My Psychiatrist Told Me To Find A Different Doctor

[EvenStrongerNow]

I'm a bit upset that I paid him another $150 to take me and my husband to the appointment for him to tell us that. He doesn't agree that I'm depressed even though I am depressed and thinks I should keep taking the Risperdal even though it's making the depression worse. He also thinks I should find a new doctor, who isn't a man, so I'm not constantly triggered.

And to top it off, I've been on 1mg for two months. It's an antipsychotic. He told me if I didn't want to take it anymore, I can just simply stop taking it. "Aren't their withdrawals?", I asked. He relied, "There shouldn't be anything significant." :eek:

I'm at a loss. Now, I have to start over again with a new one to get this depression treated. I'm so upset about this. I'll get over it. I just needed to vent.

 

[nursenurse]

You are on a pretty low dose of the risperidone, however, it would not hurt you to take a half dose for a bit before discontinuing. If your doc is unwilling to talk to you about that, call your pharmacist, they should be able to provide you guidance in that area. Also, your psych should be able to refer you to someone else and not leave you in the lurch. Makes me wonder why some folks get into certain professions. Sorry you are feeling hung out to dry.

 

[Hashi]

I'm a bit confused between psychiatrists and doctors. Do you mean your psychiatrist has told you to see a different psychiatrist? Or to see a different general practitioner?

Here, a general practitioner (doctor) can prescribe anti-depressants. Where you are, is it necessary to see a psychiatrist for them? I was wondering if your general practitioner could help? Although I'm not completely clear about the situation you're describing so I don't know if the question makes sense.

 

[nursenurse]

I understood that the OP's psychiatrist told her to find another psychiatrist, seeing that he himself is a he. Now I'm confused :/

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I hope you find a better psychiatrist who will listen to you and make you feel more comfortable. It sounds like this has been an awful experience for you.

 

[Seasounds]

Sorry for your situation. All I know is that both we-patients, and psychiatrists can be picky when it comes to deciding whether or not 'it is a good fit'. I have found it hurtful, when
dropped. Ultimately, it served me, to find a psychiatrist who mutually wanted work with me.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

@Hashi , my Psychiatrist has an M.D. at the end of his name. That's why I said he told me to find a different doctor. I can get a primary care doctor who could prescribe that kind of a thing. It's just that I was already seeing this Psychiatrist so I thought surely he could take me off of the Risperdal since it wasn't working out well for me and give me an antidepressant, but I was wrong. He didn't agree with me.

He said, "Anytime a person tells me they experience dissociation with ptsd, I give them antipsychotics and I would never give them an SSRI." I said, "Well that seems ridiculous. Lots of people with ptsd experience dissociation and the first line of treatment for ptsd depression is an SSRI. I don't understand." He replied, "Find someone who agrees with you." He wasn't rude about it from what I could tell. It just seemed like he wanted to be right. It was like talking to a wall.

 

[shimmerz]

My T told me to keep away from anti-psychotics - far far away. I have. I also have to keep away from SSRI's as they do VERY bad things to me. I am on anti-anxiety pills instead. Are anti-psychotics the only things they can give for depression?

 

[Hashi]

"Anytime a person tells me they experience dissociation with ptsd, I give them antipsychotics and I would never give them an SSRI."

Oh, I see. I think there's evidence that SSRIs can make dissociation worse. I don't have a view on it, I just remember reading that when I was researching anti-depressants. Presumably his reason is something along those lines?

But he sounds awful, anyway. It's a shame you've invested time and money in him. It does sound like you'd be better off with someone else.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

Well, the short version is I tried to cold turkey off the risperdal. Last night, I experienced an intense panic attack and thought I was going to die or go insane. I've never experienced that ever in my life. I took .5mg last night and was able to get to sleep. Today, I just feel shaky and panicky. I have these intense waves of panic that are happening. My stomach feels so sick I can barely eat. I can't believe my doctor said that I could just simply stop taking it. I never want to feel like that ever again and it scared me so badly. I wish I could rewind time and say no to ever taking it in the first place.

 

[catjudo]

You're probably not going to like what I have to say, but here goes. It sounds like you want to make all the decisions without input from the doctor and simply have him write you a prescription for what you think would be best. You're not allowing him to be the expert. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should just blindly take whatever he tells you to without question. And I'm not saying you don't have the right to say you don't want to take the risperdal and ask for a different option. But you're telling him you won't take the risperdal and then also telling him what he should prescribe for you instead, going as far as to tell him what is the first line of treatment like presumably you would know better than he does. He's the doctor, maybe you should try working with him instead of against him. In your posts it sounds as if you're against listening to his opinions and if he is feeling this from you as well, then what is the point in going to him? You would be better off finding a doctor that you're willing and able to listen to and work with.

I absolutely do not agree with my psychiatrist's first recommendation all of the time. In fact, I disagree quite often. But when I don't like his suggestion I tell him why I do not want to take it. I then give him the opportunity to either confirm or dispute my beliefs about the medication. Sometimes I find that perhaps I was mistaken about my beliefs and I'm willing to give his recommendation a try. Sometimes I'm still not convinced, tell him I'm still against taking it and then ask for his next best recommendation instead. There is back and forth communication. We are both listening to each other. He's not telling me what I have to do but I'm not telling him what to do either. I respect that as much as I may think I know, I'm paying him to be the expert. We work together as a team.

 

[shimmerz]

@catjudo I did exactly that with my doctors. I told my doctor what I needed because I knew what felt best for me and what was making me sicker. I was not popular. I am okay with that. They don't live my life and were not invested in the outcome of my life. If I told them I couldn't tolerate something they would insist that I continue for 6+ weeks. There needs to be a bi-directional communication here. and I am sorry, I do not believe that all psychiatrists are professional. Here in Canada you get what they give you and have to be careful so my posting may be askew to others experiences.