Wanting to see a GP rather than a Psychiatrist due to cost

[BradDad]

I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist for many years now for my anxiety. I am at a stage now where I feel like I see him once a month really just to get a new script for medication. Each session costs me $100 out of pocket. I recently missed a session and asked if he could fax my pharmacist the script. He explained that, as the medication was highly addictive, it was government policy/requirement that the script be dispended at a session. When I explained that this was very costly to me and asked if my GP could provide it instead, he said it would be unlikely given these restrictions. This leaves me in a situation where I must attend a costly session each month to get my script and I have little choice as it is an extremely incremental process to taper off it. This seems exploitative. Does anyone else have experience with managing a situation like this? What did you do?

[white knight]

Hi again,

Medication, its administration etc is difficult to comment on due to our policies here.

However I can explain what I did in a similar situation years ago.

My psychiatrist ptescribed an expensive med for ADHD (wjich later found ot was a misdiagnosis ). In the end we couldnt afford that med nor the 2 hour trip one way to Melbourne.

I attended a local psychiatrist that properly diagnosed me with bipolar and dysthymia and put me on meds covered under the PBS. Imagine the saving meds +fuel. In the end I was suspicious he was getting a kickback.

It could be worth pursuing your GP or another for alternative meds so have a chat to your GP. After all, he/she should sympathise with your financial constraints.

Tony

[BradDad]

Thanks. I've made an appointment with my GP. Can't hurt to see if there are other options.

[blondguy]

Hi BradsDad

Great to have you on the forums and you have brought up a valid point where finding counsel is concerned too

I understand you BradDad as I have been in the same situation (with anxiety problems) where a certain medication is concerned and mine is part of the benzo group of medications....which my GP can prescribe if I have an ongoing authority from my psychiatrist.

TonyWK mentioned above about seeing your GP and he is spot as many doctors are proactive with anxiety issues and seeing a GP on a regular basis can actually help us reduce our levels of anxiety as well

I have been seeing my GP every 4 weeks for a 'fine tune' for over 20 years and also have a script for a benzo that requires an authorization/consult with my psychiatrist every 12 months

Anxiety symptoms can lessen in severity when we have frequent ongoing visits...and yes a GP can make a huge difference to finding some peace from this awful condition

Any questions are always welcome. There are many gentle people on the forums that can be here for you too!

You are not alone

my kind thoughts

Paul

[BradDad]

Thank you. That’s good to know. It’s the same situation with me in terms of medication. Being able to see my GP for the medication and my psychiatrist less frequently would be far more manageable financially. I will discuss with my GP but that makes me feel hopeful that there is a workable solution.

[blondguy]

Hi BradDad

you are very welcome. The real healer is in our ability to use the medication as a foundation on which we can heal more effectively using counseling (even opening up to a GP) Ive had chronic anxiety followed by low level anxiety since 1983 when I was 23...ugh!

Just a friendly note.....the forums are a very safe and non judgmental place for you to post BradDad if you want

Your privacy and well being are paramount here

my kind thoughts

Paul

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi BradDad,

Thank you for your post and it sounds like you've gotten some great advice from Tony/white knight and Paul/blondguy.

I will just add that I too am on medication that can only be given by my psychiatrist - while it's not addictive, he has to ring a number and give them his provider number so they can approve the script. Unfortunately a GP isn't able to do this.

If you don't have any luck with your GP, I wonder if it might be worth trying to find a psychiatrist that bulk-bills? Alternatively - if you have a chat with your psychiatrist he may have other ideas; as I am sure that there are other people in the same boat.

Best of luck with your GP.

RT

[BradDad]

Thank you

[Aunt Jobiska]

Hi BradDad,

I would suggest you google "(chemical name of medication (not brand name)) prescribing guidelines (your state)". The two anxiety S8 meds I'm aware of (benzodiazepines), that do have tight prescribing guidelines - even those only require you to see a psychiatrist once a year, and even then it's not an absolute. I'd ask your GP to show you the prescribing guidelines, if googling is too complicated, because I'd be really surprised if they can only be dispensed in 28 day supply lots from a psychiatrist, because that would mean they are stricter than the S8 opioid or benzodiazepine prescribing guidelines, which only require the patient to see a psychiatrist once a year. A GP can do the prescribing the rest of the time. I can understand that the policy may be that you should see a doctor to get that script, that bit makes sense, but what does not make sense is that you have to see a psychiatrist once a month to get that script. People on over-the-maximum dose of morphine don't need to see a specialist that often. Often what happens is that doctors tell people it's government regulations, because that's easier than explaining to them why it's their personal policy. There might be a really good reason why the psychiatrist want to monitor you that often, but I would encourage you to check whether the explanation he's given you is correct.