"No you prescribe it" My GP and Psychiatrist are at odds

[silicontrip]

I saw a psychiatrist for a medication review, and they recommended a particular drug. However my GP doesn't want to prescribe as it's not a commonly GP prescribed drug and they've had no experience with it. So eventually I went back to the psychiatrist who asked why I hadn't started on the drug saying that they had provided detailed instructions so my GP should know what to do. My GP is still not comfortable prescribing it, saying I should be seeing a psychiatrist regularly for medication reviews. Of course I'm stuck in the middle not able to get a recommended drug.

Has anyone else been in this sort of situation? Or know what my next steps would be.

I'm a bit uncomfortable contacting a new GP saying "will you prescribe blah?"

I don't know what to do.

[Matchy69]

Yes it is so important to find a good a Doctor that you feel comfortable to talk to.I was lucky and found one straight away but unfortunately for me she is on marternity leave at the moment.I didn't like the doctor i saw just before Christmas but he did give me my medication after asking a million questions.Their is one there i do like at that practise and i will see her next time.

[silicontrip]

It's a new year and I did finally get to see a new Psychiatrist, who prescribed something totally different.

So two different psychiastrists recommended a particular medication, 2 different GPs said they didn't think it was a good idea. Now another psychiatrist not recommending that medication either. I feel like I'm in a tug of war.

[Hanna3]

Hi silicontrip,

I feel your pain believe me. I'm on a drug which needs a phone-up authority prescription and having moved from where I had a good GP who happily prescribed it for me, I'm now going through a nightmare of trying to find a GP who will prescribe it for me and not keep cutting the dosage as well. Honestly it's important to keep looking for a really good GP, I am still looking for one and I've tried three here so far.

I don't know what you do about the two psychiatrists disagreeing about your medication, again I think a good general practitioner should be able to help sort things out but finding one is the problem. All I can do is wish you luck as I'm finding it tough out there as well! Keep trying!

[Matchy69]

I understand completely about doctors not wanting to prescibe medication.My Doctor has gone on maternity leave and the young doctor i saw filling on was not to keen on prescribing my medication but hesitantly adventually prescribed it.I also had the same problem getting my sons medication from him as well.He never heard of it and did not want to prescribe it.I said my son needs that medication and wont be able to see the phychiritis to after christmas.Their are a lot of doctors happy to prescribe the medication that a specialist has prescribed but then their seems to want you to get the script off the specialist who prescribed it.

[littleboots]

Hello Silicontrip,

I think your assessment of the situation is accurate. You are in a tug of war.

My suggestion is you let go of the rope and in doing so all of these health professionals who either don't want to or feel they don't possess the history & expertise to prescribe the meds.

Choose one psychiatrist who can recommend you to a GP that they know will be assist and ask that psychiatrist to write to that GP regarding your meds.

A short report stating what meds they are wanting you to take, dosage and why isn't asking too much. And just in case they are unavailable can the GP prescribe in their absence. They could do the report in the office whilst you are in the consultation. Or fax it to the GP.

This way your GP knows exactly what is going on and should, in the absence of the psychiatrist, be able to see why you need the meds.

Alternatively, be extra vigilant with having enough scripts available if the psychiatrist is going to be unavailable. That means asking them if they are going to be away before your current script runs out.

I've been in your situation too and it's not easy to navigate at all.

Keeping the amount of people prescribing meds to a minimum and make sure they are in contact with each other by report is the only way of reducing the risk of this happening. Mind you, it may not be enough for some GP's but that may mean contacting the psychiatrist and taking their advice on a GP they know.

What a way to start the NY. I hope it gets better!

Good luck silicontrip.

Take care,

Littleboots

[silicontrip]

At the moment, I'm (a little too) frequently seeing a psychiatrist, as the wallet is taking a pounding.

Does anyone have a suggestion as how this should be better managed? I mentioned that my GP has gone through their arsenal of medication and cannot recommend anything further. They are saying I need to see a specialist (aka psychiatrist in this case) but frequently seeing them is quite expensive. I haven't seen much benefit in the new medication although it's only been 4 weeks. And I suspect I'll need to see them until it does start to work.

Is there something in between?

[littleboots]

Hey Silicontrip,

Since your GP has run out of ideas and the psydoc is hitting your wallet too hard the only thing I can think of in between that is a Community Health Service. Do you have one in your area? They have GP's, psychologists and usually there is a low cost or perhaps even no cost to see them.

Do a online search and see what comes up for you.

Hope this idea helps,

Take care,

littleboots

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi Silicon trip,

Your situation sounds frustrating. I wonder if you have found some different supports as yet. littleboots made a good suggestion regarding a community health clinic and I will suggest a few more.

These may be helpful 'in-between' your psychiatrist sessions depending on your circumstance and symptoms.

One is a program called Mindspot - you can google it by going to the webpage www.mindspot.org.au

It is free for anyone over 18 and will do a screening to see if any of the programs are suited to you. It is a combination of online and telephone support but you can just chose to communicate with the therapists electronically.

Another program is the Developed by Beyond Blue NewAccess program which you can read about here https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess 

NewAccess is only available in some locations across the country and you can check on the site and see if its available in your location. It is free and you get 6-sessions with a Coach which focuses on practical solutions and strategies on goals that are important to you using low intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Another suggestion that may be of benefit is learning to practice Mindfulness. You could give it a try on an app called Smiling Mind which has been beneficial for many people. Learning Mindfulness (no matter what symptoms you have) can help the mind have some rest and space from the stressors and worry that is around them.

I wish you the best on your quest to find support. Please keep us posted on your journey.

Nurse Jenn

[Guest_4643]

Hi silicontrip, welcome to the forums.

I'm so sorry that you're dealing with this, it's an issue that shouldn't happen with anyone. Funnily enough though, I'm in the same position as you, hence me coming onto your thread, to seek advice myself and try to offer you support from me, so I hope that's alright. I'll read through everybody else's comments here aswell.

What I would suggest is picking whoever you trust and feel more comfortable with, and who you think has more knowledge of the meds - dosages, side effects, etc. to prescribe it for you.

As for getting a new GP, I personally think yes, it could be a good idea, but it also may not, because some GPs will think that some people are just going to Doctors to get prescriptions for the sake of it (I'm experiencing that now with my GP, which of course isn't the case at all), so if you were to see a new GP, I'd see one that someone you know is seeing so you can say "I know (name), I was wondering if you'd please prescribe (med name)" etc. That's just my opinion and suggestion though, I'm sorry I can't be of much help because I'm dealing with the exact same thing you are.

For me personally I trust my Psychiatrist more and would rather him prescribe me things. The reason why is because from the first time I saw him, I trusted him and I felt comfortable and that's hard for me with therapists since I've had so many bad experiences unfortunately, he's the only good health professional I've ever had, and I'm thankful. I don't feel comfortable or trust my GP at all, because she has no knowledge of anything, not even that my Psychiatrist gives me therapy, how Medicare works including paying for me to see my Psychiatrist, what meds I'm taking, etc. (I explained all of this to her).

Whereas my Psychiatrist tells me what meds I can try, the dosages (one to take at the time and then if I tolerate them, make the dosage higher), the side effects (although it's different for everybody, some may get all side effects, some may not get any or only a few), how they work and what they're for, and just general knowledge of it, he always asks me how I'm feeling and if they've helped too. My GP doesn't care at all.

So hence me saying I'd choose who you feel most comfortable with and who you think has more knowledge of the drug to prescribe it to you.

Either that or you could ask your local Pharmacist about the drug, and who you think may be better prescribing it and explain the situation to get their thoughts?

Tayla