Recently, one of my pharmaceutical reps asked me a question she’d been asking other doctors. "If you only had 5 medications to work with, which ones would you choose?" For me it was easy.
1. Adderall XR
Has the best batting average. Batting average = how often patients say, "This med is great. It changed my life and has no significant side effects." And they’re still saying it after a year.
2. Alprazolam (Xanax or Niravam)
Helps people take back control of their lives. Was the most prescribed med for stress last year.
3. Ambien CR
Safe sleep medication which gives you normal sleep. Normal sleep = foundation for health.
4. Effexor XR
Has the most flexibility (SSRI at low doses, dual agent at higher doses), works the fastest, and has no significant drug/drug interactions.
5. Abilify
Best mood stabilizer. Was the 1st of the new generation of atypicals.
I no longer take insurance. To be successful I have to use the meds that work the best. My goal for each patient is to find "the right medication at the right dose." All of these "Top 5" have alternatives that I often use. The bottom line is that with these meds I have seen the best long term results.
