[Side2Side]

My GP is really annoyed that the day he wasn't in the doc covering sent me to the CPN who sent me to the psychiatrist I see now. My meds were changed from citalopram 20mg to diazepam 2mg 3 times daily and a zopiclone 7.5mg before bed. My pdoc also deemed me unfit for work but I went to the GP for sickline and he would only give it for one week as he is in total disagreement with the pdoc and thinks im just depressed and need ssri's, both of the ones I tried caused severe emotional problems and after having bloods taken an abnormally high hormone level was detected possibly from the citalopram. My pdoc was really angry that he was basically trying to undermine her authority, I have not been officially diagnosed but I am being treated as 'severe form of bipolar with psychotic features' the GP is convinced that I am just a bit depressed because I drink too much alcohol and smoke too much weed. 5 years ago this may have been the case but I barely drink anymore and since seeing the pdoc barely smoke as i would like to get better but he seems to be stuck on that idea. The pdoc has advised i change GP as in her opinion (and a couple others in the mental health field) believe for the time being i should not be working as i am too unstable and anti depressants do more harm than good (self harmed more on Prozac than any time in my life) i agree with the pdoc and am going to change GP as he has gave me unsuitable meds a few times now and I'm starting to get a bit paranoid about his intentions, the man has an emoitionless face and I've spent too many nights watching the crime channel lol.

[Webgoji]

Lol, my psychiatrist doesn't like my GP so I totally know where you're coming from on this. But part of it is because a GP has to try to know so many different things that something as specific as how each antidepressant acts is better left to a specialist like a psychiatrist.

Your care givers definitely need to be able to work together. I'd pick the one that makes sense to you and find somebody they can work with. I don't know enough about you to know what came first... The instability or the ssri but ssri's can be actual cause of your bipolar symptoms and other symptoms as well. I am rather conservative about these things but it seems to me making diagnosis of bipolar while you are still on the ssri isn't right. At a minimum she should be talking more to your gp regarding your history. The past use of alcohol and pot complicates things. Those things would make you look depressed or increase you depression if you had it already. Honestly, depending on the order in which you started the meds and when the symptoms got worse I would not necessarily doubt the gp. Being diagnosed incorrectly as bipolar and therefore getting treatment for it has really done a lot of damage to people. I guess I am emphasizing being cautious with both of them.

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[shabur]

I've always believed that my psychiatrist knows more about and the treatment of mental illnesses. While GPs and psychiatrists are both MDs, the psychiatrist has additional training in the treatment in mental illnesses. When I was first diagnosed I did my med management with my GP. We went through many meds and dosages, but nothing was helping.
I actually lost it one day at work and ended up on a leave of absence. I started seeing a psychiatrist and was put on the right cocktail. When I went back to my GP for my annual checkup and I told her what happened she was more concerned that she may have done something wrong. I would hope our GPs want what's best for us.

In Scotland, is your psychiatrist able to take you off work and provide your treatment without your GPs input?

Good Luck

[lizardlady]

The GP tried to prescribe me something that would've caused a serotonin storm with my psych meds. Thank heaven I asked my pdoc about the med before taking the new med. The GP got huffy with me when I told her I could not take the new med. I agree with the others. I leave it up to my pdco to handle any psych meds I take. He has the special training to know what's safe and what isn't.

Side2side, I hate when the docs I see can't agree on my treatment. In your case, if several folks in the mental health field have made negative comments about your GP, maybe it's time to find a new one?

[justbeingme80]

Mine get along just fine and they both know each other. My GP usually ends up dealing with me when I have intolerable side effects from the psych meds and I don't realize they're side effects from the meds--GP doesn't want me to stop them cold turkey when this happens, but refers me to psychiatrist who then deals with it. GP also will refill any of my meds, including psych meds, if I can't get a refill from psychiatrist.

I can't tell you what to do with your GP and psychiatrist, and I'm not sure how it works where you live. Does your psychiatrist write the prescriptions every month or does he/she figure out a combination and your GP handles the prescriptions every month?

In any case, I hope you can find two doctors that are willing to work together.