The Reclassification of Hyrocodone to a Schedule II Drug... Dire Mistake

Ever had your teeth pulled and received some medicine for it? Had a broken foot? Gave birth? You probably received Hydrocodone.. Not so easy anymore

Hydrocodone is an analgesic pain reliever known to help people with moderate to severe pain. It is given to patients who suffer chronic pain to take daily as a regimen, and given to people for acute situations if their tooth was pulled, a broken foot, or some kind of ailment that called for a potent pain medication stronger than the Tylenol, which seems like a sugar pill in these situations.

Hydrocodone, known as Vicodin, Norco, Lortab, and some other names, had always been a Schedule III Drug by the FDA, meaning if someone were prescribed the medication, they could receive a prescription that could last them up to six months, they only had to see the doctor twice a year, and this medication could be called in. However, in October of 2014 this medication was made into a Schedule II drug.

The FDA had justifiable reasons to worry about hydrocodone; it is an opioid which is addicting, and prescription painkiller abuse has been a major problem in this country for a long time. It was fairly easy to get a prescription and then sell it to someone. This led to readily available medication on the streets that one may build a tolerance to quickly, resulting in a need to take more and more, which can be fatal. Hydrocodone contains Tylenol (Acetomenophin) yet after a while, though ones liver is being destroyed by it, they may not feel nauseous as when they first tried the medication. This can lead to overdose. Due to the readily available medication so prominent on the street causing so many deaths, the FDA had growing concerns that this medication was being over prescribed when other medications could help, and wanted to put it in a more regulated class of drugs so that doctors would not prescribe as easily. Studies have shown that Tylenol 3 with Codeine yielded just as well of satisfaction rates for acute settings as hydrocodone, and it's a much less potent medication that is a lot harder to become addicted to. This made the FDA believe there should be a change in prescribing habits, so they changed Hydrocodone to a Schedule II. As a Schedule II, Hydrocodone can no longer have refills or be called in. This means that every month someone will have to go to the doctor's office and receive a written prescription for one month, and be required to go again in another month. The cycle will continue and continue.

Problems with this

We have already seen several problems affiliated with this change in classification. The primary goal was to curtail drug abuse by limiting the availability of the drug. But by doing so, abusers have switched to harder drugs, including heroin. Studies show that heroin usage has increased drastically. This poses even greater dangers and fears for continues abuse and overdose. Heroin is cheap, and an addiction someone may be able to afford if they know their limits. Generally though, people don't know their limits. 

Heroin usage has increased by over 24%. Such an increase is alarmingly worrisome, but it will stay this way shall Hydrocodone become much harder for patients to get.

Secondly, there are acute situations in which Tylenol 3 with Codeine (30mg Codeine) or Tylenol 4 with Codeine (60mg Codeine) may just not be the right medication. This is especially true with people who are suffering kidney stones, appendix removals, and labor. Often, doctors are no longer giving Hydrocodone for acute situations known to be more painful in general; situations in which they would generally prescribe more hydrocodone because they see how painful it can be. So patients are not always receiving adequate care.

THIS does not just occur to acute situations. Chronic pain sufferers are now often being changed medications, primarily to Tylenol 3 and 4 instead of their Hydrocodone, and are suffering tremendous pain in light of it. Though they may have been on Hydrocodone for years, doctors are iffy about prescribing it because Schedule II drugs come with a lot more auditing... But some doctors are so paranoid they are making patients suffer.

The fact that someone may no longer get a refill and have to see a doctor monthly can be very hard for people who live in areas where access to the local doctor is rather far away, or may cause them to have to miss work. Patient who have had this medication for years and years, knowing its pros and cons, and having a full relationship and understanding with their doctor with a mutual agreement for a need for this medication are now having to see the doctor monthly, repeating themselves, and getting the same medication they had received before.

The implementation of Schedule II also generally infers a recommendation to have a specialist prescribe. So many primary doctors are not prescribing Hydrocodone at all, and patients are having to go to Pain Management for this. While not bad in theory, Pain Management clinics are often very rare in rural areas and there is a general shortage already nationwide. The are already becoming full and no longer accepting new patients as the number of patients has skyrocketed since primary docs are sending them off. This is yet affecting patients in a negative way.

So I do see pros. Studies have shown Tylenol 3 in acute settings at the ER often yields the same results as Hydrocodone, meaning we have unnecessarily been giving non essential medication out rampantly. However, the FDA should have simply made this noted to the hospitals and doctors as an urgent notice that prescriptions for Hydrocodone may be unnecessary. The FDA constantly sends out emergency advisories to hospitals and doctors if there is a recall, shortage, or dire hypothetical situations that may call for unforeseeable changes. So the FDA should have spread the news to every hospital and medical practitioner nationwide and noted a general warning for abuse potential and possibility of patients faking an injury to obtain medication to sell. 

But that is all they should have done. They should not have made it a Schedule II drug. 
If someone wants to abuse a drug or a class of drugs, they will do so and find a way, legal or not. To think that someone who is selling their script of Hydrocodone and has been for months upon years is going to get this medication no longer prescribed is a folly. Those who have been prescribed for the long-term are usually those who are the ones selling and they will generally keep their prescriptions, though they may have to go to Pain Management or make some changes. Making Hydrocodone a Schedule II will make room for incentive for these dealers to raise their prices which will make abusers just turn to heroin or try more dangerous opiate/opioids.

UNLIKE marijuana that really doesn't have a substitute, one could substitute a hydrocodone for an oxycodone, morphine sulfate, dialoded, methadone, oxymorphone, hydromorphone, fentanyl and a huge list of other medications... or heroin. With fentanyl and heroin being widespread and cheap, I can easily see people switch their medications just to save money, but switch it to a more dangerous medication.

I can also see abusers faking more ailments, inflicting self-harm, or doing something else dangerous to try to score a script of hydrocodone.

Some dental patients may get Hydrocodone but few in quantity and want more. Some patients who have had surgical procedures may feel the same. The doctor can't just call it in anymore. They would have the go out of their way to pick it up, drop it off, wait, and hope that they received enough. They can't gamble with it anymore. 

Hydrocodone is in the same class as Oxycodone and a host of other stronger opiate/opioids. Doctors may decide to put patients on one of these more potent medications as a change since they are just as liable as with Hydrocodone, and this could stir some conflict.

Do you see how this can go wrong?!!

