Dr. Pagnani of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates discusses his response to a patient with a 10 year history of significant anxiety, improvement with 4-6 weeks of an SSRI, and their desire to stop the medication. While individuals always have the right to stop any medication, typically if an SSRI or SNRI is taken for a short period of time, an individual with an anxiety disorder's anxiety, will return right back to where it was before the medication trial, if it is stopped. With that said, an individual can work on behaviors that may reduce their vulnerability to anxiety, and also become de-conditioned from being anxious about their anxiety in certain situations, and overtime they may not need as much of an SSRI or SNRI, or may not need any medication at all (but this takes time).
Dr. Pagnani is the founder and medical director of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates, an Instructor at The Johns Hopkins Hospital for the Department of Psychiatry, he supervises psychiatric residents at Jefferson Hospital, he serves on the Young Professional Board of Uplift, the Center for Grieving Children and he maintains a private practice of Psychiatry in Philadelphia where he sees patients for one-time psychiatric evaluations and second opinions. He is a licensed physician and surgeon in NJ, PA, NY, MD, DE, FL and CA and can provide consultations to individuals via HIPAA compliant Telehealth visits living in these locations.
Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates is a private practice of psychiatry consisting of about 25 psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychotherapists with physical locations in Philadelphia and Paoli, PA and serving all of PA, NJ, NY and FL virtually via HIPAA compliant tele-psychiatry. Individuals seeking not only evaluations but long-term psychiatric care, can contact Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates directly.
These videos aim to increase awareness and discussion of mental health topics and to encourage struggling individuals to schedule an appointment directly with a mental health provider. Mental health needs to be normalized, and simply speaking about mental health topics openly, is an important first step.
Dr. Pagnani and Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates are NOT advocating for or against the use of any mentioned psychiatric medications for any specific individual. Additionally, any side effects mentioned are not a complete list of potential side effects or contraindications to taking any mentioned medications, and all risks and benefits of a medication should be discussed with an individual’s provider at an appointment, before starting, stopping or making changes to a medication regimen.
This video is INFORMATIVE ONLY - NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.
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www.RittenhousePA.com
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