I know, I know… Sir Willy would no doubt have much to say about my post.
Take notes, kids. This is how you Pit someone.
I don’t disagree with your concern. I will mildly suggest that part of what accounts for psychiatrists’ fees is the cost of malpractice insurance. Further for folks in private practice, you must account for all of the overhead for a (typically) single-owner business. I’m not a psychiatrist, but I am a psychologist (and do not prescribe). However, I do see plenty of people for free or very low cost. I understand it as an ethical obligation.
Not bad for a newbie. Hats off.
Osler being from Ontario 
Since you feel that way, andrewdt85, I assume that means you’ll never go see another physician again. Ever. I mean, why would you ask help from someone you consider to be stupid and who only cares about your money? That wouldn’t be very bright of you, would it?
I suggest you make an exception for the psychiatrists, though, because… um, just because.
When I have to go on any type of medication, I always ask whether it has any side effects. Most cough syrup makes you drowsy, and cold medicine as well. Do you really expect a medicine which works on brain chemicals do have no side effects whatsoever?
I suppose it’s possible if there aren’t any brain chemicals present to be worked on.
Everyone thinks you’re a basketball player.
Not that it really matters at this point in the thread, but I had an entirely different experience when my doctor put me on phentermine two months ago.
He explained ALL of the known side effects, insisted that I have both a quick EKG and a really extensive echocardiogram and gave me an 1800 cal/day diet that I just can’t fucking seem to follow. 
He also put me on a water pill and explained the benefits and possible side effects of said water pill.
After that, I drove to Walgreens to fill my prescriptions and the pharmacist gave me a run-down of side effects and asked if I had any questions regarding my prescriptions.
I’ve filled various prescriptions with several different Walgreens pharmacies and they’ve ALWAYS explained how to take my medicine and what to expect with my medicine. Even the shit that I get filled every single month (i.e. birth control pills)
I feel for you if you’ve had some bad experiences, but I’m proof that the medical community can be very helpful and good to it’s patients.
Granted, 5 minutes after I was back to work from my doctors appt, I was immediately on the internet looking for phentermine support boards and additional information regarding the drug itself.
But that is because I understand that if I do die, I die alone. I’m ultimately responsible for my life, but I am thankful that there are people and drugs out there to rectify issues that I wouldn’t be able to fix on my own.
For those who don’t think doctors are worth their time, don’t go. It’s your call, really. No one can MAKE you go to the doctor. Good luck healing thyself. 
I will (somewhat hesitantly) add my opinions that doctors and psychiatrists need to work on their skills treating problems that aren’t completely physical in nature (anxiety, depression, etc.). I have had some pretty sub-standard care in these regards, and from more than one doctor. I’m not going to come into the Pit and call out all doctors, especially any Dopers that I’ve never even met, but there is a grain of truth to andrew’s rant, and it’s not just about side effects.
I have a direct question for the physician members of this Board - when seeing a patient with anxiety and/or depression, do you offer them anything more than an SSRI prescription?
If only I had an avatar with my picture; then it would be screamingly obvious that I’m not. 
First off, I need to reiterate: I am sincerely, and I mean that SINCERELY, apologetic for mentioning Qadgop in this thread- and that is the only thing I am apologetic for. But for that, I say- I AM SORRY, very sorry. I know nothing except that you are a doctor.
Now, this thread was intended as a venting- that’s all a pit thread can be for me, either one of two things: a.) venting about something or b.) bringing up an issue while venting or not venting on something. In this case I did both, but in venting I went over the top on purpose in an enjoyable, I burning your dog- or doc :D, in this case- way, and it felt good, b/c there wasn’t anger in it, but real passion for the subject material (as in, I would never start a Pit thread just for the fun of it; there was passion in the subject, and a little bitterness, but no anger- the kind that always feels great to share w/ thousands of folks here ;)).
But it also b.) brought up an issue- and thanks to VCO3 for offering an opposing viewpoint, and for perhaps starting what can possibly be turned into a legitimate GD debate about doctors and their failure at medications.
If it weren’t for the despicable mentioning of Qadgop, him having nothing to do in particular w/ the rant itself, this thread would be a good thing to me, despite the way you see it.
And as for
that was a reference to this thread- someone, link?- a pit thread, a classic, about how ‘doctors’ (male prostitutes) were coming into the offices of your wives and girlfriends (hired by the managers and bosses) and having sex w/ them. 
Don’t even get me started on pharmacists… those guys are worthless; all they do is grab your bag out of a little bin and swipe your credit card at the check out. Their CASHIERS for chrissake! :mad: Never, EVER has anyone at any pharmacy ever told me ANYTHING about ANY SIDE EFFECTS OR TAKING THE MEDS. EVER. WORTHLESS FUCKING CASHIERS, and one of them, a young girl, was a rude little bitch in a way reminiscient of a fast food bitch. i wouldn’t get away w/ that at my job, that little bitch shouldn’t get away w/ it at her worthless job.
Pharmacists check a patient’s medications to make sure there are no dangerous drug interactions, which can be very important. Is there anything you DO know anything about? If so, you ought to start posting about it.
So, andrewdt85, whaddaya do (or plan to do) for a living?
Hey, dumbass, that wasn’t the pharmacist. You said it yourself:
The person that hands you the pills and takes your money is a cashier. If you wish to speak with a pharmacist, you say, “Hey, I need to talk to the pharmacist.” The cashier will notify the pharmacist and he or she will assist you with any questions you have about any of the medications you’re taking.
Have you ever asked? Oh, wait. You don’t even know the difference between and cashier and a pharmacist. Of course you’ve never asked.
I cannot imagine why.
Well, the pharmacy fairy had carefully put the prescription in a plastic bottle with a label on it and then put it in a neat little white bag in a bin for this bitchy little McDonald’s reject to rudely toss at the OP. Hell, I would be mad, too! And she has the nerve to call herself a pharmacist?
Oh. Wait. Never mind.
By the way, doesn’t this poster remind you of someone? A guy who was looking for a female to accompany him on a bicycle trip to an unknown destination? Wonder how that worked out?
Just in case anyone missed that particular nugget of fun.
FWIW, while I don’t write scripts, I do have lengthy discussions with all my clients about the meds they are on or may be starting. Send them to rxlist.com, too.
It’s called ethics.
Meanwhile, I’m also not a big fan of the $125 50 min hrs, either. Unless I’m billing an insurance company.
I’ve tended to work community mental health where the sliding scale really slides. $1/session and such.
I don’t know what’s going on with you, but if you need referrals to good low-cost mental health places, email me off-board with your general geographic area and any specialties you might need (say schizophrenia or bipolar or personality disorder or poo-eating obsession), and I’ll see what I can dig up for you.
Otherwise, fuckity fuck fuck fuck.