YES, we have a prescription painkiller abuse problem that has caused lethal consequences. YES, patients, especially in acute settings, have often had just as effective medications not sought out by doctors until now. YES, people aren't going to be prescribed something nearly as much that they do not need. YES, it is going to be harder for someone to get this from the doctor for a fake ailment. It is very good that Tylenol 3 with Codeine and Tylenol 4 with Codeine are now prescribed more and availability for Hydrocodone to be bought on the streets illegally for abuse is lower. However, many patients now have to suffer and it is unfair. Availability which opens the door to abuse may be curtailed, but people who have been on this medication for legitimate purposes for years may now be switched to a weaker medication that does nothing to help them. People will be inconvenienced with getting these meds, even if they have had it forever. Patient John Doe has been on Hydrocodone 10/325, qty. 180 for 5 years and hasn't needed to up his dosage to a new med. If he did, he would just go to the doctor. John Doe lives in a rural town in the midwest, about 45 minutes from his doctor. Now he has to see a Pain Management Doctor which is even further. He must take off work once a month for this, frustrating him as he uses vacations. Nothing has changed in his health. His need for it is documented and legitimate. But now he has to go through these obstacles. Acute situations known to need a potent painkiller may not be treated with such. Having kidney stones? Be careful, your doctor may either not give you Hydrocodone or they will limit is severely. Was yours limited, you went to the ER, and now you need more? Sorry, you're going to have to go to the ER again. Even if you're in pain, YOU have to go. 

Unlike Adderral where there are exceptions to the rule, Hydrocodone is faced with the toughest of schedule II restrictions. Even as a Schedule II, popular medication known as Adderral may be called in by the doctor for a full month's worth of medication. Why can't Hydrocodone get this status?

An abuser is going to abuse regardless. By limiting availability we are doing some good, and we have opened doors to a medication severely underutilized to take place of such potent Hydrocodone, but the need for Hydrocodone in acute and chronic pain situations is huge and making it so restricted is harming more than it is helping. From inconveniencing the rural worker, to costing more, to being under treated, making Hydrocodone a Schedule II controlled substance was a huge mistake that will cause us to notice the harm soon. The FDA and DEA need to get out of our doctor's offices and let laissez faire do what it is known to do. Healthcare needs reform, but access to healthcare does, not American healthcare itself which is better than any health care system in the world.  

DBT - Dialectic Behavioral Therapy.. Promising :)

An effective therapeutic method that you could argue is a branch of CBT is known as Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It is widely growing in popularity and from the scholarly journals I have read, helps. Learn a little!

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) treatment is a cognitive-behavioral approach that emphasizes the psychosocial aspects of treatment. The theory behind the approach is that some people are prone to react in a more intense and out-of-the-ordinary manner toward certain emotional situations, primarily those found in romantic, family and friend relationships. DBT theory suggests that some people’s arousal levels in such situations can increase far more quickly than the average person’s, attain a higher level of emotional stimulation, and take a significant amount of time to return to baseline arousal levels.

People who are sometimes diagnosed with borderline personality disorder experience extreme swings in their emotions, see the world in black-and-white shades, and seem to always be jumping from one crisis to another. Because few people understand such reactions — most of all their own family and a childhood that emphasized invalidation — they don’t have any methods for coping with these sudden, intense surges of emotion. DBT is a method for teaching skills that will help in this task.

Characteristics of DBT

• Support-oriented: It helps a person identify their strengths and builds on them so that the person can feel better about him/herself and their life.

• Cognitive-based: DBT helps identify thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions that make life harder: “I have to be perfect at everything.” “If I get angry, I’m a terrible person” & helps people to learn different ways of thinking that will make life more bearable: “I don’t need to be perfect at things for people to care about me”, “Everyone gets angry, it’s a normal emotion.

• Collaborative: It requires constant attention to relationships between clients and staff. In DBT people are encouraged to work out problems in their relationships with their therapist and the therapists to do the same with them. DBT asks people to complete homework assignments, to role-play new ways of interacting with others, and to practice skills such as soothing yourself when upset. These skills, a crucial part of DBT, are taught in weekly lectures, reviewed in weekly homework groups, and referred to in nearly every group. The individual therapist helps the person to learn, apply and master the DBT skills.

Generally, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may be seen as having two main components:

1. Individual weekly psychotherapy sessions that emphasize problem-solving behavior for the past week’s issues and troubles that arose in the person’s life. Self-injurious and suicidal behaviors take first priority, followed by behaviors that may interfere with the therapy process. Quality of life issues and working toward improving life in general may also be discussed. Individual sessions in DBT also focus on decreasing and dealing with post-traumatic stress responses (from previous trauma in the person’s life) and helping enhance their own self-respect and self-image.

Both between and during sessions, the therapist actively teaches and reinforces adaptive behaviors, especially as they occur within the therapeutic relationship. . . The emphasis is on teaching patients how to manage emotional trauma rather than reducing or taking them out of crises. . . . Telephone contact with the individual therapist between sessions is part of DBT procedures.
(Linehan, 1993)

During individual therapy sessions, the therapist and client work toward learning and improving many basic social skills.

2. Weekly group therapy sessions, generally 2 1/2 hours a session and led by a trained DBT therapist, where people learn skills from one of four different modules: interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance/reality acceptance skills, emotion regulation, and mindfulness skills are taught.

The Four Modules of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

1. Mindfulness

The essential part of all skills taught in skills group are the core mindfulness skills.

Observe, Describe, and Participate are the core mindfulness “what” skills. They answer the question, “What do I do to practice core mindfulness skills?”

Non-judgmentally, One-mindfully, and Effectively are the “how” skills and answer the question, “How do I practice core mindfulness skills?”

2. Interpersonal Effectiveness

Interpersonal response patterns taught in DBT skills training are very similar to those taught in many assertiveness and interpersonal problem-solving classes. They include effective strategies for asking for what one needs, saying no, and coping with interpersonal conflict.

Borderline individuals frequently possess good interpersonal skills in a general sense. The problems arise in the application of these skills to specific situations. An individual may be able to describe effective behavioral sequences when discussing another person encountering a problematic situation, but may be completely incapable of generating or carrying out a similar behavioral sequence when analyzing her own situation.

This module focuses on situations where the objective is to change something (e.g., requesting someone to do something) or to resist changes someone else is trying to make (e.g., saying no). The skills taught are intended to maximize the chances that a person’s goals in a specific situation will be met, while at the same time not damaging either the relationship or the person’s self-respect.

3. Distress Tolerance

Most approaches to mental health treatment focus on changing distressing events and circumstances. They have paid little attention to accepting, finding meaning for, and tolerating distress. This task has generally been tackled by religious and spiritual communities and leaders. Dialectical behavior therapy emphasizes learning to bear pain skillfully.

Distress tolerance skills constitute a natural development from mindfulness skills. They have to do with the ability to accept, in a non-evaluative and nonjudgmental fashion, both oneself and the current situation. Although the stance advocated here is a nonjudgmental one, this does not mean that it is one of approval: acceptance of reality is not approval of reality.

