Do you see a Psychiatrist or a regular physician/internist for your psych meds?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 83
Do you see a Psychiatrist or a regular physician/internist for your psych meds?
In addition to binge drinking I suffer from anxiety/insomnia and probably depression.
I have good health insurance but every time I try to see a specialist (Psychiatrist) it takes many weeks to months to make an appointment.
I'm not sure if the problem is a shortage of Docs in post-Katrina New Orleans or the resulting stress from the storm.
Is it likely for a regular family physician to give me an anti-depressant if he deems it necessary?
I have good health insurance but every time I try to see a specialist (Psychiatrist) it takes many weeks to months to make an appointment.
I'm not sure if the problem is a shortage of Docs in post-Katrina New Orleans or the resulting stress from the storm.
Is it likely for a regular family physician to give me an anti-depressant if he deems it necessary?
Go ask the Multivax
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,481
Oh, I could go on and on about how the Mental Health field is lacking!
I had to forego all recommended doctors at first and just run my fingers through the yellow pages to get ANYONE to see my sorry @ss. My suggestion? Do the same. I believe it's important to get started as soon as possible. No sense lingering. A family doctor, even. However, and this is important - Don't feel like you need to stay with a doctor just because you found one to see you straight-away. Oh, and I would never stay with a general MD.
I lucked out. I got a great doctor through the Yellow Pages in desperation. Might have been other forces at work there.
In a nutshell, I say get a doctor right away, then take the time to research one. Afterall, if we ended up in the phych-ward - We wouldn't have a say in who treated us anyway. :-D
I had to forego all recommended doctors at first and just run my fingers through the yellow pages to get ANYONE to see my sorry @ss. My suggestion? Do the same. I believe it's important to get started as soon as possible. No sense lingering. A family doctor, even. However, and this is important - Don't feel like you need to stay with a doctor just because you found one to see you straight-away. Oh, and I would never stay with a general MD.
I lucked out. I got a great doctor through the Yellow Pages in desperation. Might have been other forces at work there.
In a nutshell, I say get a doctor right away, then take the time to research one. Afterall, if we ended up in the phych-ward - We wouldn't have a say in who treated us anyway. :-D
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 26
I see a regular physician.
I do see a counselor who is not a specialist (Psychiatrist). My counselor thought I would benefit from an anit-depressant. She suggested going to a physician, since getting in to see a Psychiatrist anytime soon would be unlikely.
I actually went to a walk-in clinic that is part of my healthcare network. I explained my situation and the physican I saw prescribed an anti-depressant. I continue to go to the clinic for follow-ups and will most likely ask the physican I saw the first time to be my primary physican.
I do see a counselor who is not a specialist (Psychiatrist). My counselor thought I would benefit from an anit-depressant. She suggested going to a physician, since getting in to see a Psychiatrist anytime soon would be unlikely.
I actually went to a walk-in clinic that is part of my healthcare network. I explained my situation and the physican I saw prescribed an anti-depressant. I continue to go to the clinic for follow-ups and will most likely ask the physican I saw the first time to be my primary physican.
Go ask the Multivax
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,481
Originally Posted by Sid 
I see a regular physician.
I do see a counselor who is not a specialist (Psychiatrist). My counselor thought I would benefit from an anit-depressant. She suggested going to a physician, since getting in to see a Psychiatrist anytime soon would be unlikely.
I actually went to a walk-in clinic that is part of my healthcare network. I explained my situation and the physican I saw prescribed an anti-depressant. I continue to go to the clinic for follow-ups and will most likely ask the physican I saw the first time to be my primary physican.
I do see a counselor who is not a specialist (Psychiatrist). My counselor thought I would benefit from an anit-depressant. She suggested going to a physician, since getting in to see a Psychiatrist anytime soon would be unlikely.
I actually went to a walk-in clinic that is part of my healthcare network. I explained my situation and the physican I saw prescribed an anti-depressant. I continue to go to the clinic for follow-ups and will most likely ask the physican I saw the first time to be my primary physican.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 26
I greatly appreciate your feedback Alizerin (hope you do as well Pboy). My meds seem to be working okay, but I have nothing in way of comparison, since this is my first time on antidepressants.
I will keep your experience in mind the next time I go for a follow-up. I felt fairly comfortable with the first doctor I saw and that she would be concerned with getting the most beneficial treatment, not just one that was doing okay. I'll go back to her for follow-ups and see if my first impression was correct.
