How long will it take for my new psychiatrist to prescribe me with something?

[Recreant793]

I'll start by saying I know that there is no possible way for someone to tell me exactly when I could possibly begin getting prescribed something because everyone is different and psychiatrists are no exception.

So basically, I had been visiting my regular MD for issues with my anxiety over a course of 4-5 months. He started me off with Clonazepam, and I wasn't impressed to be honest because of how long it took to kick in. My anxiety consists of a lot of panic and immediate discomfort. So after 2 months I let him know that wasn't helping my situation much. So he swapped me over from Clonazepam to Lorazepam. While I noticed a quicker onset, this medication is incredibly mild and I have to increase my dose dramatically to feel any type of relief. It's almost a placebo to me. After 3 months on it, I let him know my thoughts on the medication and how I had to increase dosage for it to help me. He wasn't interested in increasing strength of the drug ( I am prescribed 1mg ), and just increased the quantity from 60/month to 90. He said for anything more he would want to recommend me to a psychiatrist.

Knowing myself, and that I do need more than just 90 1mg Ativan, I decided to seek a psychiatrist on my own. I found one relatively close to where I live and met with her probably 5-6 days ago for the first time. This is where I should interject and say that I do have a specific medicine that I know works for me, and surprise, it's Alprazolam. Yes I know, shocker. I have used it in the past many times although have never had a legitimate prescription. Out of all benzos I have tried in my lifetime, this is my saving grace. Anyway, I met with her for the first time and she asked me a series of questions for what I assume was an evaluation. She agrees that I am very anxious and acknowledges that I have become very reclusive because of this. She also agreed with the fact that I suffer from panic attacks ( Her words, not mine ). I didn't want to come out and say those things so boldly because I don't want to come off as a hype.

So my question is to those of you who have experience being a patient of a psychiatrist, because I have never been to one before. How long in your opinion will it take before she "diagnoses" me and writes me a prescription? I am trying to let her know I suffer from all the ailments that would warrant a legitimate Xanax prescription. So I would hope she doesn't have anything else in mind. Although if that's the case, I will not kick and scream and hope that in time my silent request is granted.

I am seeing her again for the second time this Friday.

Thanks for any input.

 

[szuko000]

I understand you fully believe benzos are a good answer for your condition but I do ask that you practice extreme caution and literally use them as needed. Xanax is usually used for aborting panic attacks it is not a long term benzo and benzos are not a long term solution so it is unlikely that you will find someone who will give it to you long term in amounts over 1-2mg per day. I do not know you nor am i your doctor but i find most people who feel benzos are the answer are only thinking short term, you will not be able to stay on benzos forever and it is in your best interest to find another path. The fact you are at this point where you are seeking a doctor who can prescribe more is not a good sign.

It is not that i do not think you will benefit from benzo use it just sounds like you havent been doing much else. What do you do other then take medications to try to help your condition? I am all for treating cognitive issues with medication but you will not correct the problem until you correct the behavior. So when you are taking benzos you really have to be pushing yourself socially and doing hings to try to help your situation or all your doing is adding a very addictive and isolating substance to an already volatile situation.

And unfortunately no one is going to be able to tell you when a doctor will give you medications. There are two ways about this you can bring it up intelligently and with proof of past medication and it might work or you can see what her way of treating anxiety is. There are plenty of different types of psychologists and ways to treat behavior i encourage you to try as many as you can as your prescription to benzos will run out. Maybe in a week maybe in a year or a decade but at some point in your life the drugs will run out.

 

[Johndoedoe.junk]

My doc prescribed me meds on the first visit. I would think a good first appointment would warrant enough of an opinion on whether you'd benefit from any meds. Be forewarned though that if benzodiazepines are what you seek some docs are vehemently against them, especially long term like the previous poster stated. Usually things like Buspar, Vistaril, and Mirtazapine are first line where benzos are typically a last resort. Expect an SSRI as well as those tend to have an effect on keeping anxiety minimized as well. Again beware the benzodiazepine on the long term. Becoming dependent on them sucks and getting off of them by taper (pretty much the only safe way with dependence) is a slow and uncomfortable process. You think you have anxiety now, try dealing with rebound anxiety from dependence and the increased anxiety that comes with dose cuts even at slow and low intervals.

 

[Felonious Monk]

I'd have to agree with szuko, the best thing the psychiatrist can do for you is not give you any more benzos and refer you to real therapy.

 

[Recreant793]

All very valid points and I appreciate the advice because I am fully aware what benzo withdrawal carries potential for. My ex dealt with many seizures and negative effects from Xanax but that was because she abused them heavily, while I understand that everything should be in moderation. I was just curious as to how the steps involving a psychiatrist work because like I mentioned before, I have never visited one.

 

[Felonious Monk]

Some psychiatrists will write scripts for benzos the first visit. Some will make you go through other medications first. Some will never write for them. It all depends on your individual condition (which we can't judge without meeting you) and their professional opinion. Same as every other doctor you've ever seen.

 

[cj]

It is really difficult to know how this will play out. Other people have already mentioned a few variables. The fact is that Xanax is like the number 1 or 2 most prescribed drug in America so its not impossible or anything to get. I think being female ups your chances 20 fold though IME.

