Answered questions(22)
Did cocain almost give me a heart attack?
If cocaine made my heart pound and skip beats does that mean that it almost gave me a heart attack?
Read answer →Can Cocaine Use by the Father Cause Birth Defects?
We are trying to start a family and I have had 2 miscarriages in a row. My doctor says I am physically healthy in my womb so I should not worry about it too much its just bad luck. The one thing my doctor does not know is that my husband takes cocaine 3 or 4 times a week. Do you know if this can lead to miscarriage or birth defects?
Read answer →After 6 months on cocaine - when will the craving stop?
How long does it take to stop craving cocaine? I was only using it daily for about 6 months. I haven't had any for 2 days and I swear I am done with it. I am craving some very badly. When are the bad cravings going to go away, approximately?
Read answer →Should I tak antioxidants to prevent harm from marijuana?
I read this study on telomeres. Shortened telomeres happen with age and they are associated with disease and some things that we do can accelerate our telomere shortening (as you probably already know…sorry). In any case, this study mentions all casual-like that marijuana increases oxidant activity and decreases antioxidant activity (and in a stretchy leap of assertion they say that this may cause telomere shortenings - and hence marijuana is linked early death, I suppose.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3607895/ This study feels a little sketchy, if you know what I mean…But to be prudent…Do you know if this is a reasonable concern for a person who smokes marijuana multiple times per day? If it is so that heavy marijuana use causes significant oxidative stress, can this stress be offset with the use of antioxidants? If so, would it be a sensible form of harm reduction to incorporate antioxidant therapy into my daily routine? If so if so, which types of antioxidants would be best?
Read answer →I quit Xanax cold turkey
I have been taking Alprazolam 1MG twice daily as needed for about 6 months. I quit COLD TURKEY. This is my "5th" day. I am jerky, twitchy, nervous, and at times have trouble with what I want to say. I start stuttering. It is my mouth doesn't even want to work. It is very embarassing. What should I do? Resume taking the medication and taper off? It seems to me that since this is my 5th day, it would be best to NOT go back on the medication that I want to STOP taking. Any information you can share with me would be appreciated. I want these symtoms to get better NOT WORSE.
Read answer →My new therapist lowered my Xanax by half and its not working
Hi There, Okay I have been diagnosed with major depression and severe anxiety. I have had the same therapist for 6 years. My medications are trazodone 100mg at bedtime, Celexa 40mg in am, xanax 1mg 3 times a day. This has been working for years. Right now I'm going thru a tramatic time medically in my life. Last month my therapist left the practice to start her own. She is not up and running yet. So I'm seeing another therapist from facility. Right off without knowing me or what I'm going thru. She lowered my dosage of xanax by half. It's not working, I've been very close to going to the hospital. HELP
Read answer →How long is inpatient treatment for a painkiller addiction?
Dr. I have a painkiller addiction and will abuse any controlled substance to avoid withdrawals. I know I need in patient treatment, but cannot have my employer find out. How many days is typical for in patient treatment?
Read answer →Is it possible to get addicted to Ativan after only using it 2 to 3 weeks?
Is it possible to get addicted to Ativan after only using it for 2 to 3 weeks? I had a bottle of about 50 1 mg tablets that I took over this period. I was going through a difficult break up and sleeping problems sadness are why I used them but I didn’t plan on using them after I ran out. I ran out about 36 hours ago and I have not slept and feel incredibly anxious ever since? How long will this feeling last. It is really horrible.
Read answer →Can long term tramadol permanently deplete my serotonin?
I am 4 and a half weeks out of a 3 year Tramadol habit. I went cold turkey which was a bad idea. I was feeling pretty depressed for a while but that is slowly lifting but I still feel less positive than normal. Is there anything I can do to speed up the PAWS from tramadol? Do diets that are supposed to increase serotonin levels really make any difference? Could a long time use of tramadol permanently deplete my serotonin levels to a point where I would need to us an SSRI just to get back to baseline?
Read answer →What is this high pitched sound I hear since stopping pot?
