AboutDr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi Expertise I can provide information on drugs and medicines, their actions, uses, interactions and adverse effects. To avoid confusion, generic names of
medicines may please be provided. I am a pharmacologist, having worked
on animal and human pharmacology, and presently I am the Dean of Bilcare Research Academy, where we teach courses on clinical research. We dont work on saturdays and sundays, hence questions reachng me on these days will be replied on Monday, please bear with me.
Question Dear Dr.Ravindra Bhaskar ghooi,
Pranams.I retired as a judge of Punjab& haryana High Court in mid 2000s I did not make any friends .I kept myself aloof.Ihad angina in dec.1992 for which i was prescribed Dilzim 60mg thicea day and ecosprin 150mg once a day besides envas 2.5 mg twice morning and night. since I am alone i am depressive and unable to sleep properly though I am taking Restyl(alprozolam) 0.5 mg two tablets at bed time ie at 10 P.M.and iam getting up 12 midnight and no sleep any more. While surfing internet I came across melatonin.Dear Dr. I am seeking your help to overcome my depression insomnia,lonliness.Will melatonin helps me in getting good and sound sleep.Is it available in India.What is its brand name Does it require prescripsion or can I get it over the counter I am copleting 69 years on 1st june 2008.I am sorry Doctor to take your valuable time
Answer Dear Sir,
Please do not apologise for asking a question. We work on this site to help people, and we do it happily.
As I see it there is no organic reason for your insomnia, it is because of depression. I would suggest that we treat your depression rather than symptomatically try to treat insomnia. There ar a number f wyas of doing this, first is the most obvious, get yoursef involved in social work, take a lot of exercise and that will do the trick. Sir, there are so many eople in this country who will be grateful if you could just use your legal knowledge to help them. Let me explain Sir, ten years ago my mother died of cancer. She refused treatment but wanted only a peaceful death. In order to help her I try to stock morphine, which is the best drug to treat cancer pain, but was shocked that the the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances Act of 1985, amkes it impossible to get access t the drug. I filed a PIL in Delhi High COurt (I was then in Delhi) and won a judgement from Justic Sabharwal (case no 942/ of 1998) but to this day more than half the country does not allow morphine for patients (distribution of narcotics is under the State and not the Centre) We have now file a case in the SC to make all states follow Delhi High Court's jusdgement. A person of your knowledge could help 2.5 million people who are living with cancer pain in this country.
I am sorry for brnging up my pet subject. But you could put my name on Google and you will find all the work I ahve done for cancer patients. Believe me sir, helping people will give you your needed sleep without any drug.
A psychiatrist will probably advice you an antidepressant, but I am aware that most people are not ready to visit one in which cse can suggesst one, though this is hghly unethical. So I would suggest a good antidepressant, may be fluoxetine 20 mg once a day. In my opinion melatonin will not help, if alprazolam 1.00 mg does not help.
So my suggestion is fluoxetine 20 mg once a day or Citopam 10 mg once a day (either of the drugs should be taken at night). Both drugs are freely available. No cheists will bother about the prescription because drug laws are not obeyed much in India.
I will be away from my office for three days but will be happy to give you any help that yo may require when I am back.
Ravi Ghooi
