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Thread: quackery!

  1. #1
    Veteran Member ScarletPhoenix's Avatar
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    Default quackery!

    One of my friends has been trying a lot of alternative remedies for his depression, which is fine. Aromatherapy and things like that never hurt anyone. But now he's fallen in with a doctor who has half shady credentials and does - get this - urine tests for levels of neurotransmitters.

    Based on the test results of this pricey little test panel, the doc then "prescribes" him a series of pricey supplements, which she happens to sell. He buys them all right up, and starts popping pills.

    He called me today, acting bizarre, all head achy and full of free-floating dread. Sort of like how I was when I was taking 5-htp, or SSRIs that didn't agree with me. He's got stomach upset too. He confessed his supplement popping, which I had no idea about before, and wanted my opinion. When I told him he'd be HAD by a quack, he suddenly became defensive as fuck and talked about how highly recommended the doc was, etc, how I didn't know what I was talking about since I'm not a doctor.

    Well, I'm a pharmacy tech, and a former neuroscience major. Also, I've been through the mental health system for over a decade now. If there was a urine test to figure out all my problems, and an over the counter supplement that would fix it, I would have been offered it by now. Especially when I was on the state's dime, institutionalized. I know it's bunk! I just know it!

    He won't buy it. What should I do? I'm afraid he's hurting himself with those pills. Not to mention, he can't really afford all these stupid $300 tests and $100 tabs at the doc's vitamin store.

  2. #2
    Veteran Member Arizona_Angel's Avatar
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    Default Re: quackery!

    Wow, that's a tough situation. I feel for both of you!!

    Is it a licensed doc? Can you call the medical boards if so? Otherwise if he is an adult he can make his own choices...unless you believe he is a danger to himself or others of course.

  3. #3
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: quackery!

    You could always call the police about the scam. If the scammer isn't a licensed doctor, she could at least be charged with practicing without a license and shut down. They might charge her with fraud too, not sure.

    Your friend is a grown man though and he's got a right to be a sucker. Nothing you can do to change his mind there. The more he gets into this stuff, the more he's going to defend it because he doesn't want to admit he got rolled.

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    Veteran Member ScarletPhoenix's Avatar
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    Default Re: quackery!

    Yeah, I know deep down that there's no way to tear this friend of mine away from his precious snake oil. He's spent so much on it, the cognitive dissonance won't let him walk away.

    But if I can get the doctor in trouble, that's the next best thing . . .

    WTF, how do people fall for this crap without even researching it? Hasn't anyone ever heard "if it looks to good to be true, it probably is?" He knows I've been through the mental health system. Why wouldn't he ask me what I knew about it? He must think he's found a back door shortcut to sanity.

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    Featured Member thechaosfairy's Avatar
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    Default Re: quackery!

    ...If he's having the symptoms you had on the wrong antideps, then the therapy *is* having an effect, it's just the wrong therapy...

    Ask him what supplements he's taking. I managed to figure out (correctly) based on my reactions to various supplements and OTC drugs which neurotransmitters were causing my problem, and I've done a lot of research specifically on supplements because I don't have health insurance and can't afford to see a doctor. I agree with you that urine tests won't cut it, the problems can be some combination of neurotransmitter levels and neurotransmitter cycles and the blood-brain barrier likely confuses the results.

    Am jealous of your credentials/experience. Part of me really wants to become an actual pharmacist, but I'm crap at higher maths and all the programs are way out of town...
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    God/dess twisterinAZ's Avatar
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    Default Re: quackery!

    5htp has helped several people I know with depression but maybe it's not a suitable substitute for a good anti depressant. A lot of people are skeptical about using drugs and would prefer to try something natural first. Maybe just let him find out on his own.
    Feel the fear and do it anyway.

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