I have not smoked pot for 7 days and I was a huge stoner so 7 days is a long time for me the longest I’ve been straight for 4 years pretty much since I started smoking at 15. My friends can’t believe I am passing on joints and I feel really good except for being a little testy the first few days it has not been as hard as I was worried it would be. The one seriously bothersome thing that I am dealing with is that I have this buzzing sound in my ears that comes and goes on and off all day long. No one else hears it so it is coming from my mind and since it never happened before I quit pot I think it has got to be because of quitting smoking. It is like a high pitched whining sound. What is up with this?
Read answer →I am tapering and stopping my Prosom. How long untile I return to normal after stopping it?
I have been taking Prosom for years. Am 65...I have tapered my self from 2 mg down to 0.5 mg. Have insomnia-a little shaky-When I stop the 0.5 mg dose how long will it take for the GABA centers ( am an RN ) to return to normal and for me to feel normal..I asked my doctor and all he did was suggest staying on it...am tired of the pharmacy acting like " here is another druggy" and really do want to stop. Am using OTC Melatonin and it does seem to help a little.
Read answer →Panic attack after starting Effexor
Major Panic Attack or Seritonin Syndrome.. I started Effexor xr 75 mg on Thursday May 17th. By Monday morning I noticed I was weighing in a few pounds light, thought it was great at the time. Abs were cracking more than usual so I was happy. I felt great, happy and clear until about 4pm I took 3 hits of strong marijuana and had a massive panic attack that put me in an ambulance. The attack lasted nearly an hour. The syncopy started as I stood up and I just couldn't gain my ground. I took Xanax the night before if that matters. Im ok now, but don't know how to proceed. I stopped taking the Effexor. I guess my question is, would I have had this attack if I had waited for my body to adjust to the Effexor, or is this a sign that this medicine isn't for me.
Read answer →Is Marijuana Actually Addictive?
Is marijuana actually addictive or do people with addictive personalities just end up getting addicted to marijuana because they use it. But if they didn’t end up getting addicted to marijuana they would end up getting addicted to something else, like sex or food or alcohol so it is not the marijuana that is addictive it is just some people are going to get addicted to something no matter what.
Read answer →What is the best way to reduce my Xanax dosage?
If I want to make a Xanax tapering plan is it better for me to gradually reduce the dosage I am taking or to gradually lengthen the interval between doses; or maybe some combination of the two. As a practical matter, it seems easier to lengthen the intervals, because when I start splitting up pills I am always left with pills that are never exactly equal and then it’s just guess work about how much I am really taking.
Read answer →I am smelling and tasting crack smoke, after six weeks clean.
I am six weeks clean from cocaine, crack, alcohol and meth, basically the only things I still do is smoke cigarettes. I am holding on but there have been some pretty close calls. One thing that is really bothering be is I keep getting this taste in my mouth and smell like crack smoke and whenever this happens I start to really want some and it is hard to resist the cravings. Why does this happen since I have not smoked in 6 weeks? Is there anything I can do to make it stop?
Read answer →Question on how to wean off of Ativan (a benzodiazepine).
Hello Dr. Last November i had a high blood pressure experience 230/120. Saw a Dr. and he gave me Amplodipine, Benazapril, and Metoprolol, 1mg Lorazepam as needed and a diuretic and Potassium Cloride 10 mg ER. Was a Zombie for 6 months couldnt work and saving down to about nothing. I lost weight,eating right,exercising and lost 50lbs. BP was getting better avg. 140-150/-85-95. I have to workto support my family so i weaned off of Amlodipine 2-3 weeks no problem started to think better. Then the benazapril and didnt notice much but as i started to get off the Metoprolol very slowly my anxiety went through the roof and needed more lorazepams. I initialy would take a lorazepam a few times a week...but it got so bad with the Metoprolol with anxiety and palpitations that the only thing that would help is the lorazepam. I have stablized at 12.5 mg per day of Metoprolol but my lorazepam usage has gone to 1.5 a day and i am barely making it throughout the day on that dose. I realize i am dependent and want off of them before i need more to get me through the day. The other day i felt amazing without a lorazepam until 3pm and i got a panic attack out of the blue. Took a lorazepam and i was fine. Yesterday i took 1 in the AM and it lasted all day. This morning i started to go for a walk and couldnt breath alll of a sudden and had another panic attack. took a 1 mg of lorazepam and evened out but not like it used to do for me. Not sure what to do? Maybe see if i can get a Dr. to prescribe equivelent of Valium and wean off of it using the Ashton (UK) method. I am in Ca. near Oregon Border and could use a Dr. who understands this. Any help is well appreciated. Thank You!
