Psychiatrist to Manage Meds
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2010 - 2014 Recommendations
Medication Management Psychiatrist
May 2014The most recent Archives posting on psychiatrists who are skilled at medication management is dated August 2009, so I'm hoping for more current recommendations. I'm in the East Bay. I've been taking a well-known antidepressant for a long time, and would like to find a new psychiatrist to consult about possibly switching to something newer, since recent life events have laid me pretty low. I was previously a Kaiser member, but am not now, so I don't have access to the doctor I used to see there. I am in therapy, but have found over the years that therapy works best when my brain chemistry is working well.
Dr. Jules Tanenbaum (510) 537-5533 or (925) 287-8262. He is in Walnut Creek, easy parking, right off the freeway. He is very flexible with the medication, easy to talk to and has a very nice dog. Try something, if it doesn't work, try something else, if it doesn't work, try a combination. He'll work with you. I've tried 3-4 different stuff with him. Be patient, it can take a while to get the right med mixture. He's also a great talk therapist. been there
I recommend Dr. Manisha Punwani. She is in San Francisco, and has done a full year's training in psychopharmacology (in addition to the usual training) so she really knows medication. My young adult son started working with her recently and she has been very responsive, and best of all, was able to get him off meds that were having very debilitating side effects that many other doctors didn't recognize as side effects. She knew what to do to antidote the side effects immediately, and how to wean him off the meds, using a wholistic approach (using diet, etc., in addition to meds) She works with children and adolescents, too, including those on the autism spectrum, as well as others. Her phone is 415-933- 6124. She has a website: manishapunwanimd.com. Good luck! mom of a patient
Hi, I highly recommend Dr. M. Randy Bloch. He is located in Walnut Creek. Several physicians had told me that he was the best around. He is kind, bright and very knowledgable. I am taking many different medications, for a variety of conditions, and he has monitored my meds, and his psych med recommendations have been right on. Also, he is internet savvy, which is very convenient. His contact info is :1600 S Main St, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 943-1561 Good luck. anon
2007 - 2009 Recommendations
Need Psychiatrist/Psychopharmacologist
August 2009I need to find a psychiatrist with a specialty in psychotropic mediations. I know that all psychiatrists prescribe medications, but I've had no luck finding someone who really knows about this in detail. Recommendations, please? Still Looking
I very highly recommend Dr. Michael Lowenstein. I've known him for many years and many of my clients have seen him for med evals and med management. He is very skilled, and also warm and down to earth. He definitely is up to date on meds. He has offices in Orinda and The Presidio in SF and his # is 415-561-6773. Lynn
New to Berkeley, out of my medications
August 2008I am hoping to find a psychiatrist that focuses on anxiety and depression. I am new to the Berkeley area and with the move etc. I have been out of my medications for a few months. It is obvious to me that I still need them and need to see a psychiatrist. Does anyone have a recommedation? Thank you. jen
I was in a nearly identical situation when I moved to Berkeley last year. And as you may have already discovered, there is nearly a 1:1 ratio of psychiatrists:non-psychiatrists in Berkeley, so the options are endless. Based on my insurance situation, I quickly chose Dr. Donald Stanford and was quite pleased with him. He's an older man (so if you're looking for a woman, sorry), and his office is at 2232 Carleton St in Berkeley (phone: (510) 540-6235). I saw him only a few times, so I cannot give you a detailed analysis; however, I felt very comfortable with him and benefited greatly from my appointments. The most important thing for me (and probably you, too) was to see someone soon. anon
I hope I'm not too late to reply to this. After trying a psychiatrist in Berkeley and talking to several others, I've ended up with Dr. Randall Bloch in Walnut Creek. It's not as convenient as Berkeley, but I use it as an excuse to go to the mall there afterwards. :-) Dr. Bloch does not take insurance, but he's extremely competent, up on the latest research, and really good at considering all the options--for example, he's as open to ''natural'' treatments such as fish oil as he is to pharmaceuticals. He suggested a drug for my mild depression and anxiety that has helped me immensely, and he is continuing to work with me to minimize side effects. Now happier and less irritable
Psychiatrist for depression, good with meds
Nov 2007My husband is looking for a good psychiatrist, preferably in the east bay, to help him get better medication for his depression, grief and anger issues. His GP prescribed the meds he's currently on, that have bad side effects, such as making him feel physically numb. He needs someone who specializes in prescribing the right meds for his issues. Thanks anon
