4/14/05
Dr. Lucido:
Thank you for answering me so soon.
My neurologist diagnosis is epilepsy and he prescribed “Lamictal” to
me today and told me that I should gradually increase the
dosage from 25mg to 200mg / day within 5 weeks. In 6 weeks
I have
another appointment
with
him.
I have a copy of my emergency room paperwork when I had
the grand mal seizure but the neurologist just diagnosed
me today
so I
wasn’t
able to get the diagnosis on paper yet. I will call his
office tomorrow again and will
try
to get a copy of the diagnosis.
I would like to make an appointment with you as soon as
possible because I don’t
want to take the “Lamictal” medication. I am also worried because
I don’t want to illegally take cannabis for the seizures
and get arrested or get my friend in trouble for helping
me get it.
Should I call your office to make an appointment after I have received the diagnosis
on paper or is the copy of the emergency room paperwork from the hospital enough?
Thank you, Sincerely,
P.
4/14/05
Hi P.,
I repeat: I would require that you have regular, careful neurological and primary
care follow-up care, before I would consider approving your use of cannabis as
an adjunct to that good medical care.
I will NOT do it if you are telling your neurologist you are taking your seizure
prescription medicine when you are not. Also, be clear that I would not be taking
on the medical responsibility of your seizures. That will still be the responsibility
of your neurologist, so you need to be honest with him/her.
If you wish to call me, I would be happy to talk to you about this.
Frank Lucido, MD
4/14/05
Hi Dr. Lucido,
I understand that I should tell my neurologist that I am not taking the medication
and I will tell him at my next appointment. I was just very uncomfortable and
unsure if I should tell him at the first appointment that I have already found
a way to control the seizures and that I am using cannabis to do so. I was worried
that he would judge me and think I was a drug user. I wanted him to help me without
any prejudice towards me.
I will be honest with him and I will also go to my primary
care appointments. I had no health insurance until I had
the seizure
and didn’t see a doctor
because I wasn’t able to afford it. Now I am insured
through CMSP and can see a physician or neurologist on
a regular basis
and I will
do so because
I
am absolutely terrified of having another grand mal seizure.
If you require any proof (other than my word) that I
will go to my appointments then I will try to get something
on paper
from
the neurologist
and physician.
I absolutely realize that you don’t have any medical
responsibility for my seizures and I would gladly sign
any documents you want
me to sign.
Cannabis really does seem to control my seizures successfully
and the only side effects I noticed so far are drowsiness
and sometimes
I get
hungry
from it. The
list of side effects of the “Lamictal” is very extensive and I don’t
want to find out what side effects I would get from it.
I will try to call your office again tomorrow.
Sincerely,
P.
7/12/05
Greetings Dr. Lucido,
I was in your office about 2 months ago because of my epilepsy. You wrote me
a 3 month recommendation for cannabis and told me that you would extend it if
I can send you some paperwork from my neurologist to show that I am going to
follow ups and told him about the cannabis I am using for the seizure control.
He reacted as I expected (he was somewhat upset and confused). After he calmed
down a little he was actually listening and told me I should try it for a while
and see if it worked. He also wrote that down in my records.
He also must have been under the impression that I was
getting the prescribed cannabis directly from you because
he wrote
in the records
that I was.
I will correct him on my next appointment. I explained
to him how it worked with the
Oakland CBC but I guess he wasn’t listening.
Cannabis seems to be working good for my seizures and
also helps some with my back pain but it may not stop
all my
seizures by
itself so “kepra” was
also prescribed to me.
Today I sent the copy of my neurologist records to you by mail. Let me know if
you need any other of my records or information.
Thank you,
P.
7/14/05
Hi P,
Reviewed the records. Thanks!
Please correct his misunderstanding, since I don’t and won’t
dispense cannabis. And although I do perform primary care
on my family-practice patients,
I keep my medical cannabis consultations as a medical-legal
consultation, and would not be the treating physician for
your seizure disorder.
I would be happy
to discuss any of this with him, at your request.
I am glad you are doing well, and have an open-minded neurologist.
Make sure to continue your follow-up with him.
peace and health,
Frank Lucido, MD