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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TomV on August 24, 2001, at 22:10:09
Anyone know a good Pdoc in the Philly area? One who is aggressive, and is open minded about trying aggressive med combos? For instance, I talked to my current Pdoc about Zyprexa (for depression) and she gave me a comment like "wow, that's a heavy duty drug". Well,you probably get the picture...
Posted by JohnL on August 25, 2001, at 6:56:07
In reply to Looking for an open minded pdoc in Phila. area, posted by TomV on August 24, 2001, at 22:10:09
> Anyone know a good Pdoc in the Philly area? One who is aggressive, and is open minded about trying aggressive med combos? For instance, I talked to my current Pdoc about Zyprexa (for depression) and she gave me a comment like "wow, that's a heavy duty drug". Well,you probably get the picture...
Zyprexa is only a heavy duty drug on paper. When you read about it in literature, it does indeed seem heavy duty. The fact that it is called an antipsychotic doesn't help. In reality, it is no more heavy duty that Remeron, Trazodone, or tricyclics. Actually, in my opinion, most other common drugs are more heavy duty than Zyprexa.
Here are two strategies that might help. They worked for me anyway.
1. Bargain with your doctor. Compromise. For example, if the doc has reluctance at prescribing whatever med you want to try, then tell them to just give you a two week supply and then set an appointment in two weeks to follow up and see how it went. This low commitment type of strategy is helpful to gain a doctor's cooperation. It reduces their perceived risk. Be prepared with literature to back up the reasoning for your request. They are more likely to go along with something that has been written about favorably by other psychiatrists, researchers, or universities. Such literature can be found at www.mentalhealth.com as well as Dr Bob's Tips. Lay your research right on the doctor's desk as you walk in. That will set the tone and in a subtle way tell the doctor who is the paying customer here.
2. If the doc simply will not cooperate no matter what, then a new doctor will be needed. How to find an open minded doc requires some creativity. I wrote a one page letter briefly reviewing my history, symptoms, drugs I had tried, and what I want from a doctor. I sent this letter to all the pdocs in the yellow pages. I also gathered more names by calling hospitals and universities. I sent them all a copy of my letter. In the letter I requested that if I sounded like a patient they would like to tackle, to please contact me. I expected nearly zero response. In actuality, about 30% of them responded and wanted to see me. Then I called those responders to briefly speak with them and further do some weeding. I ended up with a list of five doctors that fit what I was looking for and had expressed interest in working with me. Then it could have been just a matter of flipping a coin to choose one from the final list, but I went with the one that had a reputation for superb bedside manners and also happened to be the Head Of Psychiatry.
Finding a good doc isn't easy. But with some creative efforts it is possible. You want one that will work with you the way you want. The first thing though would be to try to compromise with your current doctor and gain some cooperation.
John
Posted by phillybob on August 25, 2001, at 22:11:43
In reply to Looking for an open minded pdoc in Phila. area, posted by TomV on August 24, 2001, at 22:10:09
> Anyone know a good Pdoc in the Philly area? One who is aggressive, and is open minded about trying aggressive med combos? For instance, I talked to my current Pdoc about Zyprexa (for depression) and she gave me a comment like "wow, that's a heavy duty drug". Well,you probably get the picture...
Just email me (phillybob2000@home.com) and I can give you some of my Zyprexa from my own personal medicine chest (you name it and I've got it ... just about).
Just kidding about givin' you my stash, but I can give you the name of my pdoc (Center City) who is very receptive to ideas and suggestions. I doubt that he would prescribe Zyprexa right off the bat without knowing more of your history (i.e. with discussions with your prior doc or more likely and preferably, discussions with you). He's around $145 for 50 minutes, I think. But, he definitely has had more than one good experience with Zyprexa adjunct therapy in combo with Prozac (at least). I never worked with it much due to Zyprexa's weight-packing-on penchant.
This is the end of the thread.
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