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From: Nathan Lavid, M.D.
Date: 07 Oct 2005
Time: 10:18:06 -0500
Remote Name: 71.107.205.117
Hello Patti, These are interesting topics you address. The drug studies I presented were conducted on patients who did not suffer from mental illness, as this was part of the exclusion criteria for the studies. The effects of the medications on stuttering were not due to alleviation of co-morbid psychiatric conditions. Psychotropic medications do have an effect on stuttering, and the examples you provide are common. Klonopin can alleviate the anticipatory anxiety associated with stuttering and in an indirect manner increase fluency. Wellbutrin increases dopamine and can worsen fluency. In a situation where you are providing care for a patient who suffers from mental illness, a referral to a psychiatrist would be appropriate. Most psychiatrists are familiar with the medication side effects that effect speech, and he or she should be able to offer treatment recommendations that would not interfere with your work.