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"didja take your meds, huh?"
 Honestly, this has got to be one of the most insulting questions asked of those of us who might be taking psychiatric medications. For implicit in the statement made, is the assumption that it is the statement itself which gives meaning and reason to why one would be taking psyche meds.

All the more disturbing is the very real fact that the overwhelming majority of folks taking such meds, never got clear information or reasons as to why their prescribing physician put us on them to begin with.

It is in large measure the failure of many treaters to provide information (combined with a concomitant failure to listen when we complain of severe and adverse "side effects") which results in so many people reluctant to the point not taking those meds.

There are a host of issues that are raised around the use of medications, but not all of them are about efficacy or usefulness. Indeed, in the mental health arena, talk of "Meds" is more often around how to force people to take meds, or of ethical questions many have toward large multinational drug companies who finance "research" so long as it makes their product look good. Research that is, in turn, read by docs who turn around and quote it, unthinkingly resulting in their sounding like shills or "front men" for drug companies instead of thoughtful researchers themselves.

This page's intent is not, however, to get into those issues (other, related pages linked above might delve into some of these concerns). It is to provide links to sites where one might learn more about the drugs you might be prescribed.

Since so many people take psychotropic medications, included here are sites where you can learn more about these drugs. Medications are but one option and they should never be the first line of therapeutic recourse.

informed consent
Informed Consent Form
Perhaps most important is to know what medications you are taking and what they are supposed to be doing to you. This is the essence of informed consent
Psychiatric Advance Directives
Another way of ensuring that you are getting the kinds of treatment you want (and not receiving the kinds you don't) is to make use of Advance Directives. Here's a site that gives more info on how that can be accomplished
 medications
Dr. Bob's Psychopharmacology Tips | http://uhs.bsd.uchicago.edu/~bhsiung/tips/tips.html
If you take medication, it's important to be informed, but don't make any adjustments without the approval of your physician, who knows your medical condition, how you've responded to medication in the past, etc. These tips are just that -- tips -- and not (with some exceptions) the results of scientific studies
Trade & Generic Names of Psychiatric Drugs | http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.drugnames.html
Just what it says it is, a list of names of drugs and for which diagnoses the drugs are supposed to be effective
The Drug Database | http://www.NursesPDR.com/members/database/
Delmar Nursing Ed Books' "exclusive" site on drug information. Not just psych meds. You may want to use the site above to identify generic and trade names as needed
FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research | http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/default.htm
a user-friendly resource on the Web for information on the Center's activities of interest to regulated industry, health professionals, academia, and the general public
Annals of Pharmacotherapy | http://www.theannals.com/
The text is top-heavy with technical jargon, in can be ...translated... if you grab a Merek's (Medical) Manual and a medical dictionary. t
What's this about "Free" Medications Programs? | http://www.disabilityrights.org/faq.htm#medic
Some drug companies have programs to provide some of their drugs free of charge to needy patients. Please be aware that these are not government-sponsored programs, and while many people have received free drugs, there is no guarantee that it will work for you
When your therapist suggests a medication evaluation | http://www.outinct.com/rgoldberg/therbro.html
Some reasons why a doc might suggest meds
directories, search engines
   Galaxy's Mental Health links page
   Mental Health Dictionary
LEGAL & DISCLAIMER NOTICE: ©: 2000 / Will Brady // I hope you've found the site interesting, even thought provoking. Most of the links are up-to-date, but I can't always guarantee the state of activity for other sites. Please don't write to me about the content of sites linked from here. On the other hand, please let me know of any inactive links. Constructive comments, suggested links to add, are welcome.
image thanks to DENDRON This page is presented as a public service by the owner of this website. He works in mental health / human rights advocacy.

This is not an official website of either the State of Connecticut or the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services.
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site maintainer:    Will Brady || webmaster@rondak.org || updated: 23 may 2000
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