Update and question about changing Drs.and meds

[peaches1982]

Hi everyone I have been having trouble with my phsyciatrist, he doesnt listen and i DONT think he has me on the right medication. If you have read any of my post i suffer from social anxiety(phobia), panic attacks, all that "excellent stuff" LOL.  My current phsyciatrist had me on klonopin 2mg, remeron 60mg at night.  I called for an emergency appointment because i have had numerous attacks, so I went.  I posted a while back and told yall I had trouble opening up and letting him know how I feel.  But this time I went in there and prepared myself to just let it all out.  Get this, everytime I tried to tell him ANYTHING he told me to quit interupting him.  I tried to explain my anxiety attacks,  my trouble going in public and that it is all getting worse.  Then I told him I quit the remeron an d he flippped out and said that was not my place to stop taking it,  his whole attitude towards me then changed.  I then asked him if there was any alternative to the remeron to help me sleep, and I asked him about a couple of different medications and he said "it is my job to tell you what you need, I am the doctor not you."  Then I got really upset, nervous, anxious, every emotion went through my body.  He really hurt my feelings, this is the same dr ive had for 2 years.  So then he gave me a prescription for 60 1 mg klonopin to take 1 in the a.m and 1 in the mid day.   Then to top it all off he now thinks I am bipolar and prescribed me something called geodon 20 mg capsules.  I am supposed to take one capsule every evening after food for 5 days, then  2 for 5 days and finally 3 so in the end I will be on 60mgs of this medication that makes me feel very strange.  thats why I think he has mis diagnosed me by a long shot.  What should I do, should I get a second opinion and try to find someone who will listen? And, does anyone know anything about the geodon,  like I said it makes me feel weird, racing thoughts, shaking, kind of like tremors I guess you would call them, it scares me.  Thanks for everyones help so far,  I just felt like sharing all of this with you. I hope yall can help me thanks.

[nursegirl6572]

Wow.  If that were MY doc...I'd be finding a new one.  I absolutely cannot stand physicians that seem to have power trips (which is what it sounds like to me).  A doc (ESPECIALLY  a shrink!) should be compassionate and be as good a "listener" as they are a "talker".  You have every right to be involved in the decisions regarding WHICH meds you take and why...and there is NOTHING wrong with YOU asking about certain meds.

I'm sorry you went through this...if it was a one time deal, I could see you shrugging it off...but it sounds like this is his normal attitude.  Having a good rapport with your psychiatrist is SO important....and not only do you not have that...but you leave the office more anxious than when you came...and are not being heard.

This is MY opinion...but I would be seeking a new doctor for sure.  That's just a shame.

[xanweaner]

I'm very sorry to read your post. I'm not in a position to make any official recommendations to you re: his diagnosis on the bipolar issue. However, I do think that it's important to have a comfortable rapport with your psychiatrist who's treating your issues.

If it were me, I would get another referral and find another psychiatrist. Re: geodon - I would start googling and read what you can about it. You can also visit the bipolar forum and read what others are posting about it. You can also do some research on bipolar illness and read the questionnaires on the disease to see if you fit any of the criteria.

I'm so sorry about your situation...also, you need to watch these tremors, too. If you feel too uncomfortable on the meds, I would not hesitate to call the treating psychiatrist and let him know how uncomfortable you're feeling. You can also contact the pharmacist who filled your prescription for some guidance, too.

I wish you well...and I hope that you can find something that will help you feel better.
Best,
xan