I'm really sick but my psychiatrist won't change my meds? I don't know what to do.

I'm taking Brintellix and experiencing crazy nasty side-effects and when I told him that at first he lowered the dose, and then a month later when I could finally get another appointment with him he took me off of it all together and just upped my Xanax. But he didn't prescribe anything else. I can't withdraw from this, I think I'll go crazy, and I need to be an a medication right now for my anxiety. It's really bad. There's a wait-list for like every psychiatrist and I don't know what to do. I'm super nauseous and dizzy all the time I can barely move.

[BonnieSue]

The xanax IS for your anxiety, and the dosage was increased. Is that new dose not enough? No doubt you're extra anxious because of not having a new antidepressant to replace the Brintellix. What did the Dr. say about not putting you on another antidepressant? It doesn't sound like the 2 of you talked much and the Dr. didn't really do his or her job.

I don't blame you for looking for another psychiatrist but changing is always difficult. And always anxiety-producing. You can have a lot of control over how you feel right now by calming yourself down. If you notice you're breathing too fast compared to normal, try to slow it down a little. Take a deep breathe in, hold it for a count of 1, 2, 3, and let it out slowly....and see if that slows you down somewhat. Now try to breathe to a slower pace than your normal, say, in for 1,2,3, and out for 1,2,3,4. You make the numbers up so they're right for you. Do this only for a few times and then transfer your attention to something else.

Focus your thoughts on something that can hold your attention that you like....a computer game, solitaire, a movie that moves along and isn't slow, you name it. Or exercise, run, whatever keeps you occupied. All of these things will bring your anxiety down and keep you more comfortable. What works depends on your anxiety level at that moment. When your thoughts stray into anxiety producing areas, you bring them back AWAY from those areas and into safe thoughts that are more calming. Don't try meditation because you aren't ready for that yet unless you happen to have just the right amount of xanax in you. And the level of xanax is a quickly changing thing.

Please stay on top of getting scheduled for a Dr. who can prescribe an antidepressant. Maybe you'll have to settle for A GP just this one time? And get on a psychiatrist's schedule for the following app't.? I surely hope so. Best wishes for great health for you.

[tallngracious]

If I were you I would go back to your regular M.D. and tell him about this. I have both clinical depression and anxiety. My regular M.D. treats me for both. I'm on both Lexapro for my depression and Buspirone for my anxiety. She has been great.

I feel that once u tell your regular M.D., about how that doctor has treated you. That either they cd change your psychiatrist and u cd get expedited in to see them. Or your M.D. cd take over treating you.

But I wd DEFINITELY go back to the M.D. who referred u to that psychiatrist right away! And something will be done!

[BonnieSue in reply to tallngracious]

This is a good idea if you're in a system where you have to go through your GP to get a referral to a psychiatrist. I hadn't thought about this kind of system.