[dreamrunner]

Hi all.Just wanted to throw this question out there.

I was recently dianosed BP 2.When I told my GP the news he seemed a little taken aback when I told him that pdoc basically wrote perscription for 6 mo and said come back when you need me.
When I relayed this info to T (without knowing GP's reaction) he said pdoc should be seeing me a month after new meds.
Im on duralith.....I dont even know how often lithium levels should be taken.
My question is this.....when after a new DX did you see pdoc again?How often is recommended(if there is such a thing)
Im just not sure what I should do?

[tranquility]

Hi

I've been going through a change of medication. Was on zoloft for 16 years and weaned off to go on cymbalta. I see my psychiatric nurse every four weeks because she was slowly increasing the dose. I started this I think in March - I see her tomorrow to increase to the full 120 mg and then I'll probably see her again in 4 weeks and if everything is okay go to every 6 months.

This does seem odd that he is not following up with you sooner. Newly on lithium I would think you would need routine blood tests until therapuetic levels are achieved. Maybe your primary care doc should call the psychiatrist.

Tranquility

[Cheri]

Your pdoc put you on Lithium, and he's not monitoring your labs for six months????? That seems irresponsible, imo.

I usually see my pdoc once a month (he does med management only, not therapy), or every two weeks if I'm in crisis. Being bipolar, and not always stable, I couldn't imagine seeing him less often than that.

P-doc is every two weeks, for 30 to 45 minutes each time.

See T every two weeks for an hour.(She's not in my insurance network so I have to pay out of pocket) It works out that I see someone once a week.

I agree with everyone. Not only should blood tests be done, but he should be seeing you once a month or sooner to monitor how you are adjusting and to discuss any side effects etc.

[OliviaC]

Hi- my diagnosis has not changed; I see my pdoc once a month; she wants to fit me in every three weeks. I see her for half-hour visits. I see my therapist weekly for one hour each.

[sunrise]

I started meds 5 weeks ago, prescribed by my GP. She said come back in 2 weeks if there were problems, and one month if there are none. But I'm not going. The prescription was for 4 months, so I don't see a good reason to go if I'm doing fine. The meds are not having the desired effect but they have other effects I like and don't want to give up. I'm afraid if I go back to the GP and tell her the meds are not helping with the presenting problem, she would make me go off them, and I don't want that. So I'm going to wait for 4 months to go see her again. I guess if she called me and asked how I was doing, I would tell her, but I don't see that happening.

sunny one reason she might want you to come back sooner than 4 months is that she might adjust the dosage or add/change meds so you can get the desired effect you want.

not getting what you want from the med may be her notion of a 'problem' and something she can help with,

[sunrise]

That's what I'm afraid of, ECHOES, that she will change my med. I like the effect it is having on me, even though it is not the effect it was prescribed for. I'm afraid she'll take me off of it if I tell her this, so my plan is to wait 4 months before having to tell her this. I know that probably sounds really dumb, but these are my first psychotropic meds, and the benefits are not what I had imagined, but are not unwelcome either. I don't think I am harming anything by waiting 4 months.

I don't think you are either. sorry.

Much more often than I would like to.

I am supposed to see him once every 4 to 6 weeks.

I try to work my way around this in every way possible. I got away with it for awhile, just leaving him voicemails when I needed refills. Then T started acting as the mediator so that I didn't even have to talk to my pdoc. I couldn't be happier. Eventually, T told me I really better go in for appt., so I did.

Now I'm on more regular visits. I am actually going on Thursday.

[Greenleaves]

I see my pdoc every week, but that's because she's my T as well. I used to see her every 2 weeks, but somehow it got changed to every week.

[okiedokie]

Never. I don't have a pdoc.

Okie

[Caramee]

I go to my pdoc every 4 to 6 weeks. I have never been on lithium, but it's been my understanding that blood levels need to be closely monitored especially at first. I know that any new medication I take requires me to come in closer to the 4 week mark to check on how things are going. The 6 month time frame really surprises me. Maybe you should double check?

[purplemoon]

I don't see a Pdoc just my GP, but when my GP prescribes something new he always has me come back in 4 weeks. One time he was introducing more than one new med - my T had told me to go in and ask for x and x. He only prescribed one had me come back in 4 weeks, then we talked about the second one and he prescribed that and had me come back in 4 weeks. I did well on both so I didn't have to come back for a while. But I know when he precribed for my EX-husband, he wasn't getting optimal results so my husband had to keep coming back and finally (after 2 or 3 times) my GP sent him to a Pdoc. If your pdoc wants you to come back sooner please do - lithium needs to monitored as how your body reacts - it can cause medical conditions if not your body doesn't respond well. I know it is a pain but better safe than sorry.

[bipolar_bear]

Whenever I have med adjustments or start a new med my pdoc has me come back in a month. Some meds need to be monitored closely until you become stable on them. It is important for lithium levels to be checked periodically especially at the beginning. Maybe you can talk to your T about what the best course of action should be for you. Please be careful.

BB

[WinterRose]

Not often enough. They're currently petitioning the health care provider because pdoc wants to alternate weeks with T seeing me so I get seen every week. He says then this kind of thing (my major flip out for 3 weeks) won't happen.

I've never had a pdoc say here's your meds come back in 6 months unless I've already been on them and stabile for some time and just need refills. Usually it's no less than 3 months. That doesn't sound right at the beginning of medication.