Safely helping you is my priority, obligation, and honor.

Whether you are currently taking psychotropic medications, or thinking about starting them for the first time, safety comes first. I would rather you be upset with me, than recommend something that the evidence suggests is not likely to be safe in the short or long run. I am very aware there are plenty of people prescribing medications that do not ascribe to this standard. They are content to write that they discussed risks with you and that you’ve made your choice, that this medication “is the only thing that works,” because they’re getting their bonus for the month and you’re the one who will deal with the consequences, not them. Ethically, I can’t simply continue something that I wouldn’t encourage a friend or family member to continue, even if “it hasn’t caused any problems so far”.

Nevertheless, all medications have side effects. As a child & adolescent psychiatrist by training, I almost always “start low & go slow” to try to minimize risk of side effects as medications are started. I was also trained to “use an effective dose or just give gummy bears,” so I can assure you, as long as you need me to, we can be creative about ensuring that we have an adequate trial at an effective dose before cycling through medications so quickly that you feel like a guinea pig.

It will not take long to find medication horror stories about medications regularly prescribed by psychiatrists and well intending primary care doctors. However, I have never successfully turned anyone into a “zombie” and don’t intend to try. If a medication is adequately helping address a symptom, but there are side effects, there are usually changes that can be made to ameliorate side effects or a similar medication that may be similarly effective with fewer side effects.

Your treatment will be based on how you are doing and we will work together to come up what will be best, and safe, for you to feel better.

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