Different Doctor Different Meds

[Killashandra]

Hi all,

I'mjust writing to let out a little of my worry,

Just a bit of back ground regarding docs.. I was seeing a Dr fortnightly for 6 mths then she left to go on a working holiday, leaving me with another Dr that she assured me would be as helpful as her. For the past 3 mths this new Dr has basically just babysat me. And I'm not entirely happy about it, she will prescribe my meds and last appt rushed me out of her office when I had so many things to go through, I only see her monthly. And it was a big month... most importantly I was required to attend a independent medical examination with a psychiatrist, I wanted to talk to her about it and understand what exactly was happening... also to discuss what his suggestions to me were and how and if they were a good idea... when I asked her about the change in medication she asked me how I felt about that..... I don't know... I'm not a freaking doctor!!! I just do as I'm told and try to get better....

So anyway... I decided to see a different doctor at a different clinic.. I have been told that he is very good when it comes to my kind of issues with anxiety and depression and ptsd. Today I went to see him and he has decided that I am to change my meds back to ssri instead of snri and then introduce a mood stabliser later down the track.. he also asked that every appointment I make is to be a 30 min appointment so we can talk. It feels like he might be able to help stablise my condition so I can actually go out into public without freaking out.. but I'm worried about the change in meds and the mood stablisers. . I thought that stuff was only for bi polar or schizophrenics .... it concerns me a little...

 

[hodge]

I've been on mood stabilizers. They didn't hurt me. Psychs seem to often prescribe them for those of us with PTSD. I think they're really flailing in the woods when it comes to this. I don't think any meds really help with this, and I've been on a ton of them during the last 10 years.

 

[Sideways]

People with ptsd often have symptoms of (or comorbid) depression and/or anxiety. Up till the DSM V was released earlier this year, ptsd was still in the Anxiety cluster of mental illnesses.

I've found that there have been times when my mood has responded really well to both anti-depressants and mood stabilisers (I was on lithium for about 5 years because it helped, and I still take an atypical antipsychotic largely for my mood). Even when we aren't necessarily having a Major Depressive Episode, our underlying mood is still dysphoric (may not be the right word - more depressed than we need to be, but not having a full on MDE). Giving meds that help improve underlying mood and anxiety issues may give you an overall improvement in how you cope with life day to day.

It may not. Often doesn't. But does help often enough that pdocs like to still give it a shot.

And if you start changing meds, then regular appointments are definitely in order, because your doc should want to keep track of side-effects, tolerance, doseage, etc.

When I've changed pdocs in the past, reviewing meds has always been pretty much the first thing they've looked at, because it's essentially what they do. And while it's always a bit hairy, I tend to have a bit of an optimistic side - maybe the next medication will actually make things a little easier (sometimes they do!).

Fingers crossed for you that it works out well:)