Dr. Richard Levine in Berkeley is IMO very good. Ray
Dr. Facher is an excellent psychiatrist. But she only takes clients who are in pschotherapy which makes most sense. In your husband's case, depression can be certainly helped by medication, however, greif and anger issue will not be. The medication can prevent him from going into deep depression while he deals with greif and anger at psychotherapy sessions. There are so many kids of anti-depression out there now days that it is strongly recommended to see a psychiatrist who can find him the best combination and dosages that works for him with minumum side effect. Most GP has no knowledge of many anti-depressants. It is very hard to keep up as so many different kinds are out there. Dr. Facher can be reached at 849-0807. Good Luck working at psychiatric hospital
I see Dr. Joseph Hartog in Berkeley. He is a psychiatrist, he has prescribed meds for me for depression, and is a very nice person who listens. He keeps up on the literature on allopathic and non-allopathic medications and will discuss alternatives to pharmaceuticals. His number is 510-848-8700. anon
I can highly recommend Michael Lowenstein, M.D., who has an office in Orinda. He is really great with meds, but would be great for the therapy part as well. I have often referred to him and have known him for years. He's smart and a regular guy. His number is 925-258-9302. Good luck. Finding the right person is really important! Lynn
Try Dr. Shane McKay in Berkeley. I've found him to be very knowledgeable about options and side effects. anon
2004 - 2006 Recommendations
Seeking organized, knowledgeable psychiatrist to manage meds
Oct 2006I'm looking for a new psychiatrist to manage meds for depression. One who is skilled in the pharmacology all the available meds out there, skilled in dealing with side effects and someone who treats you like a person, returns calls and is organized. I realize I might be asking for too much, so please if you have any suggestions at I'd appreciate it. Thanks, Frustrated in Oakland
You might try Bernard Rappaport in Walnut Creek. I've only seen him once but he seems to fit all your criteria: returns calls promptly, organized, treats you like a real person, etc Good luck
Aetna HMO Psychiatrist
Oct 2006I am looking for a good Aetna HMO psychiatrist (M.D.) in the Albany/Berkeley area for my wife who takes medication. There are many to choose from and I don't know which are good. I have already looked through the psychiatrist section on the Berkeley Parents Network and none of the doctors listed are included in our health plan. Any recommendations you could offer would greatly help us Concerned Husband
One psychiatrist I would recommend is Donald Stanford. He's very good with medication maintenance. He's in south Berkeley, but I think a little drive is worth it if when you find the right doctor for you. I don't know if he takes Aetna HMO. He does take MHN, which some HMOs use to subcontract mental health coverage.
One suggestion I'd have is that you get a list of psychiatrists covered by your plan and then ask for recommendations on those specific names. You'll get more responses, I think. Good luck. tca
Psychiatrist to manage depression medications
Aug 2006I'm looking for a psychiatrist to help manage depression medications. Does anyone have any good (or bad) experiences to share? I specifically need help in the area of medication adjustment. I'm on Blue Cross, and have a long long list of covered providers, but would love some input to narrow my search. I'm open to an MD of either gender in the greater Berkeley or Oakland area. Thank you! anon
My wife has been undergoing anti-depressant treatment with Dr. Jeanne Leventhal-Alexander at Kaiser in Oakland. (she has both a Kaiser practice, as well as a separate private practice, I believe) I have been impressed by Dr. Leventhal's breadth of knowledge and her desire to stay at the forefront of research for both clinical depression, as well as women's hormonal issues. She is well known and, therefore, very much in demand-- it took a while for us to get an appointment with her, but it was well worth it. Just a gentle reminder-- like many other psychiatrists, she is not really a touchy-feely kind of person and prefers to cut to the chase, of how you're handling the meds, what kinds of side effects, etc. However, she is overwhelmingly committed to finding you the best regimen. Having first-hand experience with this, both my wife and I know how hard it is to hit on the right kind of treatment (we're still fine-tuning things overselves)-- we wish you all the best anonymous
I have been very happy w/ Dr. Andrew Klompus in SF. I originally went to him to get a prescription to treat my depression. Now I see him about meds for my sleeping problems. I think he's knowledgeable and pleasant and, best of all, has really helped me. Good Luck! anon
I have two recommendations for you, both from personal experience (mine and several friends). Both of these people are psychiatrists and both are excellent at figuring out exactly what's right for you (and that part can be quite tricky, so you definitely want someone with a lot of experience).