Distress tolerance behaviors are concerned with tolerating and surviving crises and with accepting life as it is in the moment. Four sets of crisis survival strategies are taught: distracting, self-soothing, improving the moment, and thinking of pros and cons. Acceptance skills include radical acceptance, turning the mind toward acceptance, and willingness versus willfulness.

4. Emotion Regulation

Borderline and suicidal individuals are emotionally intense and labile – frequently angry, intensely frustrated, depressed, and anxious. This suggests that borderline clients might benefit from help in learning to regulate their emotions. Dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotion regulation include:

• Identifying and labeling emotions
• Identifying obstacles to changing emotions
• Reducing vulnerability to “emotion mind”
• Increasing positive emotional events
• Increasing mindfulness to current emotions
• Taking opposite action
• Applying distress tolerance techniques

http://psychcentral.com/lib/an-overview-of-dialectical-behavior-therapy/2/

This Blog, Its Goals, Its Strategy, and Me, The Writer.

I wish I knew HTML better so that I could really spice up my blog. But it's okay! Welcome (back) to my blog! If this is your first visit, you may be confused, so let me do some explaining! Lately, I have been experiencing several thousand views each day and been contacted by people, especially looking for outreach on tapering, holistic techniques, and modern controversial issues.

What is this blog about?

This blog is called "Medication.. A Part of Life." Now why did I name it such? I named it because my blog is targeting an audience who is concerned with mental health treatment, medications, and taboo topics. Well, mental health treatment usually has two factors to it; therapy and medication management. While Psychiatrists are those who are referred to when a therapist deems someone needs medicine, a primary family doctor can prescribe mental health meds. And they do, in a very, very widely practiced and accepted manner. 

Medication is certainly not always bad, and probably usually good. But side-effects do occur, a common one being completely unhappy. Yes, that's right. An antidepressant, a "chill pill," making you more irritable. 

     Medication in mental health is a game of trial-and-error. For example, a large group of antidepressants are known as SSRI's. Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, and literally hundreds of others. Some work good for people, while others don't. For example, Prozac, known to be the more well-tolerated medication, makes me sick to my stomach. My mother and I both have taken Lexapro and we didn't have to wait 3-4 weeks.. We noticed fascinating results the very next day! My father takes Paxil. He tried Wellbeutrin and Cymbalta, and they didn't work. My mother is also on Wellbeutrin and she absolutely loves it. It literally saved her future. I am prescribed Cymbalta and Lexapro, but quit taking Lexapro. Why? Because they just put me on it and I could discontinue safely. Like my father, I cannot stand Cymbalta. It never worked on me and was somewhat pushed on me. But I take it. I'm tapering, and it has been 3 months (gone from 120mg to 80mg. Don't worry, most antidepressants are not that hard!)

     Medications and their efficiency have a lot to do with a professional thoroughly evaluating your symptoms. They have to do with your weight, diet, if you drink or not, if you sleep well or not enough, pregnancy, smoking, drugs currently taken, and very importantly, genetics. (If a medication is well tolerated among many in your family, a psychiatrist will often choose this to help first.)

     For many of us who have suffered through this vicious cycle of mental health, medication has become a forefront issue in our lives. Those of us using medication for a long-term basis, constant switching, titrating, and experimenting occur, and more than you think.

     Now I am an all-over-the-place kind of person. Thanks anxiety! But you will notice one thing in common.. My blog focuses on medicine and other alternative techniques in an unorganized fashion. Politics are also mentioned, personal thoughts and rants, therapy, criticism, pretty much anything to do with our mental health in some form or fashion, I may discuss!   

     But I'm here to talk about medicine and the latest news. I'm here to try to inform what I learn. I post about issues I learn myself, which helps explain all kinds of posts in no order! And I want to inform!!!

What is your goal?

My goal is to merely inform people of things I have learned. I won't lie... I'm stubborn with the issues I address, and many are pertinent to me so I do the research, and hours of it, and then post. I don't often cite sources but I keep them and if you ever need it, just ask.

     So my goal is to inform people, teaching them about certain things, while teaching myself in the process. I am adamant about many issues such as mental health reform and skepticism of certain medications. I'll post that!

     One of my mental health problems is affiliated with lack of validation. I never finish what I start. This blog is unorganized, not focused on one specific topic, and may catch your eye to never be caught again. But search through my posts and find an interest, and see what I have to say about it!

     I am someone very weary of antidepressants. I never approach it with a thought of good medicine. I approach it critically. Many times I am disproved. If you have gone to therapy and tried, didn't work out, I think Wellbeutrin or Lexapro or Prozac, and Celexa are great. While Cymbalta is on my bad list fervently. It's biased! 

     But if you suffer from mental health, I want you to expand your critical thinking skills and understand psychiatry and pharmacology to a small extent at least. I hope this blog can entice you are lease.

What's your overall lookout on mental health and its current practices?

I believe we don't have enough therapists and therapy should be a pre-req to psychiatry except in extreme or non applicable cases, in which a psychiatrist can write a temporary script until someone sees a therapist and then go from there. Kind of political, huh? Creating a protocol!

     I believe staunchly in going to therapy and I am a staunch proponent of holistic techniques. But I do not downplay psychiatry as I used to.
     Psychiatry is diverse and covers so many possible aspects of one. Are you having attention problems? Is your anxiety out the roof? Is your biological name Lindsey but at night you are Jennifer and know of no such Lindsey girl? Do you have issues eating, or keeping your food in? Are you suicidal? Are you bedridden? Are you so happy that you put down others and feel no remorse? Do you enjoy excessive porn and sex? Are you a drug user? Do you feel sick sometimes for no reason except anxiety? All those are mental health. I am not trained within the scope to address all these issues by any means.
     I am skeptical of the current psychiatric method used in this nation as a result of *some* (perhaps not even a majority) Psychiatrists selling their practicing techniques to pharmaceuticals. I am skeptical, very much so, of the current DSM-5, the ultimate guide to psychiatric treatment here in the US. I approach psychiatry critically while often disproving myself.I hold random views on certain classes of drugs and believe some are over-utilized, under-utilized, etc. My blog is not just about mental health!!! It is about all medications and their mechanisms to help, or lack thereof!
     So what's my outlook? Current practices need to change. See a therapist first. Find a psychiatrist. Have your therapist e-mail your psychiatrist before you even see them. You see them, you discuss your options. You research a lot. You get the help you deserve more than anything.

Who are you?

