Why would she need to deal with dozens of people to get meds she clearly needs for a single condition?
Most of these drugs are pretty well-known. Hydrocortisone (or prednisone) is probably the most common and easiest drug, both cheap and commonly prescribed as a general immunosuppressant. The thyroid drugs (probably thyroxine and liothyronine) have a number of on-label uses that could be coherently stretched to cover this particular condition, and are common enough to be in the average pharmacy network. There’ll be some hesitancy to mess with doses heavily—especially after you achieve basic functioning—because of the high risk of adrenal shock, something that the author experienced in at least one high-profile incidence. In women, a combination of estrogen-progesterone therapy is recommended, and not that dissimilar from the Pill except opposite in effect.
But that’s not a dozen drugs, and that’s about the full scale of well-documented treatment. There’s not much literature on the use of testosterone in women, for example, and I can think of a half-dozen neurochemicals she might be pioneering. There are endocrinologists that enjoy working at the frontier of drug discovery. There aren’t a huge number that do so, but have patients that walk on two legs and are known for food preferences other than cheese.
There are also secondary issues. The drug industry has some severe logistics issues, resulting in many drug shortages. One of the most common thyrioxine supplements has been on back-order since, and is scheduled to stay that way til 2014 after a rather goofy recall. This isn’t unique to hormones (although the levothyroxine example is especially ridiculous), but it matters.
That’s true, I missed the sentence about a dozen drugs. Keep in mind though she might not take all of them exclusively for that particular condition.
I can think of a half-dozen neurochemicals she might be pioneering
I would be interested if you named a few, and whether there’s any evidence of their usefulness.
I can think of a half-dozen neurochemicals she might be pioneering.
If that’s the case the question becomes should she really be allowed to do that. I have no problem with that if the system allows for the patient being completely responsible for taking those drugs, but I don’t think any doctor or insurance company should be expected to take the fall for her. If the drug isn’t well documented and she doesn’t take part in a trial, I think she should finance treatment for any complications herself, and that could easily get more expensive than she can afford.
Most of these drugs are pretty well-known. Hydrocortisone (or prednisone) is probably the most common and easiest drug, both cheap and commonly prescribed as a general immunosuppressant. The thyroid drugs (probably thyroxine and liothyronine) have a number of on-label uses that could be coherently stretched to cover this particular condition, and are common enough to be in the average pharmacy network. There’ll be some hesitancy to mess with doses heavily—especially after you achieve basic functioning—because of the high risk of adrenal shock, something that the author experienced in at least one high-profile incidence. In women, a combination of estrogen-progesterone therapy is recommended, and not that dissimilar from the Pill except opposite in effect.
But that’s not a dozen drugs, and that’s about the full scale of well-documented treatment. There’s not much literature on the use of testosterone in women, for example, and I can think of a half-dozen neurochemicals she might be pioneering. There are endocrinologists that enjoy working at the frontier of drug discovery. There aren’t a huge number that do so, but have patients that walk on two legs and are known for food preferences other than cheese.
There are also secondary issues. The drug industry has some severe logistics issues, resulting in many drug shortages. One of the most common thyrioxine supplements has been on back-order since, and is scheduled to stay that way til 2014 after a rather goofy recall. This isn’t unique to hormones (although the levothyroxine example is especially ridiculous), but it matters.
That’s true, I missed the sentence about a dozen drugs. Keep in mind though she might not take all of them exclusively for that particular condition.
I would be interested if you named a few, and whether there’s any evidence of their usefulness.
If that’s the case the question becomes should she really be allowed to do that. I have no problem with that if the system allows for the patient being completely responsible for taking those drugs, but I don’t think any doctor or insurance company should be expected to take the fall for her. If the drug isn’t well documented and she doesn’t take part in a trial, I think she should finance treatment for any complications herself, and that could easily get more expensive than she can afford.