Psychiatrist (mostly for med-dispensing) recs

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Hello!

I looked through old healthcare posts and saw the recs there, but I wanted to see if someone could recommend a doctor best suited for my situation.

I currently am seen at the Central Street clinic. I had a doctor there who I really liked, but she left and has private practice in Brookline, which is a bit far. I do have a car, but I'd rather stay local. I have Blue Cross insurance.

I plan to have another therapist (I have one now, but I'll probably be looking for a new one soon) for behavioral stuff, so I want this doctor just to be good for med stuff. I have your basic major depression and generalized anxiety, so someone good with those would be best. Night or early morning appointments are a plus. I prefer a female, but male is ok.

There are 2 big things motivating my switch. The biggest thing occured this weekend when I realized I'd left my whole bottle of Cymbalta on a trip out of town. I started calling my doctor on Friday since the withdrawal starts right away and is godawful. I still haven't heard from her, and the doctor who was her on-call coverage for the weekend never got back to me either. I ended up having to have the on-call doctor for my PCP call in 2 days' worth of Cymbalta. (She told me to get a new psychiatrist. I said I already planned to.)

The other thing is that I've safely taken anti-anxiety meds (Xanax and company) since 2005. Previous prescribers all vouch that I never abused them and I've never had any addictions. My current psychiatrist is apparently anti-benzo and, while I know why, she's just making me feel guilty about taking them, and she's gone so far as to say she doesn't want me taking them when I have a panic attack because that could cause dependence. She's only met me twice, and she already told my therapist I needed to be referred to behavioral medicine--and thereby end my (mostly good) relationship with my current therapist because of my panic attacks (which are actually better than they've been in over a year). Currently I take around 1 mg of klonipin a day, so I'm really not at a dosage that's cause for concern. I would much rather have a doctor that's more netural about meds--not one who'll throw anything at any problem you name, but also not one who rushes in and tries to make huge changes and guilt trips.

Comments

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

i've never seen either of these doctors, but i know them, and i have two friends who've seen them. the guy really liked michael hanau (http://www.twobrattle.com/Staff/Clinical/Hanau,%20Michael/hanauSummery.html), and the girl spoke very highly of joan wheelis (http://www.twobrattle.com/Staff/Clinical/Wheelis,%20Joan/wheelisSummery.html). their offices are in harvard square.