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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nickguy on July 30, 2006, at 10:53:41
highly UN-RECCOMENDED pyschiatrist in the philadelphia area-
Dr. Ralph Fiskin- (operates out of park town place in Phila.)*refuses to use benzodiazepams for anxiety, and instead prescribes anti convulsants and anti pyschotics, medicines with weak profiles for treating anxiety, while benzodiazepams are almost always effective.
* is not very welcoming. Although polite, I felt unwelcome and that I was just a part of his work. He also talked down on me somewhat as if he was my teacher. He had no respect for my knowledge of pyschiatric meds.
* Is awful at psycho therapy. When I told him I wasn't comfortable enough to try to get a girlfriend, his answer was "Sure you are!" There would be periods of awkward silence for up to 2 minutes, in which I would have to stress myself just to find something to talk about.
* Although I have never had manic symptoms, or anything remotely close to them, he diagnosed me as bi-polar II on the sheer fact that I have a grandmother who was bi-polar. It's been very clear to my pyschologists and new psychiatrist that I have depression and SA, which is also in my family. SInce Dr. Ralph Fishkin believed I was bi-polar on extremely inconclusive evidence, he treated me with lithium and lamictal, which both did nothing for me. Since he believed anti-depressants would make me "manic" he refused to try ad's I hadn't previously tried. When I got off lithium and lamictal and told him I would like to try some of the anti depressants that I hadn't tried yet, (because I was getting no relief from my depression) he refused and said the only thing he could think was left to try would be to go back on lamictal (which didn't help my depression the 1st time I tried it) and gabitril for social anxiety, which did nothing. After this I decided it was time for a change.Higly RECCOMENDED pyschiatrist in Philadelphia Area
Dr. Steve Weinstein (operates out of Bryn Mawr)* Dr. Weinstein is an incredibly friendly and warm person. He makes you feel like he'll do whatever it takes to make you feel better. He also has a good humour concerning pyschiatric meds.
* Dr, Weinstein answers or answers back to all of my phone calls. He basically gives free sessions over the phone when you need to talk to him.
* He prescribed me ativan for my anxiety, which has made a huge difference in the quality of my life. We knew there were risks but he trusted me, and I have not abused nor taken regularly my ativan. He also gave me Inderal, a beta-blocker to use for emergencies. It's good knowing I can take this if I'm entering a higly stressful situation and not worry about shaking.
* Because I didnt respond to SSRI's and other AD's in the past, he put me on desipramine, a TCA. Although it didn't work for me, it was still good to know that he would try all possible treatment options. I'm now trying zoloft, one of the few ssri's I havent tried.(By the way, desipramine and zoloft have NOT made me manic, as none of the antidepressants in the past I've taken did)
* Is not afraid of treatment options such as MAOI's, stimulants, and other medicines that are stigmatized. His attitude is if you feel better than it's worth it.
Anyway, you can surely see my two polar views of these guys. I really wouldn't want anybody to waste their time and money on a guy like Dr.Fishkin. I'm sure he's helped some people who were easy to treat, but otherwise he's not a very good psychiatrist and an awful psychcotherapist.
If your in the sorrounding Philadelphia suburbs, or even if you can make the trip from Philly (about 30 mins) I highly reccomend talking to Dr. Weinstein.
Posted by pseudoname on July 30, 2006, at 12:29:32
In reply to highly rec and higly unrec pyschs in Phila area, posted by nickguy on July 30, 2006, at 10:53:41
Thanks for these posts, Nick. I don't live near Philly, but it's been suggested several times on the board that someone should set up a database so that people can post & look up patient opinions of pdocs for free, and I appreciate people volunteering info in that direction.
Obviously, I don't think anyone should necessarily take any one opinion as the last word on a pdoc, pro or con, but when you "know" (like thru Babble) the poster and they give good, detailed reasons behind their recommendations (like you did; not just "She's a jerk!"), I think the information could be very helpful. People are at such an uninformed, overwhelming disadvantage in looking for pdocs.
I would really like to see more like this, and maybe someday organized somehow in a friendly interface.
I'm going to pass Weinstein's name on to a friend in Penn who's looking for a pdoc who might prescribe buprenorphine for depression. At least he sounds flexible and aggressive.
Posted by nickguy on July 30, 2006, at 15:32:17
In reply to Thanks » nickguy, posted by pseudoname on July 30, 2006, at 12:29:32
No problem, I wish somebody would have done it for me before I wasted almost half a year on Dr. Fishkin. With my doctor, Dr. Weinstein, basically if you ask him what you would like to take and provide atleast one reason why, he will most likely give it to you unless there's a big risk. I told him I needed something for anxiety, he gave me ativan. I told him I wanted to try antidepressants I hadn't already tried, and he started me on a TCA. It makes you feel good when although your hurting, theres a guy whose willing to do what it takes to make you feel better, even if there are risks involved.
