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Bipolar Type II Support Group

Bipolar Type II Support Group

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Bipolar II Forums › General & Support › Psychiatrist versus RN for prescribing
08/03/2011 02:57 PM
skeptical
skeptical
 
Posts: 843
Member
Which of you out there have an actual psychiatrist prescribing your meds, and who has a prescribing nurse? My pdoc just referred me out to someone else who happens to be a prescribing nurse. In the past I worked with a nurse for a short while, and she was OK, but I was never really satisfied. I don't know if my opinion is getting in the way, but I just feel like I am getting better care with a doctor.

What are your experiences and thoughts? Would you be OK with seeing a nurse for your meds?

I guess what matters is the training that is behind the professional, but I just see a big difference in the way doctors treat versus nurses.

By the way, I am a little fed up with this switching pdocs thing because this will now be my sixth new prescriber in just over two years! Some left because they moved or were laid off, and one I left because she was not good for me. I just want to find one that I work well with and have it last long enough for me to gain some rapport and trust with them. So frustrating!
Reply

08/03/2011 03:35 PM  Top
tova1836
tova1836
 
Posts: 171
Member
I see a psychopharmacologist/psychiatrist. It is costly, but worth it as I am very sensitive to medications and have had a hard time getting them right.

Post edited by: tova1836, at: 08/03/2011 03:36 PM

Tova
Bipolar Type II, rapid cycling, mixed states, panic disorder. Osteoarthritis. On SSDI.

Abilify (baby dose!)
Lexapro
Trazadone
Klonopin
Meloxicam
Skelaxin

08/03/2011 06:57 PM  Top
Joy75
Joy75
 
Posts: 15656
Group Leader
I'm an Advocate
I think it would be okay if they knew what they were doing. I have a psychiatrist, but I'd go to a nurse if I needed to and feel the person out. If you didn't think that person was helping you, you could always change. I've heard of a few people that go to psychiatric nurses and they like them just fine. I wish you luck in whatever you do!
Joy, 37 years old

Blog:

http://www.joylepley.blogspot.com

Email:

simplyjoyful75@gmail.com

Bipolar type 2 and ADD

300mg Wellbutrin
200mg Lamictal
40mg Viibryd
15mg Abilify

I AM NEITHER A PSYCHIATRIST OR PSYCHOLOGIST. I AM HERE FOR THE SAME REASONS YOU ARE. TO GIVE AND RECEIVE SUPPORT. WHAT I SAY IS PURELY MY OPINION. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE.

Bipolar disorder can be a great teacher. It’s a challenge, but it can set you up to be able to do almost anything else in your life. – Carrie Fisher

08/03/2011 07:36 PM  Top
blj713
blj713
 
Posts: 555
Member
I don't know if mine was called a nurse, maybe so and I didn't know, she was not a pdoc and she could prescribe meds. I went to her for 10 years and she was always up on the latest meds and good at trying new things on me. I only ran into a problem when she didn't believe my diagnosis of bp2. (she treated me for various forms of depression and PTSD) But otherwise my experince was good and I'd say if they know their stuff then I have no objection to it not being a pdoc.
Barbara

Bipolar II with Rapid Cycling & Mixed States and my pdoc says treatment resistant as well. dx'd 4-15-11 but have had for 30 years
Incurable Chronic Insomnia - tried everything sleep specialist's said there is nothing that can be done for me.
PTSD
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Autoimmune Disease
Tachycardia
Hypoxemia
High Blood Pressure

Lamotrigine 400 mg
*was taken off Topamax 150 mg 2 weeks ago
*3 months ago went from 60 mg Cymbalta to 30 mg and 1 month ago off Cymbalta



Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

My advice is purely personal. I am not a Doctor and there is NO substitute for getting proper medical diagnosis and advice.

08/04/2011 10:48 AM  Top
InvisibleMe
InvisibleMe
 
Posts: 3203
Senior Member
I have experienced talking with a psych nurse before, and it was okay. She really listened to me. I was in my 20s then. Since then I have moved several times. Now in my 40s I have a psychiatrist that is wonderful. I pay a high cost for him because he's worth it. He really listens to me.
~ Christine

Abilify 10 mg
Lamotrigine 200 mg
Bupropion XL 450 mg
Clorazepate 30 mg (for anxiety)
Trazodone 300 mg prn (for sleep)
Xanax .5 mg prn (for anxiety and sleep)

*Please note that I am not a doctor and my advice is purely my opinion.

08/04/2011 11:14 AM  Top
dagny
dagny
 
Posts: 246
Member
I just started seeing a psych nurse in June and while I was very pleased with her at first (she seemed very thorough and spent time with me), it now seems like she's not really that sure of how to treat me. But I wasn't pleased with the psychiatrist I had before her either. I think they really don't know what the heck to do with us sometimes. Smile
Prempro
Estrogen
Calcium
Lisinopril 10 mg daily
Pravastatin daily
Wellbutrin
Ativan once daily

MY WALLET HURTS!!!!!!!!!!

08/04/2011 12:59 PM  Top
blj713
blj713
 
Posts: 555
Member
I think you could be right about them not knowing what to do with us sometimes Smile I suppose bipolar is difficult to treat since getting the right cocktail is basically a crap shoot, excuse my French, it's a big guessing game with major trial and error.
Barbara

Bipolar II with Rapid Cycling & Mixed States and my pdoc says treatment resistant as well. dx'd 4-15-11 but have had for 30 years
Incurable Chronic Insomnia - tried everything sleep specialist's said there is nothing that can be done for me.
PTSD
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Autoimmune Disease
Tachycardia
Hypoxemia
High Blood Pressure

Lamotrigine 400 mg
*was taken off Topamax 150 mg 2 weeks ago
*3 months ago went from 60 mg Cymbalta to 30 mg and 1 month ago off Cymbalta



Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

My advice is purely personal. I am not a Doctor and there is NO substitute for getting proper medical diagnosis and advice.
Reply

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