psychiatrist vs. gp

those who deal with mental health issues-who handles your meds? a regular doc or a shrink?my gp was prescribing my meds-but i'm seeing my old shrink the end of this month....i really think the xanax helps more than the zoloft,but my gp is so leary of them....

I see a nurse chick to handle my ADHD. The only other psych med I have is ativan, but I hardly ever use that. They gave it to me to help when I was going totally nuts in long lectures to help me settle down. But I think I only took 0.25mg (half my pill) like 3 times if that. I try my best not to have to medicate my self when it is not necessary. But my PCP (what we call a GP or family doc) feels more comfortable if I see specialists. I used to see a therapist to, but she changed what she took for insurance and didnt take mine any more. I didnt find it that helpful, so I just stopped going. When I am at the endo, I see the diabetes social worker and talk with her sometimes.

I dx'd myself with depression about 20 years ago (!!!!). Initially went to my GP, who knew me well enough to believe me and prescribe. But as it is really difficult to find the right meds and get it straightened out, I went to a Psychiatrist. Did a bit of talk therapy, got my meds straightened out, and now my gp is in charge of writing the prescriptions. If anything goes "wrong" then I go back to the psych, then back to the gp.
In truth, I've been doing this for so long that it's ME in charge of my meds. I don't ask them, I tell them what I need. I treat it the same way as so many people here with Diabetes treat their condition. We're the boss, they're the consultants we use to get what we need.
I'm glad to hear that your gp is wary. It's a very specialized field. That's why I go back to the psych for any changes.

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~~~~Becky

~ ~ ~ "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
~ ~ ~ Anais Ain

Warning: Xanax is an addictive substance. So that may be why your GP is wary of prescribing that med.
I take psyche meds too. I see a psychiatrist for my psych meds. To adjust them or add another or take one away. My GP works with my psychiatrist in helping me with my mental health.
There are many anti anxiety drugs out there that are not habit forming. Zoloft is more of an anti-depressant though.
I would also suggest finding a therapist that does accept your insurance and one that you feel comfortable talking to. Talk therapy does just is just as good for your mental health as taking psyche meds.

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Your friend,
TheJackRabbit
A.K.A. Christopher

i know xanax is addictive....however,i'm not too worried. i was on morphine and norco [double strength vicodin]. i weaned off of it-no problems. actually-i am seeing my old psychiatrist tomorrow to get my meds straightened out. i think the zoloft is making me more depressed and not really helping with the anxiety....

Zoloft allowed me to view the world thru the eyes of a paranoid schizophrenic. Made me NUTS! I got off it really fast.
I knew it wasn't true, but part of me was convinced there was a camera in the smoke detector (blinking red lite, ya know!) and that somebody was taking pics from a porch across the street. The wind was blowing a bush back and forth, intermittantly blocking the porch lite. I knew, KNEW, it wasn't true. But man was it real.

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~~~~Becky

~ ~ ~ "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
~ ~ ~ Anais Ain

BECKY!

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LeAnn

Just a suggestion and this is something I am paranoid about because Curt has 3 docs all prescribing him different meds. If you are on too many to remember off hand write it down and carry it with you. Always present your list at Doctor's appt's so you are not prescribed something that doesn't mix. That's just my two cents. It's something that scares the heck out me so I carry a list at all times and I make curt do it too!

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LeAnn

LeAnn, that's an excellent point. If it's hard for a youthful person imagine how hard it is for elderly forgetful types! <<shudder>>

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~~~~Becky

~ ~ ~ "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
~ ~ ~ Anais Ain

luckily i go to a clinic-all my docs are there-so all my meds are in the computer. b4 every visit,the nurse reviews them with me to make sure the list is current. as many meds as i'm on,it sure makes my life easier!

If I remember correctly doesn't GP stand for General Practitioner? I have a GP whom I really trust, but I have a list of specialists that I go to. Some based on his referral, some I have been going to for years that I chose.

Mark

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"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world." - Robin Williams

saw my psychiatrist today....he said GPs and internal medicine docs only get like one month of a psych rotataion while in med school! so he and i both were glad i went to see him. he diagnosed me with-drum roll please- GAD [generalized anxiety disorder], panic disorder and major depression. yaay.......so will increase the zoloft to 100 mg. he has no problem with me taking xanax as needed. he said people who take potentially addictive meds as their doc prescribes have no risk of addiction or dependency.and then he gave me seroquel at bedtime to help with the racing thoughts i have....wheeeeeee.....trish