[Medicated]

A psychiatrist friend of mine (not my doc) suspects that I'm taking too many meds, so I want to consult someone for a 2nd opinion on my current regimen. However, I don't know how to find someone good. My insurance company provides a list of covered names, but that doesn't tell me anything about them.

How do you research docs? Who do you ask to find out who's good and who isn't? As a professional student, I don't have time or money to waste...

Thoughts?

[Skully]

I am fortunate to have worked in the field so I knew all the psychiatrists in my area professionally. It was easier for me to choose the one that best met my needs. You can do internet searches on the approved dpocs by your insurance. Many sites have options to rate the doctor and it will also give the doctors bio so you can know a little more about their education and background.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Medicated

A psychiatrist friend of mine (not my doc) suspects that I'm taking too many meds, so I want to consult someone for a 2nd opinion on my current regimen. However, I don't know how to find someone good. My insurance company provides a list of covered names, but that doesn't tell me anything about them.

How do you research docs? Who do you ask to find out who's good and who isn't? As a professional student, I don't have time or money to waste...

Thoughts?

I would first contact the doctor who prescribed the meds and find out what they are prescribed for. the doctor can also tell you if you are on too much by looking at your files to see what your symptoms and complaints were when he prescribed them. then if you still question your meds ask for a copy of your files. then contact the doctors on your insurances list and ask them if they are accepting new clients and whether they give second opinions for meds because you are looking for a second opinion. some of those doctors may not be accepting clients or may need to see your file to help them make their determination in regards to medications. Around here you need to give access to your medical and mental health files every time you see a new doctor.

you can also tell when you are on too much medication by your own symtoms and reactions ie ringing in the ear, dizzyness, slurred speech, feeling drunk, usually means too much meds. symptoms / problems decreasing usually means just right meds.

please be careful of family and friends that are doctors, nurses, medical or mental health professionals they sometimes try to be helpful giving you their advice and medical expertise when they dont have your complete medical or mental health files/symptoms/history/ reactions that kind of thing that your doctors use when considering how to best treat you. we get a lot of clients around here who mess up their treatment by having too many hands in the pot of trying to treat them with family and friends trying to be helpful but end up doing mare harm than good.

[splitimage]

Ask for a referral from your GP.

--splitimage

Anyone on your list may or may not be listed here:

http://www.ratemds.com/

this is a consumer side rating site. might be helpful, but it will also be good to keep in mind that you are dealing with personal opinions when you read coments

[splitimage]

You can also try googling them. That's how I found out lots about my current pdoc. But he's a big time researcher, so there was lots about him on the web.

--splitimage

[Fresia]

Asking around, primary care and other physicians you have, therapist, online research. You can also check with the state medical board for the current standing of their license and any complaints or grievances filed. They may look fine on paper but I typically won't know until meeting with them. A pdoc I had suggested interviewing any new provider for their beliefs, office procedures, how to get a hold of them for med changes and do you have to come in every time for dosage adjustments, and any other questions or scenarios you've encountered in the past has been the only way to tell; it gives you a better idea of what they are like up front and if they are open, can communicate with you, if you feel comfortable with them more than what is on paper/online. You don't even have to tell them that much about yourself in the first meeting, you're looking into them; it's about who you're comfortable with and a referral can't tell you that. I would look into credentials but then interview. Good luck in your search for who is best for you!

[little*rhino]

ask for a comprehensive copy of your medical file - you are entitled to it

as for researching a new pdoc.. start with the list given to you by your insurance, but also talk to other health professionals and anyone else you know who might be able to recommend one. Then... and i wish everyone did this with both pdocs and t's - interview them.

seriously... these are the people who will be trying to affect your brain and mind, don't pick one with less thought than you give to buying a ripe tomato. Make a list of the issues you feel are important, and design questions based on that.

it will strike some as odd, and some may get indignant but you wouldn't want a pdoc that can't have an exchange with you or treat you as if this is your health, which after all, it is.

when you book tell them you are booking the appointment to meet them and decide if it is a good match. Ask them about their experience in the areas you need to address. Ask about other things that might matter to you - ie some people prefer their caregivers to have specific values or spiritual beliefs, etc. You could come up with various scenarios and ask what their approach would be. i'm sure just reading through this site would give you ideas for things like that. i was misdiagnosed for example, and spent 11 yrs on psych meds for no good reason.

remember... you are hiring them, really. It's not child's play and you should always feel confident in them.

oh.. and one other thing, if you don't currently have a therapist, consider that angle. One thing i learned over the years is that pdocs tend to reach more for prescription solutions than other means. A therapist can help you assess whether some problems might be better managed through better coping skills, etc... and that itself may well reduce the number of medications.

best of luck!

[Perna]

I would ask my friend if he'd recommend a couple people and then check to see if they're on your insurance? Presumably you trust your friend's judgment is partially why you're looking for a second opinion.

Here's a blurb that looks legit on how to choose one:

http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/dr...chiatrist.html

[Medicated]

I wish I could ask my psychiatrist friend to just be my psychiatrist, but I don't think he'd go for that. In fact, I'm sure he wouldn't. He was my preceptor for my psychiatry rotation in my graduate program, and we happened to hit it off because we have a lot in common (he's bipolar too). When I tried asking him, he didn't give me any names or recommendations, but did say that the psychiatrist per capita ratio where I live is quite high... and to not look for the perfect psychiatrist, but rather someone I could work with.

I'm torn though. It really is important that I stay stable through the end of the year so that I can finish school. I worry that if I try someone new who starts messing with my medications that I'll crash and have to take another leave of absence. With my faculty, I have to pretend that life is perfect. They already want me out of the program over this. I can't help but think that maybe it would be better for me to just suck it up, stick with this guy and my gazillion expensive medications, and hopefully stay fairly stable through December.

But then again, I'm still cycling a bit. This past weekend was pretty rough for me, and I'm still struggling to get any schoolwork done. Maybe things could be better.

*Sigh* Oh crystal ball: will I be better off staying on this regimen, or trying something different??

Many states have gone online to list the licensed psychiatrists that have complaints pending or have been sanctioned.

[Medicated]

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

Many states have gone online to list the licensed psychiatrists that have complaints pending or have been sanctioned.

Yeah, that's how I found out that a former psychiatrist of mine (who I hated) was a polysubstance abuser and alcoholic. Charming fellow.

[Perna]

I would grab a few names off your insurance list and then talk to yourself out loud in your friend's hearing Talk about your meds and various things that might happen if you messed with this or that one. See if he will tell you more of why he thinks there are too many and what he'd do so you could be "armed" as best as possible with a little info when you went to see another?

[Medicated]

Originally Posted by Perna

I would grab a few names off your insurance list and then talk to yourself out loud in your friend's hearing Talk about your meds and various things that might happen if you messed with this or that one. See if he will tell you more of why he thinks there are too many and what he'd do so you could be "armed" as best as possible with a little info when you went to see another?

I wish, but I really can't do that. First off, he doesn't know anyone out by where I live. He's about 50 miles away. Secondly, BECAUSE he is a psychiatrist, we don't discuss anything that puts me in a position to become his patient. That turns our friendship into work for him, and that's not fair. I tried asking him how he picked a psychiatrist for himself, and he just told me that he did "a lot of research" but didn't elaborate.

At this point, I'm thinking that it would be wiser for me to just stay with my current guy and hope he can keep me stable through the end of school in December. It's a tough decision.