GP's and Anti-Depressants Important Info

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone! New Posters are very welcome to share your experiences with a GP too!

I had an appointment yesterday with my GP. He is aware of what I do on the Beyond Blue forums. I asked him about anti depressants and how he treats his patients with depression/ anxiety and why some GP's dont prescribe meds. This is what I learned yesterday from one doctor.

• He has always had an interest in depression and anxiety and prescribes AD's where the symptoms fit the criteria to do so
• He will refer to a psychiatrist if a patient shows symptoms of a more 'complex' mental illness and not prescribe meds himself
• Some GP's have little interest in 'getting involved' with depression and will refer to a psychiatrist with little if any discussion
• He isnt 'pro meds' or 'anti-meds' He treats depression as a serious illness with meds to improve his patients health & well being

• He mentioned that a pro-active GP can know more about AD's than some psychiatrists as GP's have more frequent patient contact

It did surprise me that some GP's have little or no interest in treating depression. I hope these GP's are in the minority.

I am interested to know any good or not so good experiences other people have had with a GP. I posted this thread originally so any people with untreated depression/anxiety have a better understanding of how experiences with a GP can be positive step towards recovery.

All your thoughts are most welcome

Thankyou for taking the time to read my thread

Kind thoughts

Paul

[blondguy]

Hi Scott

Thanks for the inspirational post about how you experienced your doctors. Your post is valued as many people are scared thinking that they have no choice and have to see a psychiatrist which as you said they dont.

Kudos to you as well for being so determined to heal and to hang in there 🙂

Great stuff Scott. If you have any spare time I hope you can stick around the forums.....only if you wish of course

Great to have you on Beyond Blue and part of what we are trying to accomplish

You have just helped more people than you know as most people elect only to read the forums to benefit

my kind thoughts for you

Paul

[Shred1106]

Hey guys

Well after major surgery am back at home and doing rather well. Just need to focus on not doing anything much for the next four weeks, Am not allowed to drive but friends have drawn up a roster to keep me occupied!

The surgery went very well with no drug interactions and I now stand at around 38 days without Antids! Whew...There was one day in hospital when I was having a tough one but I got through it.

Am truly blessed with the friends I have and these forums mean more than one can say.. difficult to really say why except to know you are never alone...

Got loads of exercises to do so will get on with it..

Speak again soon

[MarkJT]

Shred, outstanding news. Brilliant that you have come out the other side in good shape.

38 days without AD's as well - talk about success.

Really happy for you.

Mark

[blondguy]

Hey Shred 🙂

Thanks so much for letting us know the great news!!

And for having the back up of your friends on a roster too 🙂

Shred Said "Am truly blessed with the friends I have and these forums mean more than
one can say.. difficult to really say why except to know you are never
alone..." (Thankyou very much Shred..what a wonderful compliment)

38 days without AD's!!! Well done Shred

Great stuff and rest well

Paul

[Shred1106]

Cheers guys

Just have to make sure I don't do too much!.A mammoth task for me - but only for the next four weeks and then it will be fine..

Thanks again for all your support and encouragement!

[MarkJT]

Shred, the best words of your last post are, "Just have to make sure I don't do too much".

That is brilliant - so many people fall over because they have gone to hard to soon. This is a marathon, not a sprint and to see that you are well aware of that, brilliant.

Mark

[geoff]

hi All, this is an enormously successful post Paul, so well done.
My GP was always concerned about how I was feeling, because he had a son who was struggling with depression, and even though depression was not a strange word for him he wanted to know how I was feeling, compared to his son, because the two of us had different reasons why we were depressed.
He was terrific but only now has he decided to not travel up from Melbourne to where I live about a two hour drive, as it was becoming an effort, and now doing work in Melbourne, but retiring soon.
After 20 years of seeing him it was an emotional ending with the two of us in tears, so now I have to find another doctor, he has recommended one, but I keep cancelling the appointment.
It's a big decision to now try and tell him of all of what has happened with me over this long period of time, where I had meant to see him today but again postponed it for another couple of weeks because I have to get some scripts and must go.
He maybe very good and well mannered, that I won't know until I see him. Geoff.

[blondguy]

Good Morning everyone 🙂

Hey Geoff, thankyou for the super compliment

I would find it just as difficult as you are if my doc moved or retired.

I would be hesitant in starting to start all over again as well but the new doc will have all of the nitty gritty on your background in the files and like you mentioned you will have to go in soon anyway for scripts

Uncomfortable...yes.....but like anything new....takes a few goes at it to re-establish the trust and degree of care

Thankyou for posting Geoff. My Best. Paul

[Shred1106]

Hey Geoff

I guess the thing to remember is...this is all about you and what you are comfortable with.Seeing a new doctor is always difficult so go with your gut. Scripts are a pain in the butt however if that is all you are comfortable with today then that's it...

I wish you well

Shred

[blondguy]

Thanks Shred..and well said..I know that Geoff is doing it hard on this change of GP

I hope you are comfortable even though its early days

Maybe a season of the Simpsons may come in handy 🙂

My Best

Paul