Read answer →Question on how to wean off of Ativan (a benzodiazepine). addendum
Hello Dr. Shipko! Thanks so much for your quick answer. I got a bit of relief from just getting and answer ::-) I am still tapering off the Metoprolol. I am cutting smaller and smaller doses. It has taken me about 7-8 weeks to get from 50 mg 2x a day to about 10 mg. The sizes are progressively smaller for the 7 day container i have. I was planning to end it when it is done next week at about 6 mg. I was thinking of staying on the Lorazepam until the Metoprolol side effects are done. It has been a beast getting off and tired of thinking of having to get off another. I wish he would have told me ahead of time but i think he saw me on them for the rest of my life ( i am 54 now). I know why i have not seen a Doctor for 25 years previous. I guess they worked for the purpose he had in mind...but i am so glad to be getting my mind back. After reading everything on Lorazepam...i am starting to wonder if maybe some of the side effects have been from Lorazepam. Of course now the newest Dr. i saw ran a bunch of blood tests and i tested positive for Hashimoto's. He said it is very complicated. Yep it is but i want off the meds to see how bad the Hashimotos is. So maybe stay on Lorazepam for 3 more weeks or so and then start to wean. I will get your book. And although you live 11 hrs drive from me...are you taking new patients?
Read answer →Should I take Valium for my marijuana withdrawal?
I'm having a really hard time with marijuana withdrawals. I am anxious and restless and I haven't slept in 2 days and I keep crying for no real reason at all. I no it won't last forever but I have tried to quit so many times over the last 10 years and I never have been able to and now I am really motivated to make it through. Should I take valium for a week or 2 to help me relax and then make sure to stop using it before I get addicted? This is what is recommended on some marijuana addiction support forums but I just wanted to get an expert opinion on it before taking another thing that is also addictive to get over the first addiction.
Read answer →Tinnitus after stopping marijuana
I quit marijuana 2 weeks ago and my tinnitus is through the roof. When will it go away?
Read answer →Will getting drunk on weekends affect healing from a concussion?
My son was in a bicycle accident in July. He was not wearing a helmet and he got a concussion. It is unclear if he lost consciousness or not. He cannot remember but his friends think he was out for a few seconds. Since that day we thought he had made a full recovery from the dizziness and headaches but his personality seems altered. He is more questioning of authority and he has been drinking on the weekends. He is 18. I am so worried about this but I have been staring at him for months hypervigilent for any long term damage and so I am not sure if I am making something that’s just normal teenage behavior into a concussion symptom. His doctors say he is fine and that any lingering symptoms will go away on their own. What I am really wondering is if he is getting drunk on the weekends is this going to affect his brain healing?
Read answer →My perceptions have changed after smoking stronger pot
My friends and I bought from a new guy on the weekend and the pot was a lot stronger than I am used to. I was actually feeling kind of freaked so I ducked out and went upstairs to bed. The next day I woke up feeling really weird and I was sure the weed was laced with something but none of my friends who smoked it noticed anything unusual. For the last few days everything around me looks really weird to me. Nothing has changed but everything seems to look way different like the colors are all drained and like my perspectives is all screwed up. I am also totally anxious and I get these thoughts repeating in my brain that I can't get out. It's been like this for 4 day and it is not getting any better. What is going on with me? Is it the weed that did this? I am honestly really scared right now.
Read answer →If You Take Effexor with MDMA Can You Get Serotonin Syndrome?
I have this friend who is on Effexor. She does MDMA sometimes. I thought this was a dangerous combo. She has done MDMA about 10 times already and says it is fine. How dangerous is this combination? Is this like a 1 in a million chance to get serotonin syndrome or is she really taking a big risk when she does this. If she gets serotonin syndrome, as long as she gets to a hospital in time will she be OK. So as long as she took the MDMA with other people who knew what to watch for then would that minimize the risks?
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