it depends how comfortable pcp's are with psych meds to prescribe them. i mean there is a general list of meds that can be taken for bipolar disorder. it is pretty much a hit or miss situation as to which one is going to work for you. i had to try them all before i found one that worked. if you pcp has that list, he/she can start at the top and work their way down with you. there is no way of knowing which one is going to be the best drug to work with your system, with all the psychiatrists i have been to, i think they just start with the one they prefer. some are old school and use lithium, some like to start with the antipsychotics and go with risperdal or seroquel, a lot start with one of the antiseizure drugs i cant remember the name of off the top of my head, the list goes on and on and on. but the thing is, you dont typically see a pdoc once a week. all they do is precribe meds, you go in for your initial eval, and then you may see them a month later but typically you only see them every three months for med refills. so you wouldnt be paying that much to see one.