My new psych claims I threatened her; am I in the wrong?

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

I'll keep the background short: I have psychotic depression (the most severe form). I was prescribed Sertraline (Zoloft) in 2010 and it's made a significant positive improvement. My previous psych agreed I should be on it for life as I have organic depression*

Saw a new psych today (previous guy retired) and she said "I see you've been on the Sertraline for 14 years, I think we should try just taking you off it" I told her absolutely not, I was accidentally taken off it in hospital a few years ago and I didn't notice for a week (I'm on like 16 meds so didn't notice one of them being missing) and that's all it took for me to go back to being actively suicidal and having panic attacks.
She said she wanted to try anyway and insisted she was going to do it.
So I told her if she took me off it I would kill myself and leaving a note explaining what had happened and name HER, specifically, as being to blame. And that "when my family sue, they will not sue the NHS, they will not sue this hospital, they will sue YOU".
She agreed not to take me off it, but accused me of "Threatening" and "Trying to intimidate her" (note: I'm 5'5 and 109lbs and I said all of this in a calm tone, ain't nobody intimidated by ME).
Obviously I immediately called the hospital and requested a different doctor.

But looking back I feel a little bad, like maybe I went too far? WAS I the one who was in the wrong?


*Caused by a severe chemical imbalance in my brain rather than the depression being triggered by negative life events etc

 

[4DQSAR]

It seems odd that a psychiatrist would simply announce that they intended to stop prescribing a medicine that clearly works for you without some manner of explaination.

I don't know what other medications you take or how long you have been on each of them but it may be worth Googling +sertraline +interactions because I know doctors don't like to admit that they gave you a cocktail that had the potential to harm.

I don't feel able to assign blame but it MAY be the case that if an interaction has come to light, the psychiatrist might have written down 'threatening' or 'intimidating' just in case the cocktail does cause an issue - it's a crude way of avoiding responsibility.

I hope thing work out better with the replacement.

 

[CFC]

I'll keep the background short: I have psychotic depression (the most severe form). I was prescribed Sertraline (Zoloft) in 2010 and it's made a significant positive improvement. My previous psych agreed I should be on it for life as I have organic depression*

Saw a new psych today (previous guy retired) and she said "I see you've been on the Sertraline for 14 years, I think we should try just taking you off it" I told her absolutely not, I was accidentally taken off it in hospital a few years ago and I didn't notice for a week (I'm on like 16 meds so didn't notice one of them being missing) and that's all it took for me to go back to being actively suicidal and having panic attacks.
She said she wanted to try anyway and insisted she was going to do it.
So I told her if she took me off it I would kill myself and leaving a note explaining what had happened and name HER, specifically, as being to blame. And that "when my family sue, they will not sue the NHS, they will not sue this hospital, they will sue YOU".
She agreed not to take me off it, but accused me of "Threatening" and "Trying to intimidate her" (note: I'm 5'5 and 109lbs and I said all of this in a calm tone, ain't nobody intimidated by ME).
Obviously I immediately called the hospital and requested a different doctor.

But looking back I feel a little bad, like maybe I went too far? WAS I the one who was in the wrong?


*Caused by a severe chemical imbalance in my brain rather than the depression being triggered by negative life events etc

She sounds repulsive. Can you change to another? You are allowed to ask for another iirc. I doubt you'll ever get on well with her.

 

[ageingpartyfiend]

When you were unknowingly stopped taking the ssri the symptoms you had could well have been withdrawal as opposed to a depressive relapse - it's quite possible and common. They should have tapered you

I can see why a medic (or in fact anyone really) would question the 16 meds and how that may possibly be doing you more harm than good though

 

[CFC]

BTW this should probably be in the Dark Side or mental health

 

[4DQSAR]

When you were unknowingly stopped taking the ssri the symptoms you had could well have been withdrawal as opposed to a depressive relapse - it's quite possible and common. They should have tapered you

I can see why a medic (or in fact anyone really) would question the 16 meds and how that may possibly be doing you more harm than good though

I totally forgot that detail. Thanks for pointing it out.

16 does sound a lot, but there are people with cocominent health conditions. If you ever end up on a geriatric or psychiatric ward (I hope you dont), it's more common than you might think.

 

[ageingpartyfiend]

I totally forgot that detail. Thanks for pointing it out.

16 does sound a lot, but there are people with cocominent health conditions. If you ever end up on a geriatric or psychiatric ward (I hope you dont), it's more common than you might think.

It does sound like it aye, and it is (a lot), and Im not judging it whatsoever, merely observing the phenom

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

When you were unknowingly stopped taking the ssri the symptoms you had could well have been withdrawal as opposed to a depressive relapse - it's quite possible and common. They should have tapered you

I can see why a medic (or in fact anyone really) would question the 16 meds and how that may possibly be doing you more harm than good though

Most of the meds are for other things (diabetes, epilepsy, anxiety, chronic pain etc). Even if there WAS an issue, it's not be her business because she's just fo psych stuff, not general meds. Sertraline was also the first first med I was given and I'd never come off it.

