Suicide Warning

2stepscloser

So today I picked up a prescription for a sleep aid the doctor called in for me at the pharmacy and stapled to it was a suicide warning note. Ok weird...

I proceed to read more about the medication (still unsure about whether I'm going to take it) and I find out the doc has called in an anti depressant /anxiety med to help me with sleep. Totally confused at this point. I read further and apparently this drug helps with the treatment of insomnia is one of the "other" uses.

The doctor must have lost her mind if she thinks I'm taking this medication with no history/signs of depression/anxiety. I think I'll just be content with my lack of sleep. Thankfully I have good insurance and didn't pay much for it but it makes me wonder what kind of kick back she's getting from the drug manufacturer. :ohwell:

TheWinman

great catch! I agree with you!

Cp731

Do u have a sleep disorder?

hungrypotato

I used to not be able to sleep, try to do as many pushups and jumping jacks or whatever until you can't anymore. Usually knocks me out.

Peanutbutterx

mostly EVERY medicine is like that... you end up with something so much worse than what you originally needed it for.. good thing you read it first, doctors are stupid sometimes...

Duck_Puddle

I take an antidepressant for what used to be an off-label use but is now an approved (or whatever) use. It's not necessarily kickbacks, it could be because that particular medication treats what you need without side effects that others might have. You could ask your doctor why that particular medication was prescribed vs whatever other medication you thought should be prescribed.

obeseandsassy

So today I picked up a prescription for a sleep aid the doctor called in for me at the pharmacy and stapled to it was a suicide warning note. Ok weird...

I proceed to read more about the medication (still unsure about whether I'm going to take it) and I find out the doc has called in an anti depressant /anxiety med to help me with sleep. Totally confused at this point. I read further and apparently this drug helps with the treatment of insomnia is one of the "other" uses.

The doctor must have lost her mind if she thinks I'm taking this medication with no history/signs of depression/anxiety. I think I'll just be content with my lack of sleep. Thankfully I have good insurance and didn't pay much for it but it makes me wonder what kind of kick back she's getting from the drug manufacturer. :ohwell:

what medication is it? (you don't have to answer, but i work at a psych hospital so i'm curious)

lots of medicines have multiple uses. example, many medicines for sleep are also used for anxiety disorders. I don't think your doc is insinuating that you're depressed or suicidal, it's simply that the same meds can be used to treat different things! try not to read too much into it.

LMT2012

Anti depressants are used to treat ailments/discomforts of all sorts. And very safely and successfully. I know people who take it for chronic pain and stomach ailments, for example. However, you do have to commit to many months (though not permanent, necessarily) on the drug to get results. It is just to get you over the hump. I think people think of these things as a crutch, which is too bad. You don't get any points for suffering as far as I know.
Having said that, I would probably not bother with it for simple insomnia. I did have a friend whose THREE year bought with insomnia was fixed immediately by starting hormone replacement therapy.
sigh. Good luck!!

MsBobLoblaw

Can you call your doctor and express your concerns? Perhaps there's a reasonable explanation that you're not aware of???

Timshel_

I have had sleep aids, anti-depressants and such prescribed for me several times and I never do them. Having depression, anxiety, and sleep issues is enough. I don't need it compounded by side effects. Especially more serious thoughts of suicide!

Jersey_Devil

Doctor called in a prescription without telling u what it was first?
Something doesn't add up here.

NormInv

uh oh, shady at best...

Erica_theRedhead

Usually any medication that works on neurotransmitters in the brain can cause adverse effects like suicidality. It doesn't mean that you'll become depressed, but it's a possibility. All meds are a risk/benefit ratio and you have to decide what's best for you and just be on guard for any changes.

But usually, it's with long term usage as well, not just after a few times..

2stepscloser

Not that I'm aware of.

I've been having trouble sleeping lately and called inquiring about whether the dosage for my thyroid could be off, causing me to wake after a few hours of sleep. I spoke with the nurse, who in turn spoke with the doctor, and she thought a sleep aid might help. So I figured I'd try it or at least have it for weeks where I just can't sleep. I'm definitely not taking it now.

Cp731

this is what Dr.'s do. They prescribe these sorts of meds for ppl w/sleep disturbances, its very common.

Mr_Bad_Example

So today I picked up a prescription for a sleep aid the doctor called in for me at the pharmacy and stapled to it was a suicide warning note. Ok weird...

I proceed to read more about the medication (still unsure about whether I'm going to take it) and I find out the doc has called in an anti depressant /anxiety med to help me with sleep. Totally confused at this point. I read further and apparently this drug helps with the treatment of insomnia is one of the "other" uses.

