[evildouble102]

I have schizoaffective disorder. My psychiatrist doesn't remember what meds I'm on or what dosages I'm at. More than a few times he's thrown his hands up in the air and says that he just doesn't know what to do for me. I have tried quite a few antipsychotics (seroquel, risperdal, geodon, abilify, navane). It seems like there must be other alternatives out there that we haven’t tried or something. Recently I have been taking a prn of seroquel. I called his office and also talked to him face to face about calling in a script for it. It's been a while and he still hasn't followed through with it. Is it time for a new psychiatrist or am I just being overly sensitive about these things?

[Rapunzel]

I don't know what to tell you. Has your psychiatrist been helpful to you at all? Have you ever been to another psychiatrist or therapist? Have you tried talk therapy? It sounds like something isn't working right for you yet, but I don't know enough to tell you whether or not it's time to change doctors. I would highly recommend having a therapist also, because I just don't think that meds alone can take care of it. You also need to learn how to cope with the world and your symptoms.

[evildouble102]

I have only seen other psychiatrists while I was in the hospital. And I am currently seeing a therapist. I agree that meds alone won't do it. But the therapist I'm seeing says that typically her clients stay in therapy for a year, and I'm almost halfway there. So I'm not sure what I'll do after that. Hopefully I will have learned whatever it is that I need to.

[Rapunzel]

Sometimes a year isn't enough. Some therapists think longer term than others too. Mine doesn't tell me how long it will take for me, but she told me it took six years for her. I've already had several years of therapy, but with different people, and they all really just scratched the surface. It took me this long to find one who isn't satisfied with just currently not being in crisis. Maybe it takes one who has been there.

[(JD)]

If the doctor admitted he doesn't know what else to do, then you have no choice but to find someone who will keep trying... I have medicinal allergies and if my MD was (normal?) then she would have quit me long ago... you have to keep trying, what recourse is there?

[Nerak]

I agree with Sky - if your Dr says that he doesn't know what to do then time to change. He might have done all that HE could do but there will be another Dr out there to help you. Will it be the very next Dr you see - maybe. Sometimes it takes a few before you know.

Tkae care