Posted by bassman on July 30, 2006, at 18:04:31
In reply to Re: Thanks, posted by nickguy on July 30, 2006, at 15:32:17
Thanks, Nickguy. I couldn't agree more that the pdoc that comes across as wanting to help you and realizes that you may be suffering A LOT is a wonderful find. Also, someone who is flexible in their med ideas. I do live in the Philly area, so thanks again.
basman
Posted by Phillipa on July 30, 2006, at 21:46:13
In reply to Re: Thanks, posted by bassman on July 30, 2006, at 18:04:31
So does John with OCD. Doesnt post that much . But the most polite person I know. Love Phillipa
Posted by mayzee on July 31, 2006, at 21:30:51
In reply to highly rec and higly unrec pyschs in Phila area, posted by nickguy on July 30, 2006, at 10:53:41
Hi Nickguy, I was just wanting to post in search of a really good psychopharmacologist when I read yours. I also live in the Philly area.
I really just want someone who is EXCELLENT with meds for Treatment Resistent Depression.
I don't need a therapist as I already have a really good one. Due to my lack of insurance, I would probably only be able to do a consult with this pdoc at this point. I'm having to go to a county clinic to get meds for free until I can get myself back to work (who knows when that will be).
Anyway the names that seem to come up alot are Jay Amsterdam (at Penn, who only does research, won't take private patients); Alan Gruenberg; Steven Zavodnick; Thomas Benfield; David Baron at Temple. >>>Do any Babblers have any experience with these guys?
Is there anyone else in the Philly area that you thing is really excellent & experienced with meds for TRD?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Best,
mayzee
Posted by nickguy on August 1, 2006, at 17:16:05
In reply to any great PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGISTS in Phila area?, posted by mayzee on July 31, 2006, at 21:30:51
well, the guy Steve that I mentioned is not a therapist, he just deals with meds. I'm not sure if I'm completely TRD, but I haven't responded to 7 AD's, lamictal, or lithium...among others...so my guess is that I'm pretty close. His plan of action includes MAOI's, stimulants, and other combinations for me if what I'm taking now doesn't work out. Anyway, I know temple has a really good program, I don't know about TRD. I remember seeing a website listing pyschiatrists who are experts in treating TRD, if I find the link I'll post it.
Posted by mayzee on August 1, 2006, at 22:36:59
In reply to Re: any great PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGISTS in Phila area?, posted by nickguy on August 1, 2006, at 17:16:05
Hi nickguy,
Small world moment today. I take a meditation class and several of my friends in the class are therapists and they know about my struggles with depression, meds, and trying to find a good pdoc. One of them today said, "I know a very good psychopharmacologist in Bryn Mawr. I used to work with him for years. His name is Steve Weinstein." Right away I thought of your post, and knew your pdoc was Steve W. but couldn't remember the last name. Of course it turns out to be the same guy! Seems like a good omen.
> well, the guy Steve that I mentioned is not a therapist, he just deals with meds.Oh, I misunderstood; I thought he was doing both. My last pdoc did both but neither well.
> Anyway, I know temple has a really good program, I don't know about TRD.I was only aware of Temple having a good program for anxiety disorders. Do they also for depression?
> I remember seeing a website listing pyschiatrists who are experts in treating TRD, if I find the link I'll post it.That would be great. Thanks!!
--mayzee
Posted by SFY on August 2, 2006, at 11:54:06
In reply to Re: any great PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGISTS in Phila area?, posted by mayzee on August 1, 2006, at 22:36:59
From Dr. Ivan Goldberg's Depression Central:
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.psychiatrists.html
He also has a collection of articles on treating TRD:
Posted by nickguy on August 2, 2006, at 16:26:18
In reply to Re: any great PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGISTS in Phila area?, posted by mayzee on August 1, 2006, at 22:36:59
> Hi nickguy,
>
> Small world moment today. I take a meditation class and several of my friends in the class are therapists and they know about my struggles with depression, meds, and trying to find a good pdoc. One of them today said, "I know a very good psychopharmacologist in Bryn Mawr. I used to work with him for years. His name is Steve Weinstein." Right away I thought of your post, and knew your pdoc was Steve W. but couldn't remember the last name. Of course it turns out to be the same guy! Seems like a good omen.That's pretty funny. It's funny too that you were in a meditation class because, although steve is obviously jewish (hence the name, weinstein) he seems like such a buddhist type peaceful guy. I took a meditation class once down in the city at the Shambhala Center.
> > well, the guy Steve that I mentioned is not a therapist, he just deals with meds.
>
> Oh, I misunderstood; I thought he was doing both. My last pdoc did both but neither well.I don't know if he's trained in pyschotherapy, but in our sessions we mostly just talk about meds.
> > Anyway, I know temple has a really good program, I don't know about TRD.
> I was only aware of Temple having a good program for anxiety disorders. Do they also for depression?I'm not sure about that. I just know they're leaders in the social anxiety department.
> > I remember seeing a website listing pyschiatrists who are experts in treating TRD, if I find the link I'll post it.
The link the guy above posted was the one I was talking about.
Posted by mayzee on August 2, 2006, at 17:54:59
In reply to Re: any great PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGISTS in Phila area?, posted by nickguy on August 2, 2006, at 16:26:18
This is the end of the thread.
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