Anxiety and Depression - Seeking OBGYN that will prescribe meds

[Anonymous]

My youngest is 2, but I am having a lot of anxiety and depressed feelings lately. I'm also way overdue on my OBGYN exam. I want to talk to a doc about possibly getting medication to help the mental issues. Can anyone recommend their OBGYN that is open to this type of discussion? I prefer one that practices out of GW. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

OB/Gyns don't prescribe antidepressants, psychiatrists (and some GPs) do. Even with PPD, my OB referred me to a psychiatrist for medication/therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OB/Gyns don't prescribe antidepressants, psychiatrists (and some GPs) do. Even with PPD, my OB referred me to a psychiatrist for medication/therapy.

Some OB/Gyns do, but you are better off seeing a psychiatrist who knows more about how the different medicines work.

[Anonymous]

Don't be too quick on the draw with the meds, OK?

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP -- whether or not your OB/GYN will write you a script, you're better off seeing a psychiatrist who is current on what will be the best and most appropriate medication(s) for your particular needs.

That said -- if you happen to still be nursing your youngest and your concern is that an OB/GYN will be up to date on the safety of medications while nursing while a psychiatrist will not -- there are lots of credible resources on the web to show a psychiatrist:

http://www.motherisk.org/prof/updatesDetail.jsp?content_id=1000

Big leap in assumptions there but having BTDT myself I thought I'd throw that out in case it's helpful for you or anyone else. If not, ignore.

Also -- like I said, having BTDT myself, I know it's really hard to schedule time for self-care, but your kids deserve a healthy and happy mother and you deserve time to take care of yourself, so please don't short-change yourself the medical care you are entitled to by trying to do one-stop-shopping for very different types of medical care.

Please get yourself the help you need and please reach out to family and friends for support. It is super tough being the mom to young kids at the best of times and this is exactly the time to get support for your physical and emotional well-being from the people who love you.

[Anonymous]

My OB is Kirstiaan Nevin at RHJN, and I've found her really open to a discussion. She writes my scrip, but I've been on SSRIs for decades. I don't know if she would write one from scratch, but she'd certainly have referrals and support.

Also can recommend Lisa Catapano, a psychiatrist at GW.

[Anonymous]

Primary care doctors and their PAs will do this and thy are much easier to get in to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Primary care doctors and their PAs will do this and thy are much easier to get in to see.

+1

I go to a psychologist and my pcp writes the prescriptions.