Should a physician, or a psychiatrist be prescribing anti-anxiety medicine?

Question

Or Anti-depessants. Who usually prescribes them to you?

Answer 1

Hello...............I am a firm believer that doctors should stay within their field of expertise. If you are anxious or depressed, seeing a regular M.D. should get you a referral to a psychiatrist. The last thing you need is to be misdiagnosed. This is a very common occurrence , especially for the depressed. What can happen is that the medications you are prescribed for depression can and do "trigger" other symptoms of mental illnesses like bipolar disorder. While depression is one of the symptoms of bipolar, should it be the first symptom to present itself, and you are treated for the depression only, the mania associated with this illness will most assuredly follow. When you do go to the doctor, either a regular physician or a psychiatrist, the key to proper treatment is being honest about all of your symptoms. Hold back nothing, so that a proper assessment of your needs can be determined. Good luck and take care................

Answer 2

Your physician is not doing anything wrong. He's probably trying to save you money. However, your physician should refer you to a psychiatrist and let him make the diagnosis. The diagnosis may be obvious, but there are many medications and the psych is better equipped to know which one will work best for you, and also which ones have what side affects like weight gain. Some are more addictive more quickly than others, some have less expensive generics, some don't. Sometimes, a generic won't work for you. See a specialist. These are potent drugs (thank goodness they work).

Your local pharmacist is your best source if you wonder if your antacids, etc. will interfere with the absorption of your tranquilizers.

Answer 3

A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychological issues. As physicians they can prescribe medications. They are also generally scientist due to their training and know a good bit more about the body's physiology and morphologies than a non-physician. Your GP or internist can prescribe these medications as well, but you would best be served by getting an evaluation from a psychiatrist and most GPs or internists would be glad to get you a referral.

Answer 4

Your primary care physician can prescribe anti-anxiety medicine, but I would trust a psychiatrist much more because they are more knowledgeable about these medications, dosages, and side effects.

Answer 5

Both physicians and psychiatrists prescribe anti-anxiety and anti-depressants. Usually physicians don't refer you to a psychiatrist unless you have a lot of psych issues. Chances are that your physician will be the one to prescribe your medications. No worries, they see depression and anxiety issues all of the time, it's really common.

Answer 6

The treatment for depression and anxiety is pretty standard and the meds usually work well. So a primary care physcian can manage either of those.

Psychiatrists would include that in their care as well, but their specialty goes beyond those and into the realm of psychosis, which is a whole new barrel of meds and sometimes very tricky to mange....that is their expertise.

Answer 7

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 8

Preferably a psychiatrist should prescribe anti-anxiety medication, as it would fall under the umbrella of psyciatric disorders.

Answer 9

Psychiatrists can prescribe such medications, but so can any other licensed physician--including family doctors, obstetricians, pediatricians, internists. Such medications can also be prescribed by family nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Answer 10

both can. depends on whats causing alarm if you go to a physican they may tell you to seek advice of a psychiatrist so you might be better off just asking the psych?