Expert: Sharon Crandall - 3/22/2010

Question
QUESTION: Why after so many years of taking Ritalin have I become sensitive to stimuli. When I study the words go too quickly though my mind and eventually my brain feels like its confused and my brain is thinking and taking in thoughts to fast. It then goes into panic. Why am i the victim of such a horrible tragedy and now i have to go to rehab?

ANSWER: Hello Johnathan,

You are not the only one who has had horrible experiences with medications. I am not a person who generally advocates lawsuits but after working with people who are/have had such a horrible time with medications and how difficult it has been for them to get off medication, too, with all its side affects, it seems to me that those promoting medication should be sued for not being completely truthful in warning patients of the possible side affects of these drugs.

One of my clients took a year and hell with feelings of electric shock and anxiety attacks coming off these medications that affect the brain, and I have another client who is suffering horribly trying to get off similar medications. The side affects of these drugs are not publicized nearly enough but smoothed over so that they can get more people on them.

You have to understand that psychiatrists would not make a living without prescribing drugs. That is practically all they do. My one client pays $150 to her psychiatrist to talk to him for a few minutes to adjust her medications.  They seldom work with a patient in coping with their problems but are there simply to prescribe medications. If people understood that, they would not be going to them so readily but seeking alternative ways to cope with depression, attention challenges, etc. and there are good methods out there to help people in this regard.

I am so sorry you are having to go through this but perhaps you can become an advocate for alternative ways to help people. There are some very good institutions and methods out there to help people change their lives and cope with their challenges, without these horrible medications. I don't know much about it, but there is one called The Drake Institute.

Also, I know of a product that might help you. It is called Neu-beCalmed. I took it for depression years ago, and taking it, along with other nutritional things and working on my personality traits, I was able to overcome depression and have not been plagued with it since.

You can go to www.neurogenesis_inc.com/58357 and order it through Life & Mind. It feeds your brain and just might help you get through this. It is worth a try.

Sometimes our own bad experiences helps direct us to helping others that can become very fulfilling in our lives and turn our bad experiences into being productive.  I wish I could work with you personally and perhaps could help you with your traits to make this recovery easier.

God bless you.

Sharon Crandall
www.personalityconsultant.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks but this is not the answer I was looking for. I love my Ritalin and how it saved my life. When I was sick I had to see a specialist so I do not think they are all in it just for money. I was looking more for an answer to curbing the side effects. Like another drug. Alternative meds are rubbish i am affriad.

Answer
Hi. Since my profile should tell you that I believe in alternative then I am surprised you asked me a question about drugs. Unfortunately, all drugs have side affects while many great alternative nutritional products get at the cause of the problem instead of just masking the problem. Even a Psychiatrist will not tell you that drugs cure anything but simply address the symptoms.

Too often the problem continues to build underneath which calls for more medication and then the side affects worsen and then other drugs are given to take care of those side affects and then other drugs are given to take care of the new side affects.

I have seen this happen many times, until people are in such bad shape that they know they must get off the drugs. When they do, and use alternative methods they are so much healthier and their minds are so much clearer.

So, I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Ritalin is addictive to a lot of people and has caused heart problems in a lot of people and some deaths.

I am sold on alternative methods.  

I hope you find the drug you need to take care of these side affects and that the side affects of the new drug/(s) will not do what happened to one of my clients who started with one drug and then added more until she is now in a living hell from all her meds and suffering terribly trying to get off of them.

Hope you find your answer