My name is Kyle, and I am a 23 year old who suffers from  moderate depression, GAD, OCD, panic disorder, situational anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD, and a few others. I've tried so many medicines in so many classes. SSRI's, SNRI's, Tricylic, Benzodiazepines (especially and a problem for me right now as I've tried tapering 6 times, and 6 seizures.) Medications promising like hydroxyyzine and holistic Valerian Root, medications that did not work for me and are garbage to me** like Buspar. Opiate/Opioids for pain relief but happen to help with my wellbeing. ADD. Adderral, if my body can take it. I've been put on Promethazine. 

I am a Senior in University getting my Bachelors in Sociology. I am 2 courses away from finishing. TWO. But in the fall of 2014 my parents quit paying rent and made me move home after my roommate caringly explained his concern for my openly suicidal tendencies. I have been home since. I am unhappy still, with depression and anxiety, and since I had to move, my Primary doc here does my Psych meds. He's becoming uncomfortable and it scares me, lest I have a seizure. 

I never knew why I was depressed until I listened to a blog where people submitted basically their feelings, analogies, etc. I did it. I realized I feel like a failure. Didn't finish anything, and feel worthless. Two courses from a degree but can't go back because I owe $16k. Once I pay it off I can! 

    I can't pay anything without a job. Yet no one is calling me, despite my credentials. I worked for a while at an at-home job that was actually legitimate and for a severely anxious and sad person, was ideal. I couldn't even do it; I got fired. Easiest job ever. 

     My parents always complain about this or that but often I don't get it. 

But the old Kyle was one happy guy. Straight A's in University, making the President's list, giving me validation and self-admiration. Had lots of friends and fun. Was such a nice person and people came to me for anything. 2011, somewhere between January and March. A panic attack. Honestly, I wanted a doctor's note! I see an urgent care walk-in doc who puts me on  a regimen of Xanax XR with a refill or two. One day I quit taking it. I later wake up with a dismantled jaw. Had no idea! Thought I was chattering too much. I feel sick the whole day and the next. I get a spiral and right down changes. Boom. Xanax. I google. Am startled. At this point I'm sick, abnormally. I get back on, and the battle a benzo dependency continues to this day.

I am very loving. So compassionate. I'll forgive you for anything.I'm a civil rights activist. I hate bigots. Only people I hate. I'm confused and yeah, lonely. I am spontaneous. I can hide my depression and make my anxiety look humorous. I can go out and have a good time but I am usually a home body. I love politics. One day I want to be a counselor. I feel empty. But I'll make it through. :)

So explore my odd blog and comment, tell me what you want to hear! 

Enjoy! 

How to Implement Universal Health Care yet Keep Waiting Times Low

Summary:

• While data indicates strongly that Canadians prefer their system over that of the United States, many problems exist in the Canadian Health Care system that I, a dual citizen can attest to
• The United States needs Universal Health Care but there is a fear that the quality of our care would decrease. This is a myth and discussed.
• Through provisions implemented to keep doctors in the US, which is the biggest superiority of American Health Care (shorter wait times), we can overcome obstacles other nations face.

The American Approach to Benzodiazepine's is in Need of Great Revision

This is intended for those who know what a benzodiazepine is and how it works.**
It is very important to note that benzoiazepines are often given as a regimen to patients suffering from chronic anxiety even in light of growing skepticism. Benzodiazepine prescriptions as a percentage have significantly decreased and are widely cautioned by the FDA and ill-advised to give as a regimen by the Surgeon General. Over the years we have seen many practices ban prescribing benzodiazepines altogether. The growing worries over benzo's lie in their addicting nature and withdrawal symptoms which are profoundly similar to a very strong case of Somnolence. Despite the limited studies on tapering methods that widely relay the need for a very long-term weaning of the drug in small increments, the American method of taper is still using Klonopin in a relatively short term.

We have been lied to by the GOP... Will we listen next year?

My blog is new, but if you know me.. I'm anti GOP!

I cannot sit here and have a blog that today reached 4,227 viewers on Friday(yay) and not speak out against the rampant GOP that is running our Congress. Let's get to some issues...

Hidden Amendments Everywhere to defund Planned Parenthood: A bill for transportation. A farm subsidies bill. Dozens of bills to name monuments. What do they have in common? They have an amendment that strips all government funding of Planned Parenthood.

Keep in mind that 97% of their spending is to cervical and breast cancer screenings, HIV screening and counseling, contraception, and parenting courses. Only 3% is spent on abortion, a law implemented in 1969 by the Supreme Court and upheld numerous times. They have forced Democrats to shy away from bills including bills by Democrats due to these amendments. It has led to a stale government.

They have no desire to help the mentally ill as we see in their budgeting. They vetoed a portion that was allocated for PTSD research and geared toward helping PTSD veterans. When Texas Congressman Juaquin Castro introduced legislation for mental health access expansion into poor and rural areas by giving tax incentive for professionals to practice in these areas, it was voted against.

They have lied about Health Care Reform several times. This session was not like last where they spent over 70 bills trying to repeal Obamacare with no alternative. But this session, in January before its beginning, a GOP Congress with Republicans Boehner and McConnel, they promised for a comprehensive health care bill that would be a GOP alternative to Obamacare. It would be comprehensive enough to explain funding and enrollment laws, and at a bare minimal they promised that provisions like no one denied on preexisting conditions and Medicare at age 65 (which McConnel personally has vowed to change) staying in-tact. They promised legislation which we have not seen. While trying to repeal Obamacare, there has been no attempt to replace it with something. So this promise was enticing... Obama welcomed it as did Democrats as something that could be thoroughly evaluated and discussed. Well, it never came to the table. There was never a bill that came forth offering a solution to enroll more people and enforcing basic ethical notions we have seen even Republicans vote for (health care until 26, no denying on preexisting nor dropping for reasons, etc.) With no alternative on the plate, we haven't seen any debates but to defund Planned Parenthood, defend those against contraception, Medicaid cuts, provisions to create caps on Medicaid, provisions to raise the age of Medicare, to establish a privatized voucher system, to shrinken Part D, and provisions bad for the nation.

The only change seen was by personal individuals who sought to cut Medicare taxes and replace it with Tort Reform, as if that would cover anything in the first place.

Bottom line: They lied. They promised a bill and we never saw one. Instead, we saw cuts to spending and provisions to shrink availability and defend corporations. 

It looks a bit gross, but they say it's good for your anxiety! KAVA

A number of clinical studies, though not all, have found kava to be effective in treating symptoms associated with anxiety. In a review of 7 scientific studies, researchers concluded that a standardized kava extract was significantly more effective than placebo in treating anxiety. Another study found that kava substantially improved symptoms after only 1 week of treatment. Other studies show that kava may be as effective as some prescription antianxiety medications. According to one study, kava and diazepam (Valium) cause similar changes in brain wave activity, suggesting they may work in the same ways to calm the mind.

