Today’s doctors are so overwhelmed by many variety of illnesses that have similar symptoms that they are starting to forget how to be doctors. Unless they ask a relative or someone who knows the patient, misdiagnosis is highly likely. Today I had a big argument with a doctor who is handling one of my family members. He finally (after 2 weeks) called me back. So the first thing he says that the drug Depakote (generic is Valproic acid) is not an MAOI drug–more of what that drug is in a moment. But here is the NIH article stating that in fact “Valproic acid induces monoamine oxidase A via AKT/forkhead box O1 activation.”

For your information, MAOI drugs are of the worst kinds. They are used for psychosis and schizophrenia among other things but this medication type interacts with many other medications in a way that is deadly without exception and is also causing severe liver damage within 6 months of starting treatment. So MAOI drugs are to be highly avoided! Furthermore, in talking with his he said “we are giving this to her so that her dopamine receptors stop working”. I asked if he understood the meaning of what he just said. He was certain he did but he did not. Dopamine is a crucial neuropeptide driving our decision making ability, logical thoughts, and in general, someone with dementia will have reduced ability in the area of the brain where dopamine receptors are found. So in fact they were inducing dementia in her by blocking the dopamine receptors. When I told him this he said “are you telling me I am making your mother demented?” my answer: YES!

The second drug came as a total surprise to me.  They are prescribing her Ambient. Now we all know that Ambient has caused a lot of problems, sleep walking, sleep driving, killing of people as a result, etc. Recent research shows that women taking the same dose as men of Ambient are overdosed by 45%. So I asked what dose my mother (age 88) was receiving and she was receiving Ambient in a large dose (the doctor did not actually remember, he said eitehr 5 or 10 mg… so I asked him to half the dose whatever it is! At the same time the doc told me that Ambient does not fall into the category of drugs of Benzodiazepines, but in fact it does under what is called “Atypical benzodiazepine receptor ligands” meaning they act as benzos even though they are not benzos but to the body they are. The generic name is Zolpidem and it is the second drug from the bottom of the table.

There was one additional drug on the line that they gave as a patch for her to reduce dementia which she did not have. I had him remove that as well.

I don;t know if my mother will ever recover from the torture she had to endure in this hospital and in the hospital before it but one thing is clear to me: today’s doctors do not have enough specific information. There are great doctors out there, don;t misunderstand me. In fact I have several such awesome doctors but that does not stop me from taking with me an entire pile of scientific documents with me for our meeting. In fact last time one of my doctors stepped in with a bigger pile of scientific data and noted “Dr. Stanton, my pile  is bigger, I must be right”. 🙂 And I am sure he is since he is doing his upbringing of his skills based on new science.

Now the doctor I am talking about is a psychiatric specialist running with one additional psychiatrist a hospital specifically for elderly psychiatric patients. One would expect a bit more knowledge from them than what they represent given that they pretty much run the hospital. The questions I am asking here are very serious and are as follows:

1. Why are doctors not informed better?
2. If they are doctors, should they not be tested every year for new medications and research coming at them?
3. Should doctors pass an annual competence test if they still know enough to be doctors?
4. Should doctors be obligated to talk to family members about the history of the patient if such members exist and are happy to share the information?
5. Should doctors have the right to prescribe any medication at all until patient and/or responsible parties have approved them given the explanations provided by doctors?
6. Should it not be mandated that doctors provide such information?

As you can see I have a lot of questions. I am looking forward to your participation and answers and also questions on your end. I will be writing a book about this and am hoping to chance the medical industry to help patients rather than the pockets of clueless doctors.

Angela