How do you all cope, when your specilist unexpectedly left, and not being able to get scripts until you get a new specilist. (Australia)
I'm on psych meds, and my specilist unexpectedly left (sacked), due to covid status. The clinic didn't even bother to inform his clients. I I'm currently in full drug withdrawal with one one medication and have 10 days left on the other. My gp can get me the one I don't have on Monday... But I've been told it's an 8month weight to see a new psych, leaving me with no way to get my most importend med, the one that will likely land me in hospital due to with drawls and the psych ward.
Any one been successful, having medicare approve intence highly addictive medications on exemption due to such and issue?
An other issue I'm freaking about is the idea of a new psych. Iv had 2 over the years and have been lucky enough they sore me as a person rather then a text book case. This is the last psych in our location and sadly in the public sistem their are strict rules about your address. I'm peteofide this woman will treat me like some test book case and not pay attention to what's going on in my life, and teach me coping mechanisms.
10 Replies
Shouldn't all of his patients been transferred to other psychs? It's not fair and quite dangerous leaving so many people without medication just like that, it doesn't sound right at all. Maybe see if there's a governing body to contact about this?
It depends on what meds you are on. But usually, your GP can write the scripts for you once it’s initially been prescribed. So make sure you keep regular bookings with your GP in the meantime. Keeping your meds stable will also help your anxiety about starting with a new psychiatrist.
I rarely see my psychiatrist these days, only for a check in if I have a wobble, so my GP writes most of my scripts theses days and I only ask my psychiatrist to do it if my appointment aligns with needing a new one.
With my anti depressent, witch is what I'm withdrawing from, any gp can process that. As for my anti psych meds, it's originally used to epilepsy, but to be used for mental health, it can only be prescribed by a specialist. Every time he has to call medicare, get a reference never and explain what it's being used for then it goes on a blue script that GP's don't have. I was lucky enough today that the Chemist gave me a script in advance as I have an appointment on Monday. So hopefully by tomorrow I'll feel better.
Depanding on what's going on in my life, time between appointments change. Normally it's 6months but with life events IV been on 1/3 for almost 2years. Before Xmas, he agreed to an increase in dosage, I am meant to see him on the 1st.
Surely your GP can organize something and your psychiatrist has a practice where they have additional staff that can take on urgent cases for patients on regular medications?
Where I am, I go through the Mayo. We have one psych left in the public sector. I'm pretty sure she was brought in to replace him as IV never seen her name on the staffing list before. I'm hoping I won't have to wait too long and if worse comes to worse, I can sit in emergincy for hrs to get a script. The Mayo doesn't normally BB, but my psych refused to charge any one on a pension card so I'm looking at $150. Going privet for a psychologist here is close to $300 for 30mins
I was once in mental health with a schizophrenic guy who had a pretty bad turn (ran into barbed wire fence) because his medication was unavailable in our regional area. It’s shocking.
My GP prescribes my seroquel, risperdone and anti depressants in the past, sorry you are going through this. I suggest you go to emergency, don’t let yourself get bad enough for hospital, takes so long to get out of that deep hole. Sending you light and love.
What’s the name of the medication?
Lamictal, I'm on 800mg, witch is higher then most epileptics. Sudden stopping can cause seasures, heart attack and even stroke.
As long as your gp has all the correspondence from the psychiatrist, they write to your gp every time you see them, your gp can prescribe this. They can ring Medicare to get the authority script approval too.
A & E.
I would consider not getting your medication a medical emergency.
As for the new pysch, you can only give her the benefit of the doubt. Be honest with her about your fears.