Research on using kava for anxiety has decreased because of reports of liver toxicity.

A 2004 study found that 300 mg of kava may improve mood and cognitive performance. That is significant because some prescription drugs used to treat anxiety, such as benzodiazepines (like Valium and alprazolam or Xanax), tend to decrease cognitive function.

Check out the University of Maryland's excellent Article Here on Kava 

Anxiety

But so many of us do, we really do. Keep your head up if you've lost hope because hope is there, it's just hiding.

You are loved, I promise! :)

Triazolam- The Benzo they Don't Give.. And a Rant On Constructing Anxiety and Panic

If you read my blog, you've heard me mention this med before. Triazolam is a benzodiazepine known to be less addicting than others. Let's talk about benzo's in general. Anxiety. Types. Worry. Let me rant and hear me out! Think about it

Overview:

• Benzodiazepines have existed since the 70's and are generally "a calmer."
• In the 1980's, a huge court case caused a re-evaluation of what benzodiazepines should be used for
• Benzodiazepines can cause major symptoms if one stops and affect people differently. Withdrawal is often so dangerous to someone it is unencouraged
• Most people take benzoiazepines the correct way, when:
• It was stressed that benzodiazepines be used for short, acute situations, and not long, chronic situations
• When we have anxiety that requires medication, the medication should treat the issue causing anxiety; it should not halt behavior that would be dealt with differently if not on a benzodiazepine.
• Benzo's like Xanax and Ativan last way too long and affect your behavior with situations far from what was related to your anxiety. Benzo's like Klonopin take too long to kick in and these longer-acting benzo's are for chronic treatment.
• Benzodiazepines should be used to treat acute situations that are rare and not daily.
• Triazolam is not weak; caution should be advised on dosage. But it's not strong enough to ruin ability to think correctly in future decisions.
• Triazolam does not affect the body as harmful as other benzodiazepines

BENZODIAZEPINES have really gained popularity since the release of Valium, a longer-acting, weaker benzodiazepine known for its characteristics of being 1. a sedative, 2. a hypnotic, 3. an anxiolytic(anti anxiety), 4. often an anticonvulsant, and 5. often a muscle relaxant. In 1963, Diazepam came out and without the knowledge of how dependent it can cause the body, the pill spread like wildfire. In 1977, benzodiazepines were the most widely prescribed class of drugs. 

In the 1980's, it became evident that benzodiazepines, unlike previously thought, caused drastically higher rates of dependency. The biggest class-action lawsuit in the UK involved over 14,000 patients suing over 50 health organizations and 117 practitioners for withholding information of known dependency. The lawsuit never reached an agreement due to the scope of the case, but it started the recognition and decline of benzodiazepines as a safely, widely prescribed medication to take long-term.

While not as widely prescribed today, do not be deceived to think benzodiazepines aren't widely prescribed. Among VA hospitals, 60% of inpatients are prescribed a regimen. Xanax is the most prescribed anxiety medication in the US. Most psychiatrists and doctors write prescriptions for benzodiazepines, and it is the third largest class of drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist. Over 40% of family doctors will write a regimen for benzo's to a patient.

The vast majority of people taking benzodiazepines will be on either Xanax, Ativan, or Valium. Most will take it only as needed, and are not given refills to take as a regimen. Most patients are warned about the dangers of benzodiazepine dependence. And about 50% of people who do become dependent will not experience severe withdrawal symptoms. About 85% will not experience withdrawals for longer than 6 weeks. 15% of patients however will experience over 80 withdrawal symptoms over an extended period of time that science has yet to explain. Gastrointestinal symptoms, seizures, eye-twitching, insomnia, paralysis, hallucinations, and other factors will occur and be unexplained. 

Most doctors will not have to treat a patient that is among this 15%. But the doctors who do recognize the hell they have to go through to help this patient and often the doctor will encourage the patient to stay on the medication; in fact, data has shown most patients who suffer so badly are offered to reinstate on the medication and encouraged. Even the majority of those who go to inpatient facilities that no longer administer benzodiazepines (it is very common in Europe and increasingly common here in the US to halt prescribing benzodiazepines as a rule to practitioners of a group).

Most of these who suffer from withdrawal symptoms which doctors are unaware of why they are caused (literally, there is no deficiency of any part of the brain that would indicate a reasoning for it) suffer because they had too much anxiety in life and therefore were given a medication.

Benzodiazepines, while having 5 main causes of action, are generally meant to solve a panic attack of self-perceived crisis. In light evidence of these withdrawal symptoms, doctors are veering away from prescribing benzoiazepines and the FDA actually calls on benzo prescriptions for panic attacks only after trying an antidepressant and encourage usage no longer than 4 weeks. Your generalized anxiety is not meant to be treated by a benzo. That's a long-term condition that a benzo can definitely help with, but it's not meant to be for chronic treatment. Having generalized anxiety is to have constant worry. While a non-anxious person may think "Joe is running late. Probably in traffic" one with GAD may think "Oh my gosh I hope Joe is okay, what if he's in a wreck" and not only feel something bad may have happened but worrying about the consequences of it. "Oh if he doesn't show up I could have studied, he is taking my time" and you may continue to let this bother you for a long time, thinking next meeting with Joe "Don't even sweat showing up on time because he will be late" you may habitually and unknowingly do a lot of tasks before meeting Joe each time, etc. This is generalized anxiety. It literally ruins your quality of life. While stress about a test may be common for one with GAD, hence the need for a quick benzodiazepine to alleviate, let's be honest... With GAD if it's not one thing it's another. One with GAD has conceptualized anxiety in such a negative way they feel threatened. Benzo's mask this threatened feeling but they never address it. Surely there are reasons why one may live in constant fear, never relax, and always judge their hardhships and self-perception as failure. A benzo is not needed for this. One who is constantly worried needs to conceptualize what it means to worry, how worrying actual affects them, reality vs. construction, and practice coping, relaxing, and changing models that may explain why someone is generally anxious. Anxiety is involved in worrying but we construct through our past and through our experience what worrying entails.

 Your situational anxiety may be cured from long-term benzo use. This is great, but if you had situational anxiety, it would be at certain times. It would not be permanent and while chronic, it is not always apparent. It is circumstantial. Therefore, if one is having anxiety at circumstantial times, maybe during a meeting, wouldn't it be good to perhaps take a benzodiazepine only for that meeting? 

