Quote:
Originally Posted by bipolarmedstudent
I don't really get the point of going off prescription meds only to go on herbal meds? Herbal meds are meds too. They have side effects, risks, etc. Given that most of our prescription meds are derived from plant sources anyway, I don't see a real distinction between herbal meds and prescription meds, except that with prescription meds at least the quality control is more reliable. How is SAMe (a processed herbal supplement) any different from a prescription drug (which is probably a synthetic version of some compound found in a plant anyway)? Both are processed, after all.
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In my case, I am going off Lamictal, which was giving me an antidepressant lift, because of a rash. I cannot take the SSRI class of drugs I need to keep my mood up because of something my pdoc called a serotonin storm? (Or something like that. I was too amazed it had a name to pay that close attention to the exact name itself.) I need the serotonin, tho, and she is hoping this more natural version in the SAMe will give me the effect of an ssri without the allergic effects.
I'm not going off all my meds, in
my case that would be a very stupid and irresponsible thing to do. I am, instead, trying to cut down on my meds, as 19 a day is wreaking havoc on my body.
As for my mentioning this to others trying to cut out meds, it has more to do with it being accessible from a pharmacy at any time it is needed, (no pdoc wait involved) than it has to do with it being an OTC vs an Rx.