We need a change in the law

Why is it that psychoactive drugs are the only ones that can be prescribed without evidence that it's needed, and how can a family doctor make a diagnoses in 10 min if he is not trained in psychology.

Because mental illnesses do not come in a neat box. I am bipolar but I do not fit in every category of the illness of bipolar disorder. I am an individual case just like everyone who is mentally ill. No two people with mental illnesses are alike, and that goes to say not every two people with the same mental illness are alike.

I take lithium and zyprexa, but I have tried many other medications that treats the same illness, but found that they are not compatible with my brain chemistry. However, other people with bipolar disorder find that some medications work better than others due to their own brain chemistry compatibility.

A family doctor can make a diagnosis in ten minutes because he can assess symptoms. Symptom #1, #2, aha! You must be this. Even the most prestigious psychologist can falter at making a sound diagnosis because he can only assess what is being told and what he can observe. It is truly impossible to make a sound diagnosis because mental illnesses vary in severity and at times calls for multiple diagnoses. There are many factors in diagnosing but in simplicity a mental illness cannot be diagnosed the same as a physical ailment or disorder.

for me it took 3 weeks to get proper medication. At first they only gave me Valium while I had to see a psychiatrist to determine what medication i needed

I just think that's the problem with healthcare in general they treat the symptom instead of the cause what causes the symptom should be treated it just seems like they see a symptom and they make a medicine but they can't cure anything I think it's backwards or I think backwards so when I look on the medicine bottle and the side effects are my symptoms I really don't understand this.

Would you rather there be no treatment at all? We don't know what causes most mental illnesses. The best we can do is treat symptoms and for many, this treatment helps them be able to function in the world. Would you rather they have no relief from their symptoms at all?

Seesaw

No one is holding you down and forcing you to take the medications nor are they forcing you to agree with the diagnosis. If you disagree with a family doctor it's your responsibility to seek a second opinion.

I don't see how we need a change in the law for this.

I recently declined a recommendation because its possible side effects are already present, but that does not mean the recommendation would not have helped in the overall sense. The problem with trying to treat perceived or alleged "chemical imbalance" is that doctors are often like chefs adding spices as if our brains were mere "chemical soups". Science has yet to learn or discover how to actually locate and target all specific points of need.

My family doctor will sometimes prescribe antibiotics without knowing for sure if the disease is a virus (for which antibiotics don't work) or bacterial. Or prescribe an antibiotic that doesn't work on whatever bacterial infection is going on and have to prescribe another.

But assuming you are in a position where a family doctor has prescribed something that is/seems wrong, I am sorry you are in that position. Can you make an appointment with a psychiatrist, and ask for more than the usual 15 minutes?

I think ADs are far more dangerous as there worth has been questioned and they have a placebo affect but leave you with brain zaps when you try to quit. I think they are way over prescribed by GPs who don't differentiate between real major depression and the blues. That is what contributed to the idea that they are no better than placebos because for those with true major depression they are very effective. But until there are enough pdoc GPs will continue to prescribe for psychological problems, experience or no.

Any medical problem psych or physical ... You treat symptoms.

I don't understand why a change in law is needed ?!?!?

If you don't like what Doctor X says or recommends then get a second opinion.

I am a firm believer that Gp's are just not trained enough to deal with psych issues. Jmho

Settle the symptoms down to make a healthier life.

I don't think there should be a change in the law for physical problems. I think it would be great to know the cause. The reason I feel as I do is I just learned that the FDA does no testing or study's on any medicine or food additive. In 2003 when I was prescribed Paxil and alprazolam how could I tell if the paxil worked of course I felt better from the alprazolam. I had the choice and took them for a year and a half I also was receiving counseling. When I felt better I told my doctor and he told me I could stop taking them the dosage was 20 mg paxil and .05 alprazolam. The symptoms came back worse in less then 2 days. He then told me I would have to take them the rest of my life. A little over a year ago a psychiatrist reduced my paxil from 40mg to 20mg and I had a series of brain zaps in only about 10 seconds it sounded like firecrackers and now have CNS problems. I applied for SSDI this could be another post but the mental health clinic never sent my 3yr file to them and apparently don't have too. I think it would be much better to have to have counseling first and let them make the determination. I would never want anyone to suffer.

This is a topic which bothers me so much, I really want to write an article about it. I have allot to tell.
But on a practical note, I think it's best to get along with as less medications as possible by a healthy lifestyle and therapeutic activities (therapy, meditation, organized room, aquarium, comfortable friends, and many more). There's a term I once found on YouTube called "green psychiatry". The whole point of it is to take psychiatric medications if no other non-drug solution works. This includes blood test results (lack of iron for instance), checking if there are symptoms such as insomnia...

I don't think any new medication should be prescribed after just 10-15 minutes, not for mental nor for physical ailments. Rushing it will just make a mess and cost more money and time in the future.

Yes, get yourself a second opinion.

I disagree however about family physicians. They do in fact receive training in psychiatric medicine. They just don't specialize in it; just as a psychiatrist gets the same training in general medicine. A good psychiatrist will be on the ball regarding their patient's physical health (I experienced just this sort of situation). Similarily, a good GP will recognise a psychiatric condition. And yes, it may take only 10 minutes to reach that conclusion.

Okay I can accept your opinion.

Also some people need to be put strait onto medication. When I was first having mental issues before i was put on medication i was in such a bad state of mind that I wanted to become a zombie. I was having constant panic attacks, psychosis, anxiety, depression, couldn't sleep and racing thoughts. I couldn't cope at all.

Did this happen all at once in the same day?