You know it's time for a new psychiatrist when...

[butterfly]

...they tell you that if they were you they would have killed themselves by now! NO JOKE. I was floored.

Also, she will not give me enough Clonazepam. She asked me if I was still taking 1 mg at night and I said yes and she seemed disappointed. I had no idea she was thinking I should be doing less at night. I told her I was just taking what she prescribed me to take.

I said I needed some extra for when I have anxiety attacks like I used to get a up until a few months ago. I had a bad last month and can see on the lower does of Lexapro I might need more Clonazepam.

I'd just take a .5 or 1 mg maybe once a week or more when it was my PMDD time. She said that "you're probably totally addicted to it already so I don't want to give you more." What the hell? I've just taken what she prescribed me and often not even used it all by the next refill. I hardly think I'm an "addict". Sure my body is probably dependent on it and would need to be weaned off it, but that is different than addiction. From what I understand I'm not really taking a high dose at all.

She said if I have anxiety I should just take more Lexapro. I just painstakingly weaned down a bit because of the side effects I was having. I think I will be fine where I am as long as I have my back up anti-anxiety med...

I can't help it that I have PTSD/depression/anxiety disorder and I'm just trying to make it so I can live my life. I went home and cried because I was so scared of not having that to take when I have a panic attack. If I don't get it under control I tend to spiral down. Then the more attacks I have the more I get, it's a kindeling affect.

It made me feel like when I had HG and people didn't believe how bad it was or wouldn't treat me when I needed to be treated.

So, either it sucks so bad I should kill myself or it's fine and I don't need any more Clonazepam...hmmm...not really consistent here. I just can't believe a pdoc would say that to a patient!

I'm just so furious right now. Until I get into a new pdoc I'm going to wean myself down to .5 at night and horde the extra

[nekorachan]

omg! seriously?!?



i'm furious for you!

[*Mel*]

...they tell you that if they were you they would have killed themselves by now! NO JOKE. I was floored.

Yeah i say its time for a new one.. many hugs.

[PittmanOfLaMancha]

When it comes to psych problems, I've been in the trenches. PLEASE find a new doctor. DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a professional, but I agree that your Clonazepam dose does not seem high at all. Don't start self-medicating by any means, but please do find someone who actually listens. It may take a while - I've been through a ton of docs - but there are some really good ones out there.

[phaerelastra]

My DH is a psych major and I've been in and out of therapy for several years now. I've taken a bunch of different things for depression and anxiety, but I had my meds changed recently (6 mo ago, so i'm fully adjusted). I was on an antidepressant and Xanax, but when I started my new ob/gyn (I'd moved and couldn't go back to the OB that delivered Kathleen, who had prescribed the original meds), she said just stop taking the Xanax and try to wean off the antidepressant. I had it just like you: panic attacks because I was afraid of how to deal without something for panic attacks... evil little cycle, there.

I started getting shock sensations throughout my body, so bad that I thought I would drop the baby and I literally couldn't hold her for a couple of days unless I stayed sitting the whole time. I went to my regular doctor's office and saw someone random from the practice, but it turned out to be a great experience. He put me back on the antidepressant, added a mood stabilizer (turns out I don't have depression necessarily, but borderline personality disorder... sounds way cooler LOL), and put me on clonazepam. I only take .25 mg, but I can't sleep without it these days.

So basically, I'm saying that I know where you're coming from. That doctor is completely unprofessional for her statements and she needs to help you wean down, not blow you off. If she prescribed you that dose, she can't just wash her hands of it without giving you options, especially if she never told you to stage it down. Best of luck to you in your search for a new, more compassionate doctor.