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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jackster on January 20, 2003, at 0:09:13
I seem to have the opposite to the usual benzo problem posted on these boards - my PDoc wants me to take them and I don't. I don't mind taking them as a short term solution - but he seems to think it's the answer to my panic disorder. I feel like there are a couple of other options we could try (tricyclics) but he says he wants me 'stabilised' (on benzos) first. I'm not sure where he got the idea that I wasn't stable - apart from the fact that the last time I saw him I was upset because the increased dosage of Paxil had pooped out again. Otherwise I'm working and perfectly able to avoid the situations that bring on the panic attacks (I'm agoraphobic)until I find something else that works.
I get the feeling that if I say that I don't want the benzos as a long term solution and that I would like to try something else he's going to label me as a problem patient.
Any advice?
Thanks
Jackie
Posted by noa on January 20, 2003, at 7:03:56
In reply to How do I tell my PDoc NO to benzos?, posted by Jackster on January 20, 2003, at 0:09:13
If he is the kind of doctor who labels people as problem patients (especially for exercising the option to say no to a certain medication!), then perhaps you should be scoping out whether there is a better doctor for you.
But before you do that, maybe tell him your fear about this. He may not realize that you are experiencing this as him pushing hard and you feeling intimidated. If you discuss with him your not wanting to take the benzo and your feeling afraid to say no because of how he will perceive you, you will get a lot of information about him as a doctor in his response.
Is it possible that your anxiety disorder is influencing your thought that he will label you "problem patient"? If you are right, you can learn that from his response to your sharing your dilemma. And if he would label you, then as I said above, maybe you want a different doctor. But you also could find out that he would not see you as a problem, and didn't realize the effect of his urging you on to benzos, and that he could affirm your right to refuse a med.
By the way, are by any chance a Seinfeld fan?
Posted by judy1 on January 20, 2003, at 11:25:11
In reply to How do I tell my PDoc NO to benzos?, posted by Jackster on January 20, 2003, at 0:09:13
while I agree with your right to refuse medication, have you done research on benzos? it is the first-line treatment in panic disorder and works extremely well (for me) in stabilizing. my pdoc does stabilize his patients with benzos-usually xanax- first, then will wean them off. the side-effect profile is considerably less than ADs. having said that, I'm sure there are a LOT of pdocs out there who would gladly prescribe an AD first to you, and you certainly can consider getting a second opinion or switching pdocs totally. best of luck-judy
Posted by Jackster on January 21, 2003, at 1:46:58
In reply to Re: How do I tell my PDoc NO to benzos?, posted by noa on January 20, 2003, at 7:03:56
>
> By the way, are by any chance a Seinfeld fan?Thanks for the advice Noa - it's helped me with what I'll say if he really pushes the benzos. So far we've only tried augmenting the Paxil - I think it's fair enough to want to try switching ADs.
And yes - I am a Seinfeld fan - but am a bit bewildered as to what gave it away????
Jackie
Posted by Jackster on January 21, 2003, at 1:53:14
In reply to Re: How do I tell my PDoc NO to benzos? » Jackster, posted by judy1 on January 20, 2003, at 11:25:11
Thanks Judy. I have done quite a bit of research on benzos (including being on Xanax for a year and a half) - and have no problem with being on them short term. In fact they saved me when I went through a bit of a meltdown a couple of years ago. My PDoc seems to think they're the permanent answer for me though - I feel like he thinks I'm too fragile to try something else and that this would be the easy way to go. I don't mind taking the benzos during the switching period - so maybe that's a good compromise. Anyway guess I'll find out tomorrow when I got to my appointment.
Thanks
Jackie
Posted by JohnL on January 30, 2003, at 6:23:42
In reply to How do I tell my PDoc NO to benzos?, posted by Jackster on January 20, 2003, at 0:09:13
Hey, just remember who pays who. You are the boss, not the doctor.
John
This is the end of the thread.
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