 

[Recreant793]

Ah well unfortunately I am not a female but I can see where that might give somewhat of an unfair advantage, lol. I suppose this is just something I am going to have to see how it plays out. I guess if nothing comes through for me after maybe 5 visits I might have to see who else is out there.

 

[bdomihizayka]

First visit it was for me. I didn't even want a benzo and was even adamantly against being on one daily, but my psych insisted and I walked out with 2mg of klonopin a day (which I only take for emergencies) and Adderall for ADD.

Funny thing is, this guy is one of the most acclaimed addiction specialists in my state and is a suboxone prescriber as well. He told me he didn;t see an "addict bone" in my body when trying to convince me to take klonopin daily.


Little does he know....

 

[crunchyplanets]

Back in 2009 i was suffering from really bad anxiety, i was going into the ER just to get my vitals checked, basically every day. Well, i found a doctor and decided to get a full workup of blood tests, and ekg, and a heart ultrasound. She authorized the tests and wrote me up a script for xanax 3 times a day, .5 mg. I was stunned because I didn't even go in for meds, just tests.

Im surprised the psychiatrist didn't prescribe something on the first visit. They usually tried to get atleast an antidepressant into my hands on the first go.

 

[manboychef]

It sounds like you have panic disorder. I have it and it really sucks. I am prescribed .5mg up to3x a day if neededxanax, 30mg temazepam for sleep, and zoloft. The zoloft does an amazing job of mitigating most of my anxiety. I also attend therapy, and I try to put into practice anxiety stopping measures like breathing exercises, positive self talk, etc. I rarely need the xanax unless I am having a very serious panic attack.

A benzo isn't always the answer. Hard work on your part, and therapy along with maybe an ssri is a much safer alternative. When I say hard work, I mean you have to learn how to mitigate some of the anxiety on your own. Relying on a pill to do that is not always going to work and will only escalate your use.

 

[crunchyplanets]

It sounds like you have panic disorder. I have it and it really sucks. I am prescribed .5mg up to3x a day if neededxanax, 30mg temazepam for sleep, and zoloft. The zoloft does an amazing job of mitigating most of my anxiety. I also attend therapy, and I try to put into practice anxiety stopping measures like breathing exercises, positive self talk, etc. I rarely need the xanax unless I am having a very serious panic attack.

A benzo isn't always the answer. Hard work on your part, and therapy along with maybe an ssri is a much safer alternative. When I say hard work, I mean you have to learn how to mitigate some of the anxiety on your own. Relying on a pill to do that is not always going to work and will only escalate your use.

Yes, i do. I took .25 mg 3 times after I got the script. I personally thought it was ridiculous. I was too afraid to take it, because of the withdrawals. The bottle didn't even say "as needed".

I tried to get counseling but they didnt want to give me CBT. And the panic attacks went away. Recently i went for counseling for the panic attacks because they came back again, bad. The counseling helped me to cope with the attacks and over time diminish them again. I was taking xanax as needed this time, and now I don't need it at all.

Counseling, i believe is the best thing for anxiety. I believe there are ways to train yourself to think differently. I also believe a pill alone is not going to help, but to each his own. If you rely on a pill and don't get rid of the negative thinking, i believe people are just applying a bandaid.

 

[manboychef]

It is amazing how much they throw those pills around. I rarely need them, but they have indeed made my life functional. I wouldn't get any restful sleep if I didn't have the temazepam, and I did try so many different other sleeping meds before that. I look at benzos as a last resort.

 

[Recreant793]

I'm already on Cymbalta and it has helped over time but I still get panic attacks quite regularly.

 

[Johndoedoe.junk]

Back in 2009 i was suffering from really bad anxiety, i was going into the ER just to get my vitals checked, basically every day. Well, i found a doctor and decided to get a full workup of blood tests, and ekg, and a heart ultrasound. She authorized the tests and wrote me up a script for xanax 3 times a day, .5 mg. I was stunned because I didn't even go in for meds, just tests.

Im surprised the psychiatrist didn't prescribe something on the first visit. They usually tried to get atleast an antidepressant into my hands on the first go.

I was in a similar situation in late 2013. Visited the ER three days consecutive due to horrid anxiety. Was actually bed ridden because of it. Third visit they actually took me serious and scripted me for 2mg Ativans 2 times a day. Got dependent on those while waiting the month or so it takes to get into a new psychiatrist. What a shitty time of my life. Getting off the high dose Ativan was fun while at least it enabled me to fun too at the time. Fast forward two years later and Im now scripted.5 Xanax TID although I use it sparingly. Benzo dependence is a real bitch. BTW OP my first visit with my most recent (and whom I consider my best) psychiatrist yielded me a script for Prozac, Ativan, and Zyprexa, not that I'm psychotic but just to take with the Ativan as an added med for rescue attacks.

This wasn't my first visit to a psych doc in general though just this new one. I'll say it again, watch out for daily benzo use. Dependence with those is horrible and it too me months to taper off the Ativan and was hard as hell. The SSRI made it much easier though once it kicked in. FWIW my diagnosis is MDD, Anxiety Disorder, and OCD.