topic Trusting the wrong psychiatrist in Treatments, health professionals and therapies

Trusting the wrong psychiatrist

jess334 — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:45:28 GMT

Third appointment today and after only ten days he told me to switch to a new medication due to the nightmares I am currently having on the first new medication he prescribed (- which studies show that 70% of nightmare side effects disappear after the first month). He also told me to stop all my other medication (3 different ones).

He did NOT tell me what type of new medication it was, he did NOT tell me to slowly reduce the amount of my other medications (which I already know you do not go cold turkey from any of them).

I left there crying, very distressed. Luckily my GP was close by and happy to see me at short notice. I told him what happened and he agreed there was no point in changing medication when I had only been on X for 10 days. He agreed the psychiatrist was not helpful and shouldn't have let me leave distressed. I will be managing my medication with help from my GP from now on.

Very glad I trusted my instincts that something wasn't right.

Trusting the wrong psychiatrist

The_Real_David_Charles — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:58:55 GMT

Dear Jess,

Didn't you post before ? Worried about side effects and the 2nd meds kicking in ? And I remember writing "You know what will be suggested if the 2nd meds don't work........yep, 3rd meds".

You seem remarkably insightful. When "let's try this" mentality creeps in with psychiatrists it's hard to keep changing willy nilly and the obvious downfall is that you might end up thinking it's all a waste of time as NOTHING WORKS.

I gotta admit I let my GP do blood tests for my bipolar and haven't really been regular with a psychiatrist for many years (say, 10 !). The thing is you are still a person ! The options are there but you have to live with them. Slowly changing meds is highly recommended. You can't switch too often either. Even the slightest change in dose or type is critical to you. There's no place for becoming a sort of meds guinea pig, even it this might be seen as the right course.

Maybe your relationship with your GP will be a great support for years to come. I always remember the change meds being put to me and when I researched the drug there was a 5 - 10% chance of fatality. My psychiatrist must have forgotten to mention that one ! Like I said, we are still people.

If I have mixed you up with another thread I apologise. I think I remembered the 334 more than the jess. And here I am saying "You're a person" ! Just the way my brain works - a bit Aspergers sometimes. A bit strawberry donut other times.

Adios, David.

Trusting the wrong psychiatrist

jess334 — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 06:25:23 GMT

Hi David,

Yes that was me. I have anxiety about new medications and the possible side effects, so the 3rd medication option had me in tears.

Fortunately over the last few nights the nightmares have stopped and the depression has lifted for hours at a time. Looks like I'm settling into this new one well. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for your replies.

Jess