Social Anxiety. A big one! A lot of people fear big crowds and freak out, and are given benzodiazepines as a regimen to treat this. Are people in big crowds often though? (Usually no.) For those that are, are they in the crowd all day? Do they need hours upon hours of relief? And will they ever learn to face public crowds an face underlying issues like body image and behavioral modification? Or will their permanent benzo help them? Both will, but the latter is easier and more desirable to work on. People don't want to speak of their problems, especially to strangers. They have secrets like OCD they don't want people to know about.

What's this to do with Triazolam? It's a benzo too, and holds many risks. So what is the deal here?

Triazolam is a benzodiazepine from the early 80's that does not have an active metabolite present after its active use is departed. (Eg. Valium[Diazepam] has desmethyldiazepam which can linger in your body for up to 200 hours.)

Moreso, Triazolam is a very short-acting benzodiazepine, lasting no longer than a few hours. Due to being such a short acting medication, Triazolam often does not have metabolites of chemical features lingering in the body, causing a permanent or noticeable disruption in GABAA leading its likeliness to be relied upon rare. This makes it the ideal benzodiazepine to take, as reliability upon it will be less.

Due to the dangers of chronic benzodiazepine use, the FDA and other health groups have defined when it is ideal to take a benzo. It is agreed that benzo's should treat short-term, acute situations that arise from panic or irrational thought. It is not chronic anxiety and not a chronic thought process. 

Let's note some facts first:

- Triazolam is primarily prescribed to elderly who have trouble falling asleep. While it is an anxiolytic like all benzo's, it is not widely used for anxiety. However, when taken for panic attacks, Triazolam is very successful. 

- While other benzodiazepines are great for long-term anxiety like Klonopin(Clonazepam), its peak-time of function is at over 2 hours. Is that really indicative of stopping a panic attack?

- Xanax, the most popular, has a half-life of 12-15 hours. This means that it takes about 12-15 hours for 50% of this pill to not be used. Xanax is often prescribed in .5 or 1mg, which is substantially higher than what a patient needs, and a patient is likely to have no panic or anxiety at all for the rest of the day. While that doesn't sound bad, it is not what a benzodiazepine is made for.

- Benzo's are made to help alleviate anxiety but primarily are given and only encouraged to take during a panic attack. People have panic attacks about lots of things. Maybe they are about to take a test. Maybe they are stuck on an essay. Maybe they don't know how to answer their child's request for certain clothing. Maybe they are just being irrational. But regardless, panic attacks are 1. situational, and 2. limited in time and scope significantly. A problem with benzodiazepines like Alprazolam is that they indeed help you get rid of your worries. Maybe you were freaking out about a test you had in an hour. However, after an hour, you are still having these more care-free thoughts, resulting in sleepiness, and being more careless throughout the day. Your attention and care to tasks for the rest of the day will be altered. With longer-acting benzo's, the strength that they erupt at is much lower, so one is likely not to be so drastic. But nevertheless, it causes problems too. Surely, "mommy's little helper" and the song "Submarine" by the Beatle's were not created in vain. Valium, a longer-term acting benzo was at its most popular right after a war when mothers were still told to stay at home, and due to the presence of the father again, the mother often felt bored throughout the day. She would complete the housework in little time and have ample free-time, to where it became boring and unpleasing. Valium, "mommy's little helper" would help mommy ease up a little bit. 

- Triazolam is not a weak benzodiazepine in terms of mechanism of action. This is both good and bad. It calls for doctor's to make it aware to patients that they should try just half a tablet firstly. It also causes for lots of attention in those who are drowsy. However, not being weak makes it actually work. Being shortly-lived allows it to work on its intended focus: one issue. Your test is 30 minutes away, you take it. 3 hours later you have completed the test and you didn't worry, but you aren't careless now. You got over panic, but you didn't need a medication post-test. You didn't need the lingering effects. In fact, many notice the lingering affects are negative and therefore do not take their prescribed anxiety medications are certain times. My mother, for example will not take her medication ever at work. Yet in the near past, this is when she would have needed it. 

- When our anxiety comes up, the medication often effects us but less profoundly than if we took it for pleasure. The reason is simple: Benzo's actually work on your GABA and you need more GABA to be less stressed. When you are stressed, your body is using up its GABA so the med is helping you. When no stress, it's as if you have an excess so you are just careless, often mellow, but don't care about things when you should. This is important to understand because a critical fault in most benzodiazepines is that they last longer than needed and alter behavior and decisions drastically and unrealistic to the person's moral character.

- One on a benzodiazepine must know what anxiety is, how to cope with it, and when it is right to take a benzo.

        - It should be medically agreed that benzo's should be taken in acute, non persistent situations. If the situation is persistent, the benzo is not helping one understand their inner-self and the problems you are having.

- A benzodiazepine should be given for ONE situation that needs attention and not alter your entire day. This is a prominent reason I am against longer acting benzo's, which even Xanax is in comparison to Triazolam

- A person must understand the grave, profound withdrawal effects affiliated with benzodiazepines and should never ever take it regularly. We've got some changing in societal habits to do.

          - One unintentional problem is doctor's approving a regimen if the patient wishes.

          - Another problem is a doctor writing a prescription of 30 pills; one month's worth. By doing so, the patient thinks they can take as a regimen.

- We need to define the definition of as-needed and know what anxiety really is. Odd as it is to say, many don't know what real anxiety is. Worry and anxiety are complimentary but not the same. 

          - We need to have a short-term plan on how to handle a crisis before medicine.Try it. Breathing techniques, exercise, etc, we need to try to handle it without it.

- Doctor's need to stop withdrawing benzodiazepine medications from chronic users - Huh? I said it right. If one is dependent, they need a slow taper. 15% of people withdrawing have inexpiable symptoms that science doesn't explain. No EEG, EKG, blood pressure check, urinalysis, blood culture, etc will ever explain it. It's called Somnolence and it happens to many. Learn about the Ashton Manual before anything.

The Benefit of Extended Release Meds for Chronic Pain vs. Instant Release

Overview: 

• Extended Release Narcotics used to be known to be the pills of choice to abuse, but Extended Release Formula's have changed to prevent abuse
• Extended Release Narcotics may still be abused but the likelihood is lesser than before.
• Doctor's who once used to be skeptical of Extended Release Narcotics need to understand that changes in the formulations have reduced the high-dosage pills potential significantly for intentional abuse
• Narcotic Pain Medication is still the only major solution to chronic pain and must be accepted as such.
• Patients are likely to become dependent, whether they abuse or not.
• These pills are still just as likely to cause a physical addiction as before
• However, these pills are no longer the primary form of pills to be abused and their strong anti-abuse, tamper proof properties make them desirable for a patient long-term.
• Chemical Dependence is inevitable so continue research. Tamper-proof pills is a good start thanks to prior research.

