists. The best outcome would be RSD alone, the worst: RSD plus TD...Vic