Posted by Tiggercat on July 29, 2005, at 13:04:31
I just saw an MD for an eval last week and was switched from effexor to prozac. I was thrilled after that session because he described my tangle (diagnosis?!) perfectly. But the switch was really rough (even though I mentioned my withdrawal symptoms when I forgot effexor), and I feel wary and unsure of his approach and whether I can talk to him. He increased the Prozac to 40 mg which helped, and over the next couple of days I felt better--a little under the weather and bruised from the withdrawal, but 85% human (equivalent to an annoying and uncomfortable cold that one can function through).
He called today cuz I'd left a message (there were no scheduled follow-ups for the week, and he's going on vacation for a few weeks), and said 'why don't we increase the prozac dosage?' I was surprised and when I asked what I could expect, was told 'nothing'. It's a jump from 40 to 60 mg.
It feels very peremptory (as I've seen many posters mention!): 'take two aspiring & call me in 2 weeks'... I'm very, very leary of being prescribed meds without a discussion of benefits (!) and side effects, and with no follow-up to see how I'm doing.
So, I have the name of a pmed who's experienced in cognitive therapy, which I've done and liked, and which maybe tells me he'd be less into automatic prescribing. He's also on insurance's preferred list, so I'd get more benefits. I feel guilty, like I should talk to my pmed, or be able to talk to him about this, and work it out.
But I sure don't want to just up my dosage without a sense of why or what to expect, and with no follow-up for 3+ weeks.
What do you think? How would you handle this?
Thanks!!!
poster:Tiggercat
thread:535301
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050725/msgs/535301.html