Posted by jclint on November 29, 2004, at 12:37:00
In reply to Re: Anyone know of any decent doctors in the UK?, posted by TheOutsider on November 28, 2004, at 17:24:31
Denise, I currently see a doc at the Woodbourne Priory :) After being with an 'adolescent' psych there for a couple of years I'm now with someone else.
Outsider, I can empathise with your sit although it seems I've found someone a bit more liberal. At the Woodboune 2 years back I was prescribed effexor also, I think its quite the drug of choice at the moment. I'm almost off now (about 20mg a day), and it has made me realise that it helped my anxiety without my realising. It certainly helped my depression. If I was in your shoes, I would at least give it a trial. I would try a highish dose - I was up to 150mg and in hindsight it was helpful. However it wasn't the ONE for me, I still had a lot of anxiety (but as I said, not too much depression). I'm in a bit of a mess at the moment, I'm not coping too well without the buffer Efexor gave. And nothing to try until the 18th at the earliest... it is depressing but I'm holding on the thought that I'll be on my way in a couple of weeks.
Despite my posts about UK benzo-phobia etc etc, I haven't really had problems with other types of meds. My old psych (the adolescence one), was perfectly willing to prescribe Nardil for me. Perhaps foolishly I transferred as I wanted to try clonazepam (oh how blind I was!), and it now looks like I'm going to start Nardil 3/4 months later. But I guess what I'm trying to say is, out of two psychiatrists I've seen, neither was not willing to prescribe MAOIs. After my initial apathy about my docs, I'm feeling relatively positive.
Is there no chance of your current doc prescribing MAOIs? I know neither of mine would be comfortable prescribing it first-line, so maybe if you give Efexor a trial he would be willing. After all, docs don't want to prescribe a traditionally 'dangerous' drug if a 'safe' drug could sort them out to the same extent. I've gathered there is little acknowledgement of specific disorders in the UK - eg, manic depression instead of BPI/BPII, etc. Neither of mine have treated me specifically for 'social anxiety', just 'anxiety'. Its frustrating sometimes, but comforting at others because I think I prefer my unique symptoms to be treated.
I could talk for ages on this stuff, I feel I am in a similar boat to yourself (although there is the chance my boat will be sailing soon :). Take care
John
poster:jclint
thread:421418
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041128/msgs/421867.html