Social Anxiety Support

MavenMI6Agent009 · 06-06-2010, 03:44 PM

Can Neurologists prescribe antidepressants to their pateints? Im curious because I need a med change and dont have any psychiatrists in my home town that are accepting new patients.

bowlingpins · 06-06-2010, 04:42 PM

I think primary care doctors would be your best choice. They prescribe antidepressants but would probably not feel comfortable prescribing the more rarely used ones (Nardil, Parnate, tricyclic ADs). Neurologists mostly work with headaches, strokes, seizures and other neurological disorders, not psychological ones.

ps. Though I am sure any doctor could prescribe any medication with the exception of certain controlled substances (pain medications).

MavenMI6Agent009 · 06-06-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowlingpins

I think primary care doctors would be your best choice.

So you think it be best if i see a GP you mean? because i have symptoms of sleep apnea where i cant physically breath I wake up gasping for air while asleep. no bad dreams or anything I thought a neurologist could help me in addition to treating my depression.

bowlingpins · 06-06-2010, 05:27 PM

^ as far as I know, PCPs can see you for sleep apnea too. waking up gasping for air sounds frightening. hope you get it sorted out.

korey · 06-06-2010, 05:55 PM

If you think you have sleep apnea, you should have a sleep study done so they can determine the specifics and possibly give you a CPAP to wear to sleep. Any MD can order a sleep study, as far as I know. Also, any MD can prescribe any approved medication (though, there are specialties that probably won't prescribe certain types of meds because it would be inappropriate and out of their field, like a psychiatrist generally won't prescribe antibiotics and a neurologist probably won't prescribe acne medicine, lol). I think they monitor brainwaves during a sleep study, and neurologists are into that kinda stuff, so seeing a neurologist for a sleep study wouldn't be weird or out of place. I don't think any doctor in his right mind would turn you away or bother with putting you on some sort of referral waiting list when he hears that you're having trouble breathing while asleep. Lack of oxygen is not something to play wait-and-see with.

06-06-2010, 03:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
MavenMI6Agent009 Status: UnDERrAted Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: EL Crappo, Tx Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 25,755	Neurologists? Can Neurologists prescribe antidepressants to their pateints? Im curious because I need a med change and dont have any psychiatrists in my home town that are accepting new patients. __________________ "The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares." (Henri Nouwen) -------------------------------------------------------

06-06-2010, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
korey Status: SAS Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Gender: Male Age: 25 Posts: 1,982	If you think you have sleep apnea, you should have a sleep study done so they can determine the specifics and possibly give you a CPAP to wear to sleep. Any MD can order a sleep study, as far as I know. Also, any MD can prescribe any approved medication (though, there are specialties that probably won't prescribe certain types of meds because it would be inappropriate and out of their field, like a psychiatrist generally won't prescribe antibiotics and a neurologist probably won't prescribe acne medicine, lol). I think they monitor brainwaves during a sleep study, and neurologists are into that kinda stuff, so seeing a neurologist for a sleep study wouldn't be weird or out of place. I don't think any doctor in his right mind would turn you away or bother with putting you on some sort of referral waiting list when he hears that you're having trouble breathing while asleep. Lack of oxygen is not something to play wait-and-see with. __________________ Rx: Wellbutrin SR 300mg, Eskalith CR 900mg, Luvox 100mg Things I have tried: Lexapro, Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, Effexor XR, Remeron, Wellbutrin SR, Eskalith CR, Topamax, Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Ambien, Restoril, Desyrel, Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, Inderal, Lopressor, Thorazine, Lamictal, Abilify, Depakote, Geodon, Seroquel, doxepin, chloral hydrate

06-06-2010, 04:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
bowlingpins Status: taking a break from SAS Join Date: Oct 2008 Gender: Male Age: 29 Posts: 1,410	I think primary care doctors would be your best choice. They prescribe antidepressants but would probably not feel comfortable prescribing the more rarely used ones (Nardil, Parnate, tricyclic ADs). Neurologists mostly work with headaches, strokes, seizures and other neurological disorders, not psychological ones. ps. Though I am sure any doctor could prescribe any medication with the exception of certain controlled substances (pain medications).

06-06-2010, 05:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
bowlingpins Status: taking a break from SAS Join Date: Oct 2008 Gender: Male Age: 29 Posts: 1,410	^ as far as I know, PCPs can see you for sleep apnea too. waking up gasping for air sounds frightening. hope you get it sorted out.