Redefining Mental Health in a Holistic Measure

So you're sick. You go to the doctor because you just feel like you have the blues. As is protocol, normal, widely accepted, and not questioned, your doctor may hand you some sort of anti psychotic med. Maybe a low dose of Prozac. Maybe some Klonopin. Maybe a Hydroxyzine even. As they are supposed to, the doctors almost always encourage you to go see a therapist. You will often leave with a referral to see one. It's the right thing to do, and doctor's do it.

But you don't ever go. You say you're too busy, you go once and didn't gain anything, the list goes on. But guys, we have a mental health epidemic in this country that is so big our psychiatrists can't deal with it anymore; 70% of antidepressants are given by the family doctor. Even hospitals give them. There's a ton to choose from, prices vary, and you see commercials on them all the time. Why not get that "pick me upper" huh!

The way antidepressants work is still disputed. Just within this last decade it was medically agreed that antidepressants like SSRI's worked by redistributing serotonin in a brain that had a deficiency. It didn't take long for scans to quickly prove that those depressed generally do not have a serotonin deficiency.

The med still works, so we can only guess the buildup of more serotonin is a factor into dealing with depression. Mind you, there are all kinds of antidepressants that work in atypical ways, SSRI's are just one group.

But could we naturally be happier? YES, AND IT'S NOT HARD!

• Omega 3 - Several mega-analyses have proven that Omega 3, at 3 grams a day, will reduce anxiety by 40% in most of the population within a manner of 6 weeks. We need Omega 3. It's something our body doesn't get enough of, it's heart healthy, and it is much needed in our evolved bodies. If it can curb anxiety in most people by a whopping 40%, this is significant. 
• Exercise - Okay, so most of us don't like to. We would rather sit around and watch tv. (Don't exceed television or facebook by the way; it increases depression.) But MRI scans on someone who has walked just 30 minutes have shown an incredible shift in actions of many parts of the brain, and in these shifts we see an increase in dopamine, endorphins, and other healthy brain functioning. Ridding, M et al. explains that when exercising, your brains "plasticity" improves almost instantly. In laymans terms, this equates to higher ability to function, better cognitive memory, modifying strength, and increasing chemical activity in your brain linked to happiness and satisfaction.
• We live in a society where obesity is an issue of people's body image. While we need to re-conceptualize what it means to be beautiful so as not to objectify anyone, walking and being active will open the reward system for the one unsatisfied with their beautiful bodies, and by doing so, naturally depression will decrease. 
• Vitamins/Supplements in general - Our diets lack a lot of crucial supplements that are directly related to our happiness. Vitamins play a key role, as do supplements. Go find out what does what, and you'd be surprised. Chocolate and wine are on the list of foods that can sharpen your mood!
• Not being over-excessive and fast-paced - I ask my foreign friends what the first thing they think of the US is. The first answer is always either "it's new" or "it's conservative" but I hear "it's way too fast paced" a lot too. Our culture has instilled in us an acceptance of procrastination to the extent that we wake up almost late everyday thanks to snooze, that we miss that bus or run to it every time, stressing us out. We run to work. To the store. To school. We need to slow our lives down. How many of you go to bed with your mind just racing 100mph? Ever wonder why? You've probably been too busy throughout the day catering to work, your kids, getting caught up in a show, that you don't have time to just sit and rationally think. You procrastinate to where it affects you financially, and then it all goes downhill.
• Money isn't everything - I am not suitable to be a Therapist at the moment but one day I will. And you know what my internships have taught me? That it's not making $20 an hour that makes me day bright, it's helping others who need it most. 
• Make a difference wherever you can - Go volunteer at the community gardens. Volunteer at tree planting ceremonies, help build a home, help feed the poor; not only do you see how lucky of a person you are, but you get an internal rewarding feeling. I remember pre-disability me helping build a house with Habitat for Humanity. Little did I know the guy next to me was helping build his own home. It was his future home. He thanked us and said "I can finally call somewhere home and I never had that opportunity and it's because of you guys." Do you know how great that feels? You grow a bond with that person and feel self-gratification.
• Sleep is good; but you may be getting more than you should - The data is conflicting but essentially 7 hours of sleep is suffice for a typical adult. Those who tend to sleep in more generally have higher levels of depression and anxiety. Now granted, I would say half the population doesn't get enough. Set a schedule! Get your recommended sleep but try not to exceed or fall back because it can affect your day
• Naps are such a luxury - You get home from work. Yes, you have to feed the pets, take off those uncomfortable shoes, check the mail, check up on things. But then grab a healthy snack, and take yourself a nap. It is imperative to always get a minimum of 45 minutes of sleep. If you don't get 45 minutes, which an hour is a safer demeanor to go by, you don't complete a REM cycle making you tired. Make sure to get a REM Cycle of sleep!
• Who said pets aren't kids? - One unique feature of the human mind is the urge to feel wanted and/or needed. You see so many parents just laughing with their children on SnapChat on the weekend and you're at home bored. You feel as if you aren't needed. Maybe. If so, get yourself a pet. I have two cats, one of them literally prescribed by a doctor for pet therapy, and they are my pride and joy. I love my cats. I feel needed, but also appreciated, and I make them happy. Don't live forever lonely. Get yourself a cat or dog. They make your lonely rainy nights so much more fulfilling. 
• Embrace spirituality... Buddhism doesn't have to be a religion - Philosophy. It's a beautiful thing. Once I heard a Christian friend tell a Buddhist that she was going to hell. My Buddhist friend is actually a Christian herself. She just was inspired by the Buddha and his humility in teachings and practiced, meditated, pondered. You can be spiritual and not religious. To me, spirituality is important because it's a link into our inner-selves, a gateway that we need to discover. Go to a Hindu Temple and go meditate at a Buddhist shrine, why not! 
• Let the worries go- Prioritize: We homo sapiens get way too caught up in our emotions. We've got to let our worries go sometimes. You lost your job last week? Sorry to hear but you can't change it. You have to look to the future because dwelling on the past isn't going to help. You know why you were fired. You learned. That's enough! Almost all worry comes from past events predicted to occur again or events predicted to turn out wrong. This is what anxiety is. But none of us is perfect. I've snapped at my beloved mother before. I even told my grandma I would never talk to her again once. This is terrible. But I didn't mean it and I know it. I apologized and learned that I've got to not just allow them to forgive me, I must forgive myself. If you don't forgive yourself, you will face a life full of paranoia and fear. We all mess up. We meed to take responsibility, ponder on how we could have handled differently, apologize, and move on. If we have improved ourselves long-term by messing up, consider that a blessing. 
• Prioritize - I know, the world comes at us 1000000000 mph. Make a list of things you need to do and get them done. If you say you will clean on Sunday but you know that snooze button will be pressed, set your alarm earlier. Clean. Finish things you intended to, even cleaning. It's rewarding.
• TV... Watch it with the family... Don't grow obsessed! Studies indicate the average American watches 23 hours of television a week. I watch less than an hour. I think I need more, but no one needs 23 hours. It is great to choose two or three shows you can watch like Modern Family or The Office to brighten your night one night. But don't flip through the channels all day everyday wanting to pluck your eyes out because you're bored. Get up. Walk. Dance. Garden. Read a book. But try not to be excessive on television. Same with internet. Anything done that is not in moderation is not done right and will wreak bad brownie points for your mind! 
• Be spontaneous - You wake up on Saturday at 11am. Your friends are too caught up with their own lives. Okay, well pay your bills, then go to the mall. Get yourself a healthy yet affordable brunch, and buy that dress or that cologne you've wanted. Go hiking and go to Mt. Bonnell (if you live in Austin you know what I'm talking about!) Just don't be afraid to do things by yourself. You're not lonely if you've got yourself.
• Don't let your life revolve around worries about health - This is a personal item. I have PTSD, many depression issues, anxiety issues, and a terrible back. It has cause me to not have that opportunity to go hiking. I can't go zip-lining when I want, or go on a water slide. But make the best of what you have. I enjoy blogging and ranting. I doubt but a few will read this. But this is my way of compensating for the dream job I've been wanting but can't because my PTSD and back. That's okay. I've got my cats. I've got this blog. I've got friends. I've got God. :) 

