Celexa Strikes Home

I have been working most of the night. I think it is funny how when you open your eyes to something, then you begin to see it all the time.

A great example is the Fed Ex logo. I dare you to find the hidden symbol....I'll even tell you the symbol....It's an arrow.

Keep trying.......

Didn't get it? Think a White Arrow....

Ah Ha!!! You got it. Now everytime you see the logo you will be looking for the Arrow!!

Tonight I admitted a great patient who attempted suicide. Interestingly, the patient had just started citalopram (Celexa) therapy. I almost feel as if the blogpost and literature r eview had me attuned to what was going on.

I spoke with the family and with the physicians. I am amazed as to how often these occurences are. I know that we will soon have an FDA approved test for this risk. I just feel bad that it had to be too late for this patient.

We are giving people too many medications without evaluating them. We are giving too many medications without knowing exactly what the risks are. Frankly, I am surprised this push for drug safety and pharmacogenomics has not started sooner.

I think it is because as physicians we too easily blow something off as idiosyncratic. There is not enough intellectual curiosity going on in medicine. Primarily because we are all overworked, secondarily because most don't have the proper molecular background to evaluate and understand the issues which we see. This is not the fault of physicians primarily. I blame their teachers........