I will keep your experience in mind the next time I go for a follow-up. I felt fairly comfortable with the first doctor I saw and that she would be concerned with getting the most beneficial treatment, not just one that was doing okay. I'll go back to her for follow-ups and see if my first impression was correct.
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
Posts: 13,886
Seeing a GP Dr. is a good start. Seeing Psychiatrist is best. The Psych Dr. is the one that can really know how to adjust or change meds as it has been my experience that it takes a good wile to find the right mix of meds.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Omak WA
Posts: 1,049
Which kind of doc to see for psyc meds first.....
Hi Pboy,
I have always had a family doc who described psyc meds but started seeing a psychiatrist for med monitoring & suggestions & my doc would work with her to get the proper dosage. Counselor's usually don't write scripts but can make suggestions as to what might work best at the time. I had one doc for several years who helped me sober up & worked along with my MH Counselor for my depression until he left the clinic moving out of the area. I also went to AA Meetings & concentrated on staying sober & counseling for my depression for a year along with working.
My next doc I had for 15 years & he worked with my MH Counselor also. I evenually was put on Effexor XR and it worked the best ever for me. I also was still taking Lithium because when I was hospitalized in a Emotional Health Unit I had been exhibiting Manic type behaviors. I had follow-up blood draws to monitor levels of my meds with my doc until he moved over to the local hospital to be the Head Doc of the ER.
So I now have another doc & we took a while to get to a place where I can trust him & he can trust what I tell him. There is a counselor there at this clinic who I see when I need extra help.
But the truth to the whole situation is the need for me to work on myself to better handle my emotional health & anxiety. I still don't have total control over my emotions but my depression has been much better until the past two weeks....I never know when it will take me back down in the depths of despair but I know what I should do but sometimes can't seem to pick up the phone to make an appointment.
I have been in Alcohol Recovery too for 21 years...I got treatment for both alcoholism & depression at the same time in 1988. I was diagnosed with depression when a teen & took medication until I got married at twenty...was back on meds in three years then self-medicated with alcohol which actually made my life so sad.
I hope you find help & get a doc & counselor that you can trust.
kelsh
I have always had a family doc who described psyc meds but started seeing a psychiatrist for med monitoring & suggestions & my doc would work with her to get the proper dosage. Counselor's usually don't write scripts but can make suggestions as to what might work best at the time. I had one doc for several years who helped me sober up & worked along with my MH Counselor for my depression until he left the clinic moving out of the area. I also went to AA Meetings & concentrated on staying sober & counseling for my depression for a year along with working.
My next doc I had for 15 years & he worked with my MH Counselor also. I evenually was put on Effexor XR and it worked the best ever for me. I also was still taking Lithium because when I was hospitalized in a Emotional Health Unit I had been exhibiting Manic type behaviors. I had follow-up blood draws to monitor levels of my meds with my doc until he moved over to the local hospital to be the Head Doc of the ER.
So I now have another doc & we took a while to get to a place where I can trust him & he can trust what I tell him. There is a counselor there at this clinic who I see when I need extra help.
But the truth to the whole situation is the need for me to work on myself to better handle my emotional health & anxiety. I still don't have total control over my emotions but my depression has been much better until the past two weeks....I never know when it will take me back down in the depths of despair but I know what I should do but sometimes can't seem to pick up the phone to make an appointment.
I have been in Alcohol Recovery too for 21 years...I got treatment for both alcoholism & depression at the same time in 1988. I was diagnosed with depression when a teen & took medication until I got married at twenty...was back on meds in three years then self-medicated with alcohol which actually made my life so sad.
I hope you find help & get a doc & counselor that you can trust.
kelsh
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 83
Even with my health issurance I go to a walk in clinic and the Doc prescribes me xanax.
I really feel I need an anti-depressant which would be a reach to ask the walk-in clinic Dr.
I'm going to try to find a regular internist this week.
I really feel I need an anti-depressant which would be a reach to ask the walk-in clinic Dr.
I'm going to try to find a regular internist this week.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Guelph, Ontario
Posts: 640
I see a phyciratrist for my meds. She helps with psychotheraphy too, I see her an hour every other week she's amazing!!
Though docs can give you meds, my first anti-depressent was given to me by a doctor. She referred me to an phyciratrist when the meds wouldn't work properly.
Though docs can give you meds, my first anti-depressent was given to me by a doctor. She referred me to an phyciratrist when the meds wouldn't work properly.
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