The doctor must have lost her mind if she thinks I'm taking this medication with no history/signs of depression/anxiety. I think I'll just be content with my lack of sleep. Thankfully I have good insurance and didn't pay much for it but it makes me wonder what kind of kick back she's getting from the drug manufacturer. :ohwell:

It's called 'off-label use'. It's common to use meds that are anti-depressants or anti-anxiety for other ailments, as they have some benefits outside of their expected uses. That being said, if your doctor didn't tell you what the med was, you need a new doctor - and if you didn't ask about it, you might want to in the future.

FootballGamer58

most antidepressents have a warning which states that suicide is a very rare but obviously serious side effect. They also almost have to do this with antidepressents because if someone kills them self whether the medicine did it or not. People could say, well your medicine did this look one person offed themself while on this drug. The 1 person was probably someone the medicine did not work for and they killed themself.

if that makes sense

xLexa

google melatonin, it is used as a sleep aid and is natural, maybe it is an alternative for you.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview

FootballGamer58

google melatonin, it is used as a sleep aid and is natural, maybe it is an alternative for you.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview

if a doctor doesnt mention melatonin first hes an idiot

Thewatcher_66

So today I picked up a prescription for a sleep aid the doctor called in for me at the pharmacy and stapled to it was a suicide warning note. Ok weird...

I proceed to read more about the medication (still unsure about whether I'm going to take it) and I find out the doc has called in an anti depressant /anxiety med to help me with sleep. Totally confused at this point. I read further and apparently this drug helps with the treatment of insomnia is one of the "other" uses.

The doctor must have lost her mind if she thinks I'm taking this medication with no history/signs of depression/anxiety. I think I'll just be content with my lack of sleep. Thankfully I have good insurance and didn't pay much for it but it makes me wonder what kind of kick back she's getting from the drug manufacturer. :ohwell:

Wow! These money pigs have no shame. They are willing to have customers/patients risk their lives for the sake of increasing profit margins. Sickening.

AZKristi

What did they prescribe? In the past I have taken Trazadone as a sleep aid. It was initially developed as a psych drug but its very effective as a sleep aid. It caused far fewer side effects and is far less addictive than medications like ambien that were designed and tested for sleep disorders.

xLexa

google melatonin, it is used as a sleep aid and is natural, maybe it is an alternative for you.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview

if a doctor doesnt mention melatonin first hes an idiot

Or he does not make any money from mentioning melatonin

Willowana

Doc put me on Cymbalta for Fibromyalgia because aside from being an antidepressant, it's also supposed to deaden nerve pain.

My words to him exactly: "I'm not depressed. I'm in pain. There's a big difference."

I tried it out for a month, and promptly stopped. It didn't do jack for pain, and it didn't stop me from crying. Why? Because I wasn't depressed. I was in pain.

You are right to not take it, OP. I told my doc flat out that I don't want anything screwing around with my brain chemistry. There is nothing wrong with my brain. At least not in this respect. :laugh:

BurtHuttz

Oh my God, I'm so sorry to hear this. Life is worth living!! Seriously! If you're overwhelmed you can call the suicides prevention hotline. They can help you. Seriously don't do anything drastic.

cpilson

Many drugs are efficacious when used off-label.

Indeed, this is how many drugs--Wellbutrin, Minoxidil, etc.--were discovered; by chance while using them for something else.

Anti-depressant meds now require a "black-box" warning. This is because some of them (most notably, Prozac) slightly elevated suicide risk in late-teen users.

I've just read now that you might have thyroid issues. Before you take anything, get that figured out. It's that important, and could hold that much sway over the rest of your health. Also, ask for more than TSH and Free T1 tests; if you drink fluoridated water, this can sit in situ and, with these tests, make it appear that everything is just fine when it is not.

Nrspears

is it ambien? if not try asking for that.

cpilson

google melatonin, it is used as a sleep aid and is natural, maybe it is an alternative for you.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview

if a doctor doesnt mention melatonin first hes an idiot

Not necessarily.

He could be on the take.

paintlisapurple

Yikes, that does sound scary. Have you ever taken melatonin? My sister in law used to take it in pill form (got it from walmart I believe) and said that they worked for her. I believe that is one of the benefits of eating turkey too. LOL Must be why a lot of the men...at least in this family...nap after thanksgiving dinner.

_SABOTEUR_

I took some tablets that had a side effect of male lactation once (I tried to milk myself to no avail). It's how medication works. There are side effects. They have to list every one of them to prevent them getting sued.

2stepscloser

google melatonin, it is used as a sleep aid and is natural, maybe it is an alternative for you.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview

I asked about this and she said over the counter meds were not as safe.

I've been very pleased with the doc and the care I received up until this point that I didn't think to question it. The drug was Trazadone.

Erica_theRedhead

Doctors don't get paid per prescription. It's an off label use that is used commonly in practice. No shenanigans.