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Dr. Goldberg: how to deal with closed-minded doc?

Posted by Elizabeth on April 21, 2002, at 13:10:38

Hi. It's kind of you to take the time to come here. Thanks!

I'm seeing a new psychiatrist (I moved recently) who seems intent on believing that I'm abusing my medication. I think she's being irrational. Maybe she sees a lot of drug abuse in her practice. Maybe she doesn't like the fact that I take three different controlled medications (Ambien, Xanax, and buprenorphine, the first two in fairly high doses). I'm sure that part of it is an overreaction to my running out of Xanax that month. (The amount she prescribed was barely enough for an average month; for a month when I'm more anxious than usual, it's not enough.) Whatever the reason, at our last meeting (my third or fourth appointment with her, I think) she kept making these comments that I found quite offensive. (She hadn't said anything like this any of the previous times I'd met with her.) Some things she said:

* She said that I had been "overusing" the Xanax in the past month because I'd run out. (She gave me enough for ten doses, and I had to ask her to call in a refill before the month was over.)

* When I told her that increased anxiety and associated musculoskeletal pain were the reason I'd needed more Xanax, she accused me of abusing it, on the grounds that Xanax isn't indicated for pain.

* I told her that I'd been having some problems with early-morning depression, perhaps because the buprenorphine was "wearing off" too soon [overnight]. She took this to mean that it had stopped working altogether, and said that if I was becoming tolerant it must be because I was using it to "get high."

* When I told her that 10 mg of Ambien doesn't work for me but that 20 mg dose (this has been apparent since I first took it in 1996), she didn't believe it, even though I told her she could call my former psychiatrist and ask him. She insisted I "try" 10 mg.

* She said, towards the end of the session, that she thinks I have an innate tendency to experiment with/overuse/abuse drugs. (I don't remember the exact phrasing, but that's the general idea.)

I'm concerned about this. I want her to trust me. I don't believe I've done anything wrong. I've been honest with her. I've told her I'm not abusing any drugs. It seems that she doesn't believe me. Why is she behaving like this? Is there anything I can do, short of finding a new doctor?

-elizabeth


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Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:Elizabeth thread:103716
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020416/msgs/103716.html