Did I really teach you how to redefine mental health? Haha no, I got off topic. But explore yourself from within. Friends are necessary. But you've got to meditate and reflect on your own life. Diet and exercise are huge indicators of mental health. If you feel depressed, don't just tell the doctor. Ask for some blood work to see if you have thyroid issues, etc. Increase your self-worth by helping your community. Increase your love by having a pet. Find a hobby. Be random. I paint abstract art and it was a random thing. I saw some acrylics, and decided I'd try. I love it. Find that hobby. Don't take life too seriously but prioritize. And let's hope our depression and anxiety eradicates as we eradicate habits that may be detrimental to your well being.

I may not know you, but I love you. :) Smile and cherish life, because you're lucky to have a computer to read this, technology, etc. Remember that! 

The Ultra-Left's War on Forced Vaccines

I myself am such a leftie liberal, I put Scandinavian liberals to shame! But...

Being affiliated with my Universities Democratic/liberal groups, even while on a hiatus from university, I have noticed this persistent obsession with requiring vaccines for everyone, religious minorities including it; even if against their beliefs.

This brutal attack on forcing vaccinations is a debate that came out of nowhere and is nothing more than a way to target those who are religious. Have we seen major outbreaks due to a lack of vaccinations? Also, if I get a Pneumonia vaccine, am I likely to transmit it to one who doesn't? 

My concern with my fellow left-wing compatriots is that this discussion arose out of nothing. No school had an outbreak because of an unvaccinated student. There is nothing to make this news, or a priority. 

The law has remained consistent since my lifetime and it is simple: You must get certain vaccines unless you get a waiver (for schools at least.) If you are traveling out of the country, you must get certain ones in certain areas, if deemed necessary (what a joke we saw that when not one case of unvaccinated World Cup attendees in Brazil popped up!)

We as liberals are supposed to be tolerant especially of the religious minority. To fight to require vaccinations under no premise is a battle cry for bigotry and stands against our own values. We are undermining the principles of western liberalism by starting arguments that are irrelevant. This is why I am vehemently against this notion. 

We as liberals need to work with those who are religious. With Jews, Muslims, and Catholics, we share a welfare-state perception of economics. With Catholics, priorities to abortion and LGBT rights are not big fish to fry. With Jews, we have always garnished the Jewish vote and same with Muslim. As well as African-American Protestant and northeastern Mainline Protestants. I see no reason why we can't work together with the Catholic Church who vigorously fights for immigration rights, African American Protestants who fear police brutalities, Jews who are against the apartheid state of Israel, and Muslims who will one day have the upper hand and we need a mutual respect for. 

So let's stop this, and if you believe it should be required, what is the significance? What happened in the past year to make you believe in forced vaccines? And we saw Rick Perry go down with his wish to force HPV vaccines. Are we representing the people by holding that same sentiment?

Vaccines should not be required lest some major outbreak happens. Being a sanitary person who avoids dirtiness is a vaccine to me! 

The Republican's War on Medicare saves no one money

Republicans have fought tooth and nail to lower the Social Security budget, rid Medicaid as we know it, and rid Medicare to profit the private sector.

As baby boomers are beginning to retire, we are about to see millions enrolled in Medicare, a system they have paid for their entire lives. Yet as millions enter, their benefits and their coverage will be dirt poor. Republicans already passed a bill to cut Medicaid and have made similar, yet not as keen to the eye methods on Medicare.

FACTS:

Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, has vowed to increase the Medicare age to 67. This would actually cost the nation some $11.4 billion because 5 million eligible people won't be, and the fact of the matter is: Medicare is cheaper than private insurance by a huge margin. The Congressional Budget Office has stated 2 out of 3 people aged 65-67 will have to be annually over $2200 in out of pocket costs. The Medicare I always knew was similar to Medicaid, save a few supplemental plans and part D, small things, but... IT WAS FREE!!

While Medicare should be in the hands of the elderly who have paid for it their whole lives, young folks enrolling in Obamacare will see an increase in premiums of $141 that doesn't go to them or even services them. Under Republican Medicare principles, between 47%-90% of your personal income will pay for Part B, something you've been paying for your whole life.

Medicaid Facts:

Republicans have cut Medicaid for the near future by a whopping, sickening, $810 billion. Amidst a recession that we've been out of but haven't seen a rise in full time jobs as well as before, amidst a battle against women's reproductive rights, making it nearly impossible to have an abortion yet losing access to your Medicaid, and amidst the poorest of the poor now having caps on how much they can use on Medicaid, Republicans have made it even harder for the poorer and middle class. It is a damn shame that they not only cut Medicaid, but put caps on how much you can use. Have cancer? Okay, you get X much help, but that's it.

It's disgusting. Meanwhile, in January John Boehner promised a comprehensive health care plan to overhaul Obamacare. Where is it?!

Don't be fooled.. I don't like Obamacare. I like health insurance guaranteed to all, and I like putting caps on for-profit overseas sectors.... But you think Republicans are helping even the slightest? 

Food for thought.