 

[Pissed_and_messed]

you have right to bodily autonomy and that was threatened. You defended your rights in best way you could come up with and it worked. If you were not violated against, I would of course condemn what you did, but in this context it was self-defense.

Conflicts tend to leave people nervous, no matter did they something wrong or not, it is just innate nature of clashing with another human being. Take care.

 

[AngelsandFairiesarereal]

I'll keep the background short: I have psychotic depression (the most severe form). I was prescribed Sertraline (Zoloft) in 2010 and it's made a significant positive improvement. My previous psych agreed I should be on it for life as I have organic depression*

Saw a new psych today (previous guy retired) and she said "I see you've been on the Sertraline for 14 years, I think we should try just taking you off it" I told her absolutely not, I was accidentally taken off it in hospital a few years ago and I didn't notice for a week (I'm on like 16 meds so didn't notice one of them being missing) and that's all it took for me to go back to being actively suicidal and having panic attacks.
She said she wanted to try anyway and insisted she was going to do it.
So I told her if she took me off it I would kill myself and leaving a note explaining what had happened and name HER, specifically, as being to blame. And that "when my family sue, they will not sue the NHS, they will not sue this hospital, they will sue YOU".
She agreed not to take me off it, but accused me of "Threatening" and "Trying to intimidate her" (note: I'm 5'5 and 109lbs and I said all of this in a calm tone, ain't nobody intimidated by ME).
Obviously I immediately called the hospital and requested a different doctor.

But looking back I feel a little bad, like maybe I went too far? WAS I the one who was in the wrong?


*Caused by a severe chemical imbalance in my brain rather than the depression being triggered by negative life events etc

It sounds like she didn’t explain why she would be making such a sudden extreme change. Between that and the fact that what you told her seemed to be dismissed (… it sounds like what you went through last time when being off this med was traumatic for you) … It honestly sounds like you kind of went into a fight or flight reaction to the idea of that happening again … even down to later on when your adrenaline was a little down where you were reevaluating your actions.

I hope that made any sense. It sounds like you went into self preservation and she probably should have explained where she was coming from. Then addressed what you said you went through and then have taken it from there. Anyways, it sounds like getting another doctor if you can will be good
Hugs

 

[Didgital]

But looking back I feel a little bad, like maybe I went too far? WAS I the one who was in the wrong?

I would say yes. No need to get that dramatic.

If you really think you know better than her, I would get a new psych.

 

[4DQSAR]

Most of the meds are for other things (diabetes, epilepsy, anxiety, chronic pain etc). Even if there WAS an issue, it's not be her business because she's just fo psych stuff, not general meds. Sertraline was also the first first med I was given and I'd never come off it.

Well, even if a psychiatrist is only responsible for that one medication, they still need to check if something they prescribe might interact with something a doctor or specialist prescribed.

Here is a link to the BNF page on sertraline interactions:

BNF is only available in the UK

The NICE British National Formulary (BNF) site is only available to users in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

bnf.nice.org.uk

Do you see how long that list is and how many of those ineractions are listed as severe?

I hope you find a psychiatrist with whom you can build a constructive relationship.

 

[Lysosomalstorage]

Did you ask why she wanted to take you off? Pretty scorched earth response imo but fear can make you say weird stuff. Sertraline could be considered not great long term due to its discontinuation effects, interactions and possibly even emerging research into heart complications later in life. Although the majority of people come off it because of the weight gain.

Realistically though she was probably following the recent NHS/nice initiative to reduce reliance on SSRIs. Hopefully your next doctor is better for you anyway

 

[Pissed_and_messed]

Pretty scorched earth response imo but fear can make you say weird stuff.

Yeah, I want to emphasize that what ChemicallyEnhanced did is not what I recommend people to do, really, for various reasons. But I still stand behind my previous statement.

That is also important perspective that what if you had been on unsafe combination? But even if it came down to that, it was socially very unskilled and even smug move from doctor to not want to explain or co-operate or anything and I can not really put much blame on you ChemicallyEnhanced even if it was for some reason better you did not take sertraline.

 

[neversickanymore]

I would seek another provider. If it’s not broken there is no reason to “fix” it. I’m dealing with a similar issue.. This new endocrinologist refused to prescribe me the testosterone i have been on for over 15 years and all my symptoms are back.. i haven’t had anxiety in over a decade and it’s back. I just made an appointment to see a component provider. Shakes head.. so many medical professionals are quacks!

 

[paranoid android]

I would seek another provider. If it’s not broken there is no reason to “fix” it. I’m dealing with a similar issue.. This new endocrinologist refused to prescribe me the testosterone i have been on for over 15 years and all my symptoms are back.. i haven’t had anxiety in over a decade and it’s back. I just made an appointment to see a component provider. Shakes head.. so many medical professionals are quacks!

WTF? Why would they cut you off test? Thats fucking mad theres no reason for that. Ive been on test since october i think and honestly i feel so much better. I wouldnt want to be without it now.

As for the op being on to many meds im currently on 6 different meds of which 5 are controlled substances and im doing fine. Doctors sometimes fuck with shit for no reason i dont know why