Dental Aggregate

Anyone who has tried to quit smoking understands just how difficult it really is, often with numerous setbacks and attempts to conquer the nicotine addiction that plagues them, once and for all. The Federal Government has issued new advice to prescribing doctors trying to help patients kick the smoking habit, recommending the anti-smoking drug Chantix as the best quit-smoking method. The new guidelines mention the psychiatric risks, depression and suicidal thoughts, but also say the popular Pfizer, Inc. drug is the most effective at helping people quit smoking.

Chantix has only been on the market since 2006, and “is somewhat better than other therapies; on the other hand, it appears to have more risks”, says Dr. Sidney Wolfe of the watchdog group Public Citizen.

The guidelines mention other options too, and highly recommend combining counseling and medication. Doctors are encouraged to talk to all smokers who want to quit about trying medication. The guidelines say doctors should consider asking about their patients’ psychiatric history before prescribing Chantix. Doctors also should monitor patients for changes in mood and behavior while on the drug.

Serious concerns about the effectiveness and safety of using Chantix arose after the tragic death of Texas musician, Carter Albrecht, in September 2007. Closely monitoring patients using Chantix to stop smoking, asking probing questions that require detailed responses rather than a Yes or No answer, not one patient in our office reported having any problems or difficulties while taking the drug.

Derek De Koff took Chantix to stop smoking, and shares his harrowing experience while on the drug. “I swallowed my first pill the next day before work. It was a beautiful fall morning, an almost obnoxiously cinematic day to turn over a new leaf. But by the time I was halfway to the office, I started to feel a slight nausea coming on. Of course, that is a common side effect, as are constipation, gas, vomiting, and changes in dreaming. These five symptoms were emblazoned in a large font on the patient-information sheet,” he writes.

“By night four, my dreams began to take on characteristics of a David Cronenberg movie. Every time I’d drift off, I’d dream that an invisible, malevolent entity was emanating from my air conditioner, which seemed to be rattling even more than usual. I’d nap for twenty minutes or so before bolting awake with an involuntary gasp. I had the uneasy sense that I wasn’t alone.“

Quitting “cold turkey” has not proven effective for many smokers, and people who are trying to kick the habit need the assurance that the method chosen will not only be effective, but is also safe for them to take.

Have you tried to quit smoking with Chantix? What has your personal experience been using this drug?

Tags: Basic Dental Care, Communication, In The News by D.A.
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Newsweek Magazine has an interesting article that discussed the upcoming documentary, Struggling in Silence, that will explore the dark side of the medical profession - the problem of depression and suicide amongst physicians.

The Newsweek article pointed out the true fact that between 300 to 400 doctors take their own lives every year. What I didn’t realize was that the suicide rate amongst male and female physicians are equal, whereas suicide rates among the general population shows males outnumber females four to one in suicide deaths.

Dr. Charles Reynolds, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and making an appearance in the film (airing next month on public television channels), wrote in The Journal of the American Medical Association that “Undiagnosed and untreated depression is the culprit here”.

That raises this question: Why aren’t depressed doctors seeking treatment? The belief is that doctors are worried (and some believe it’s for very good reasons) about loss of respect, patient referrals, income and their medical license.

In order to raise greater awareness, prevent suffering and hopefully save lives, the new website “doctorswithdepression.org” is working hard to provide help and assistance to physicians, teaching doctors how to recognize depression in themselves and seek help.

Medical schools have launched programs that guarantee students seeking help for depression that it will not appear on their records. In addition to the documentary, an educational video called Out of the Silence: Medical Student Depression and Suicide was designed specifically as an educational tool for use at medical schools. Dr. Reynolds is quoted in the article as saying, “Get help, get well, stay well”.

The Struggling in Silence broadcast is being released in May 2008 for Mental Health Awareness Month by distributor American Public Television.

Tags: Basic Dental Care, Business Relationships, Communication, Continuing Ed, In The News, Productivity, endodontics by D.A.
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To think that anyone would spy on employees with a video camera, let alone a Dentist of all people, just makes me sick to my stomach. Dr. Durbin is from Waxahachie Texas and a city commissioner, received 5 years community supervision with deferred adjudication after a plea agreement when it was discovered by employees that Stephen Durbin was videotaping his female employees in their changing room with a hidden camera.

Fifty year-old Durbin must also attend sex offender counseling, but doesn’t have to register as a sex offender, his computers at home will be monitored for inappropriate content, and he‘ll have to pay counseling fees for his employees up to $1000.00

This pervert is a husband, father, dental professional, with eight female employees taking the witness stand in court to testify as to what occurred in their dental office.

Dr. Durbin has been an Ennis Texas City Commissioner since 2000 and says he won’t seek reelection. Duh. I would think not. Sicko!

Tags: Business Relationships, In The News by D.A.
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