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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jerrypharmstudent on November 15, 2009, at 20:49:25
I see a pdoc for my psych meds and I have a family doc for other things like asthma, etc. Long story short, lately my depression and anxiety have been getting pretty severe and I might not be able to get in to see my pdoc until the end of FEB 2010!!! So do I go to my family doc and ask him to switch my Klonopin to Ativan (because I think I've grown a tolerance to the klonopin)?? If I did go to my family doc to switch some meds until I saw my pdoc - what would I tell my pdoc when I saw him next and what if he gets pissed that they were changed??
thanks
Jerry
Posted by Maxime on November 15, 2009, at 21:04:20
In reply to Need advice on med switch and telling doc, posted by jerrypharmstudent on November 15, 2009, at 20:49:25
I would hope that your pdoc wouldn't be pissed off. Wouldn't be very professional. If you need to see your GP to change a med, then go for it.
Posted by ricker on November 15, 2009, at 21:48:14
In reply to Need advice on med switch and telling doc, posted by jerrypharmstudent on November 15, 2009, at 20:49:25
Yes, I agree with Maxime. You should be able to work things out via your GP. You can phone your p/doc and explain your circumstance to the receptionist. If he/she is unwilling to fit you in before the end of Feb, fine, just document the date you called and explain to your p/doc you at least attempted to make the initial change with him. Sounds like your waiting list is similar to mine....appointment every 3 months! I do not suffer though, if I need a med change, I head to my GP. If my p/doc raised a stink I'd tell him to lighten his work-load so I could see him more than 4 times a year????
Take care, Rick
Posted by Phillipa on November 16, 2009, at 0:11:11
In reply to Re: Need advice on med switch and telling doc » jerrypharmstudent, posted by ricker on November 15, 2009, at 21:48:14
I also agree with both Maxime and Ricker. My only question is if you are tolerant to one benzo will another one work? Or do you get tolerant to them all? Glad to see you Jerry. Love Phillipa
Posted by delna on November 16, 2009, at 0:54:13
In reply to Need advice on med switch and telling doc, posted by jerrypharmstudent on November 15, 2009, at 20:49:25
> I might not be able to get in to see my pdoc until the end of FEB 2010!!!
Wow, thats a ridiculous wait and I don't think he has the right to get angry!! Still, why not write him a note telling him your plan and ask that he calls you (in time for your GP appointment) if he has an issue with it.
If you don't hear from him, it's all in writing so he can't complain when he meets you. You informed him and asked him to call (or even ask that his receptionist calls) if he had an issue with your plan.
Its good to have it in writing IMHO.
Then you can just go to your GP and get a a new prescription.
Thats what I would do anyway.....
Good luck
TC
D
Posted by manic666 on November 16, 2009, at 3:48:50
In reply to Re: Need advice on med switch and telling doc » jerrypharmstudent, posted by delna on November 16, 2009, at 0:54:13
ativan cool short term the best , but the abserlute death valley to come off ,if you get pulled in.my still on 4mg a day for as long as i can think back, carnt get off,
Posted by jerrypharmstudent on November 16, 2009, at 11:59:43
In reply to Re: Need advice on med switch and telling doc » jerrypharmstudent, posted by delna on November 16, 2009, at 0:54:13
> > I might not be able to get in to see my pdoc until the end of FEB 2010!!!
>
> Wow, thats a ridiculous wait and I don't think he has the right to get angry!! Still, why not write him a note telling him your plan and ask that he calls you (in time for your GP appointment) if he has an issue with it.
>
> If you don't hear from him, it's all in writing so he can't complain when he meets you. You informed him and asked him to call (or even ask that his receptionist calls) if he had an issue with your plan.
>
> Its good to have it in writing IMHO.
>
> Then you can just go to your GP and get a a new prescription.
>
> Thats what I would do anyway.....
> Good luck
> TC
> D
>
>
>
>Yeah it is a ridiculous amount of time to wait - and I don't even get to see him in person - it's all done through telepsychiatry which I HATE. He's the kind fo doctor that gets offended if you suggest a med, etc., he think HE should be the doctor and know it ALL and I should be a stupid conforming patient. I called the nurse and told him with my recent increase in Geodon that I was having trouble swallowing (which is common with th enewer antipsychotics apparently) and he wouldn't even make the med change back to the lower dose I was on before until I saw him again at the END of FEB!
So I talked to the nurse and she said to go to my GP - so I am tomorrow morning. Hopefully he'll be compassionate enough to make some med changes until I can see my pdoc in Feb.
Thanks for everyone's advice!
Jerry
Posted by jerrypharmstudent on November 16, 2009, at 12:07:10
In reply to Re: Need advice on med switch and telling doc, posted by Phillipa on November 16, 2009, at 0:11:11
> I also agree with both Maxime and Ricker. My only question is if you are tolerant to one benzo will another one work? Or do you get tolerant to them all? Glad to see you Jerry. Love Phillipa
My docs in the past have rotated my benzos when I become tolerant of one. Switching to a different one always helps.
Posted by Phillipa on November 16, 2009, at 19:01:59
In reply to Re: Need advice on med switch and telling doc » Phillipa, posted by jerrypharmstudent on November 16, 2009, at 12:07:10
Jerry seriously? As after 40 years they don't relax me just make me tired. Taking lmg xanax and 7.5mg valium now any suggestions? Love Phillipa
Posted by manic666 on November 17, 2009, at 4:39:08
In reply to Re: Need advice on med switch and telling doc » Phillipa, posted by jerrypharmstudent on November 16, 2009, at 12:07:10
to switch from ativan to valium is like driveing a super car ,an then a BMW mini.if you take 6mg of ativan , an swap to valium thats about 50mg of valium .to get a simular effect ,but you dont,when i was forced cold of 10mg of ativan , an taken to a gp ,he rang the hospital because ther was no way he was going to give me 90mg of valium, the settled on 40mg a day , an 40mg there an then before i shook to pieces, i was in hospital a.e 3 hour,s later with a brain meltdown.so some times swappin benzos an finding the another the same strenth is a minefield,an phillipa you say benzos make you tired but dont shift anxierty,then there working ,you carnt be tiered if you have anxierty you body wont let you.
Posted by mtdewcmu on November 22, 2009, at 20:40:34
In reply to Need advice on med switch and telling doc, posted by jerrypharmstudent on November 15, 2009, at 20:49:25
> I see a pdoc for my psych meds and I have a family doc for other things like asthma, etc. Long story short, lately my depression and anxiety have been getting pretty severe and I might not be able to get in to see my pdoc until the end of FEB 2010!!! So do I go to my family doc and ask him to switch my Klonopin to Ativan (because I think I've grown a tolerance to the klonopin)?? If I did go to my family doc to switch some meds until I saw my pdoc - what would I tell my pdoc when I saw him next and what if he gets pissed that they were changed??
>
> thanks
> JerryYour GP may be reluctant to prescribe you a benzo at all, because they are controlled substances. They are not very good drugs for long-term use IMO because of the tolerance problem. Perhaps you should take your prescription bottle to the appointment to prove that you are already taking a benzo, in case the GP is suspicious that you are drug seeking.
Is there a reason you're not taking an antidepressant for your anxiety? You could also try asking for Seroquel; that antipsychotic is supposed to be highly sedating, so it may help your anxiety.
Posted by mtdewcmu on November 22, 2009, at 20:43:41
In reply to Re: Need advice on med switch and telling doc, posted by mtdewcmu on November 22, 2009, at 20:40:34
Here is an article supporting my suggestion of Seroquel: http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=92472
This is the end of the thread.
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