Posted by Viridis on May 29, 2004, at 2:12:35
In reply to What is wrong with the pdocs?, posted by Ann Marie T. on May 28, 2004, at 8:11:55
I don't think that this attitude is completely universal, although I've seen it often enough -- more with GPs, though. My current pdoc is very upfront about the possible side effects of meds, has taken antidepressants himself, and has related the side effects that he experienced to me. He's very cautious in dosing, and actually believes it when I say that I had a bad reaction to a drug.
He seems very informed about this; for example, he estimates that more than 60% of his patients on SSRIs experience sexual dysfunction, and works hard to achieve a dose that helps without impairing everyday activities. But the bottom line is that his first responsibility is to get extreme states of mind under control, then he works with the patient to try to achieve a normal life.
There's a wide range of meds out there already, with more appearing all the time, and there really are doctors who recognize that no one med fits all. I think that the best doctors are simply frustrated by the unpredictability of individual reaction and the lack of tests (but try hard to find the best fit), and the average doctors just stick to a standard set of drugs that insulates them from liability and matches the patient's insurance plan.
poster:Viridis
thread:351421
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040527/msgs/351763.html