how long does it take your pdoc/gdoc to add in new meds?

[cosima]

i don't have a pdoc right now so i'm stuck with a new gdoc. i just started seeing her this year so i don't know her that well. a referral for a new pdoc has to go through her. since i've been seeing her i've only had one med change - to add lyrica - which i've been on for a few months now and i'm finding it really ineffective at the dose i'm at and the time i'm taking it. i've expressed this to her each time i've seen her. she bumps it up the minimum dose each time and reminds me there is no magic pill for my anxiety and depression. i know that. i don't know why medical professionals continue to remind me of this because i've never thought there was a magic pill and i don't think i've ever given any indication i'm only relying on medications to work. that's not true. 

i don't know how long it will take for her to add a new AD to the mix - she doesn't feel comfortable taking me off zoloft. i worry that she's inexperienced in treating psychiatric conditions but i could never say that to her. tdoc seems to think she's not doing a very good job - he's never said those words exactly but he's made three or four calls to her asking her about my meds. she returned only one of them and this bothers him.

so how does the process usually go and how long does it usually take for your doc to add/drop meds when you're in a crisis or in the midst of a severe episode? 

am i being impatient? i feel like if i push the matter i'll seem like i'm a junkie looking for a quick fix.

Edited June 11, 2015 by cosima

[IcePrincess88]

Before I started seeing my new pdoc out here, I was getting my prescriptions from my gdoc. I had the same exact problem with her "not feeling comfortable" with my medication. I actually did say something to her though, although I don't recommend it. She was changing my Xanax from 3 a day to 2 a day, and I said "What makes you think you can do that? Your not a psychiatrist". She left my 2 a day Xanax prescription and stormed out of the room and left a message that she would no longer be prescribing me my medications and that I needed to get a pdoc. So I started seeing a new pdoc a couple months ago, and all my medication stayed the same, until recently. I'm in the midst of re-hauling my whole cocktail of medication. It's no longer working like it used to, so we're changing everything. She immediately changed my Seroquel dosage at that appointment and we have been trying to find the right dose since then. At my last appointment 2 weeks ago, I told her I wanted to try Wellbutrin, because I've heard wonderful things about it. She agreed that'd she would let me try it, but I had to be weaned off Celexa first.  So now, I'm off the Celexa and come Monday I should be put on Wellbutrin. My pdoc is pretty good about changing medication when I need it, but every doctor is different. You should try to find a pdoc as soon as you can. I know exactly how you feel with gdoc's prescribing psychiatric medicine. I'm so much happier with my pdoc. With my gdoc, I'd have to wait over a month to see her. With my pdoc, I see her every 2 weeks currently due to all the medication changes. I hope everything works out. I don't think your being impatient at all, I think you just want what we all want: to feel better. 

[kateislate]

Agree with Iceprincess - what you want to push is a referral to a pdoc.  Getting established with a good psychiatrist is HUGE for getting better from MI.  I also emphatically agree with your tdoc that her not returning his phone calls is a big problem.  Honestly, I wouldn't stay with a GP who didn't return my phone calls, let alone another clinician's.  

[Wonderful.Cheese]

I agree that getting a good pdoc is an essential step to wellness or at least getting better. 

I would definitely ask for a referral for sure. 

It's easy to be impatient when we aren't feeling well and just want to feel better. I know I'm guilty of this at times.