Doctors have destroyed my life and mental health?

[teyrnon72]

I am disgusted with the way i have been treated by Doctors/Psychiatrists.
I have been on Zoloft since Nov 2009 and it has worked wonders for my mental health and my life.
after almost 2 years of mental stability on the drug, last wednesday i turned up late for an appointment with my psychiatrist and for no understandable reason, he refused to give it to me until next wednesday (Now Tomorrow). I had a short argument with him as to why he was treating me in such a way, and he told me too get out (he didnt atually say it but he cut the conversation short by getting up and showing me the door, as good as). I told him that i was greatly concerned about A. Relapsing into a deep depression, and B. Withdrawal effects of Zoloft, which are widely noted to occur within days of stopping the drug, and another thing, Doctors state that zoloft must never be stopped cold turkey and that it must be weened off. My Psychiatrist has shown a complete lack of care, regarding my mental health and my concerns of going "cold Turkey".

Another thing which i know to be false, is that he said the drug would still be in my system when i see him in a week. I know this to be complete BullS**T as the drug has a 24 hour half life and such has to be taken daily. So here i am writing this a week later, and all i have said is what has happened. i have relapsed into a massive depression which thanks to the drug i had avoided for almost 2 years, My mental state is beyond help, and i am experiencing major withdrawal symptoms (Severe Nausea, Headaches, Strange Brain Zaps/Shocks, Twitching and irratability in my legs and feet which prevent sleep, Mild Vomiting, and worst of all diohrreah).

Now if i was an American Citizen (im In UK) i would sue him for everything penny he had.

Quite frankly i am disgusted by the way he has destroyed all the stability i have worked 2 years to build up.

Since i have no views of anyone else who is, or has been or just had medical knowledge i dont know weather he has every right to treat me this way and i am in the wrong, or he is in the wrong and is causing medical malpractice.

Please Offer Your Opinions.

[celeste]

You must have said or did something to pi ss him off. He is not correct for handling it that way. Always keep spares just in case this ever happens again. Keep enough to find another doc

[menw]

You must have said or did something to pi ss him off. He is not correct for handling it that way. Always keep spares just in case this ever happens again. Keep enough to find another doc

If you were American, you'd sue.....and you'd lose the suit.
It's your own fault that you missed your appointment, and he has no obligation to turn his world upside down, perhaps missing an appointment himself, just to accomodate you.
Either you're acting like a spoiled brat, or perhaps you need to discuss with him adding an antipsychotic to your medication regimen.

[arber47]

To an extent I disagree with what some of what the others have wrote although I do agree that the fact your came late to your appointment and that you started to argue with the doctor (which is not the same as calmly asking why he will not give you a prescription to cover you until he can see you again) are your fault.

Typically if a patient is late or completely misses an appointment their doctor will typically be willing to write a prescription to last long enough until the rescheduled appointment especially if the medication/s are not controlled substances.

So I do find it odd that your doctor did not give you a 2 week prescription of Zoloft (sertraline) to hold you over until he can see you for a full appointment (has it been one week since you have been off Zoloft and you still have another week until you can see your doctor?) It is also certainly best if you can schedule appointments at least a few days before you run out of medication.

You are correct that discontinuation, especially abrupt, of Zoloft and other antidepressants can potentially result in an antidepressant discontinuation syndrome and/or a relapse into depression.

Even though it does sound like you are experiencing discontinuation syndrome (its not technically considered "withdrawal symptoms") if you would sue the doctor, even in America, you'd almost certainly lose the suit. And technically there is nothing that says Zoloft must NEVER be abruptly discontinued (the prescribing information says abrupt discontinuation should be avoided), actually most people never have any discontinuation syndrome.

I hardly think John's "adding an antipsychotic" comment is appropriate and clearly we have no idea of knowing exactly what happened, what your problems are, or much at all.

I do recommend that you see a doctor, not necessarily a psychiatrist, as quickly as you can. It has been several years since I lived in The UK but I know I went to NHS walk-in clinics and was able to see a doctor quickly and I was able to get any problems tended to with ease. In some cases I was traveling and only need to have medication refilled and I never had a problem. If something like a walk-in clinic is not really an option you can always go to your local A&E and see a doctor there. And if you can afford it it might be worth going to visit a private physician. It might also be worth trying to call your psychiatrist and asking if he would be willing to prescribe you enough Zoloft to last until your appointment.

You should be able to get back to normal if you get back on the same dose of Zoloft you were taking and in some cases it can be helpful to also take a benzodiazepine like lorazepam, diazepam, or oxazepam for just a few days to help manage the symptoms as the Zoloft starts to "kick back in." It is also much better to start up the medication as soon as you can rather than waiting.

Also if you live in The UK why are you using the name Zoloft? In The UK the brand name is Lustral not Zoloft.

[ruelle]

If you were an American citizen and sued, you'd probably still lose....

What many patients don't seem to realize is that what you do or say in an encounter with a physician is DOCUMENTED heavily! Usually this is for nothing more than treatment purposes (and is kept strictly confidential by law and ethics), but as soon as you formally allege malpractice (as in a lawsuit), guess what - it's open season on your medical records.

I highly doubt we're getting the full account of what went on.

[sylvester37]

So,
1] you showed up late, and
2] you had used up ALL your pills, and
3] you demanded your medication, and
4] argued [ shouted at? ] your doctor when he wouldn't see you, or give you a refill?
5] In the US, your doctor could fire you
6] in future - try to remind your doctor BEFORE you run out of pills

Good luck.