# My would be doctor is a quack!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 13, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696 "2012-04-13T20:07:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/1 "2012-04-13T20:07:51Z")
My doctor of many years passed away recently. So I found a new one. I explained to him my situation. I suffer from anxiety issues and I also have an essential tremor that makes my hands shake. (Hence my screen name) The problem with this combo is that the anxiety compounds my tremors. Making them much worse than they should be. My previous doctor prescribed me Lexapro and Xanax. This was not with out trail and error though. I had to go through several scripts at varying levels before we found the right mix. Seriously, the dosage I was currently on improved the quality of my life ten fold. So what does my would be doctor say to me when I ask for these scripts? “Xanax?! Oh no! Those are addictive we can’t be having none of that.” Forget the fact that it takes me a good three or four months to go through a single bottle. And the Lexapro? Well apparently all that shit is just in my head. I need to take up meditating and listening to “peaceful” music. :rolleyes: Ya know, it’s bad enough when regular folk try to tell me “Just relax it’s all in your head.” It’s annoying but I give them a pass because there is a lot of ignorance out there when it comes to stuff like this. But to have an actual medical doctor tell me this? Good lord! The mind just boggles. I will NOT be returning to this doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/2 "2012-04-13T20:18:37Z")
Did he explain the proper order of organ rotation around the spleen? Many doctors miss that one. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/3 "2012-04-13T20:41:09Z")
% He thinks Xanax is Captain Morgan, He rearranges all my organs, that’s why my doctor is a quack! % ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/4 "2012-04-13T20:57:21Z")
Does his Echo duck? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/5 "2012-04-13T21:00:20Z")
Well, the new doc is the kind people call for when they deride MDs for “just throwing pills at the problem”. Although he sounds like a dickhead to me. Can I ask what kind of doctor this is (assuming he is an M.D., what particular flavor)? ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/6 "2012-04-13T21:03:13Z")
Your first hint should have been the framed diploma from Whattsamatta U. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/7 "2012-04-13T21:54:06Z")
Unless this doc is a psychiatrist, it’s not a reasonable expectation for him to prescribe lexapro and xanax. I wouldn’t prescribe either of those drugs myself, as a Family Medicine specialist. Anti-depressants and benzos are out of my territory (unless a benzo is needed for acute severe muscle spasm.) And a good psychiatrist would want to know a lot about a patient, and review old records, before dispensing long-term prescriptions for such a combination. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/8 "2012-04-13T21:54:07Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Well, the new doc is the kind people call for when they deride MDs for “just throwing pills at the problem”. Although he sounds like a dickhead to me. > > Can I ask what kind of doctor this is (assuming he is an M.D., what particular flavor)? He was a general practitioner. I also forgot to mention he told me I need to quit drinking. Despite the fact that he had no clue as to how MUCH I drink. Just the fact that I drink period, clearly indicates a problem. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/9 "2012-04-13T21:55:24Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > He was a general practitioner. I also forgot to mention he told me I need to quit drinking. Despite the fact that he had no clue as to how MUCH I drink. Just the fact that I drink period, clearly indicates a problem. :rolleyes: Drinking on these meds is pretty contra-indicated. ---
**Author:** ![Patience\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@Patience\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patience_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/10 "2012-04-13T22:04:49Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Unless this doc is a psychiatrist, it’s not a reasonable expectation for him to prescribe lexapro and xanax. I wouldn’t prescribe either of those drugs myself, as a Family Medicine specialist. Anti-depressants and benzos are out of my territory (unless a benzo is needed for acute severe muscle spasm.) > > And a good psychiatrist would want to know a lot about a patient, and review old records, before dispensing long-term prescriptions for such a combination. Is it really that unusual for a Family Medicine doctor to prescribe anti-depressants? Since we’ve moved around a lot, I’ve had them prescribe them to me in multiple states over the past twenty years with no hesitation. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/11 "2012-04-13T22:10:05Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Unless this doc is a psychiatrist, it’s not a reasonable expectation for him to prescribe lexapro and xanax. I wouldn’t prescribe either of those drugs myself, as a Family Medicine specialist. Anti-depressants and benzos are out of my territory (unless a benzo is needed for **acute severe muscle spasm.)** > > And a good psychiatrist would want to know a lot about a patient, and review old records, before dispensing long-term prescriptions for such a combination. Bolding mine. Don’t ETs qualify for that treatment? ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/12 "2012-04-13T22:13:21Z")
As an Internist I prescribe these meds all the time and while I hate benzodiazepines, they are useful in certain situations. Certainly both anxiety and essentail tremor are within the skill set of most primary care MDs. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/13 "2012-04-13T22:15:26Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Bolding mine. > > Don’t ETs qualify for that treatment? There’s a lot of meds I’d use to treat essential tremors before even contemplating longterm benzo use for it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/14 "2012-04-13T22:18:53Z")
> [@Patience\_Jones](#): > > Is it really that unusual for a Family Medicine doctor to prescribe anti-depressants? Since we’ve moved around a lot, I’ve had them prescribe them to me in multiple states over the past twenty years with no hesitation. A lot of primary care docs prescribe them, an an unfortunately large number of them prescribe them very poorly, IME. Even so, your average primary care doc can do and probably does a fair job with antidepressants. But to prescribe both benzos and antidepressants for the same patient is, _in my opinion_, getting into risky territory. ---
**Author:** ![Patience\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@Patience\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patience_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/15 "2012-04-13T22:19:41Z")
I even had an ob/gyn prescribe me Paxil, once. Just so you know. ETA: Thanks for the response, Q. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/16 "2012-04-13T23:06:15Z")
While treating the conditions described in the OP is way out of my line, I see from the [Medscape](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1150290-treatment#aw2aab6b6b2) article on the subject that while benzodiazepines are not considered front-line therapy for essential tremor, they are often used, especially where anxiety is compounding the problem. And while a doc is right to consider potential problems with habituation to these meds, it seems to me the least he could have done is either explore other pharmacologic alternatives with the OP and to be less immediately suggestive that the patient was on unnecessary drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/17 "2012-04-13T23:08:14Z")
Or, you know, if Shakes has arranged for his records to be transferred, he could look at the patient’s prior history, see that another doctor has already tried several different medications and finally settled on that combination after trial and error. If Shakes and his previous doctor had finally found a combination that worked, why should he have to go on the merry-go-round of “Let’s try this!” again? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/18 "2012-04-13T23:13:13Z")
So at worst his new doc is a jerk. But I see no evidence of quackery. Sounds like the guy is not a good fit for you, **Shakes**. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/19 "2012-04-13T23:15:56Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Unless this doc is a psychiatrist, it’s not a reasonable expectation for him to prescribe lexapro and xanax. I wouldn’t prescribe either of those drugs myself, as a Family Medicine specialist. Anti-depressants and benzos are out of my territory (unless a benzo is needed for acute severe muscle spasm.) > > And a good psychiatrist would want to know a lot about a patient, and review old records, before dispensing long-term prescriptions for such a combination. And doctors are very experienced with drug-seeking behavior. You may feel you know what you need…and may be mistaken. You may have just chosen another in a long line of doctors to try get a prescription out of. You may be conscious of the fact you are gaming the doctor for a dose, or really believe that you cannot do without this medication, the heck with what other doctors think. I don’t mean you _personally_, just a generic ‘you’. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696/20 "2012-04-13T23:20:03Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > So at worst his new doc is a jerk. But I see no evidence of quackery. > > Sounds like the guy is not a good fit for you, **Shakes**. Duly noted. And thanks for your input. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-would-be-doctor-is-a-quack/618696.md?page=2)