Dr. Rachel L. Goldstone 5835 College Avenue, Oakland, California (CA) Dr. David Lewis Cherry 2424 Dwight Way South, Berkeley, CA
I can't find contact phone numbers for either of them, but if you look them up in your directory (and they are on your plan) you should be good to go. Good luck! anon
I have used Dr. George Kaplan in Berkeley to manage depression meds anon.
Dr. Richard Levine on MLK Way in Berkeley is good, knows a lot about adult depression. Also Shane McKay in the same office is very good, but I'm not sure if he takes insurance anon
Psychiatrist for meds: Michael Ratener in Oakland is very experienced and a great person to boot!
I know a good therapist in SF for depression. His name is Dr. Robert E. Wagner. I don't know his address off hand, but if you google him you can find it. I went to him for therapy for depression. He was very good Kimberly
Psychiatrist to figure out the best medication and dosage
June 2006I am looking for a male Psychologists / therapist / psychiatrist that is good at helping figure out the best medication and dosage for someone with depression and anxiety. Any recommendations would be great. thanks
I highly recommend my psychiatrist, Dr. Lawrence Cohen. I have worked with him for several years for the management of my depression and he was great at helping me get on the right medication at the right dosage--very attentive to my needs. His office is downtown Berkeley and his number is 510-981-9141. Good luck anon
Need to change my meds - possible side effects
Sept 2005I really need a psychiatrist who can manage my meds (I am currently taking Prozac and Klonopin)because my PCP seems extremely apprehensive about tailoring these to my needs. Also I read on the insert that a rash is evidence of a fairly serious side effect. I have been having an unexplained reoccuring rash on my neck and the doctor just gave me some cream to clear it up. I have also recently starting having extreme leg pain and the doctor doesn't seem to know what it but guesses it is sciatica. I'm not so sure because I feel pain in the calf area as well--the entire leg really. I'm wondering if this could be a side effect as well. I would also like to investigate the possibility of talk therapy in addition to medication. Can anyone recommend a good psychiatrist (to manage meds and possible talk therapy) as well as someone that can do Adult ADD management and meds if necessary. I have Healthnet with MHN for mental health services. Someone please steer me to a good person because my frustration level is increasing and I really need my existing meds managed at least.
When I was in your situation, I was so frustrated by the number of psychiatrists who wouldn't return phone calls. I found it really unprofessional, but I'm told that this is not uncommon. They aren't in a hurry to get bakc to potential new patients. I also have Healthnet with MHN. I didn't see my psychiatrist's name on your list, but he takes the insurance. His name is Donald Stanford and he's on Carleton in Berkeley. He returns phone calls. His medication management is very skillful. I've been amazed by his ability to make good adjustments and deal with side effects. I wouldn't see him for talk therapy, but you really want someone who's more of a technical for the pharmaceutical part of this. There are probably docs who do both well, but I couldn't wait that long for a response. I don't have anyone to suggest for the talk therapy. Good luck with your quest. anon
2003 and Earlier
Depression medication specialist
August 2003This has been discussed here before, but I'm newly curious about people's experiences in the world of psychopharmacology. I'd like to know the name of anyone you've had experience with who is the best, in your opinion, at dealing with the various medication options for depression. My spouse has been on a couple of different meds, and I'm growing increasingly frustrated and dissatisfied with the effects he's getting from them. He seems to think everything is fine, but he's not viewing his own behavior. I think a real top-flight doc, up on the very latest developments, with experience monitoring depression meds, might be our next step. Any advice appreciated.
Try Dr. Shane MacKay in Berkeley. He's got an excellent reputation for being up-to-date on psychopharmacology and drug interactions. Sara
Psychiatric medication management
April 2003Hi, I'm looking for a psychiatrist for medication management for chronic depression. I have Blue Cross and almost certainly have to pick someone from there, but I would appreciate hearing about any doctors. Thanks.
Try Dr. Robert Levine on MLK Jr Way. anon
Try Dr. Shane MacKay in Berkeley. He's excellent. His number is in the phone book. I'm not sure what insurance he takes. anon.
I have a bi-polar (type II) disorder that was very difficult to treat. I only got good help when I went to the Langley Porter Affective Disorders Clinic for an evaluation. They have a sliding scale and it is reasonable, but I don't know if they take insurance. I had a very complete, 4 session, evaluation- immensely more complete than any you'd ever get from a private doctor. The residents are very closely supervised so you get the benefit of teaching psychiatrists with years of experience who are right on the cutting edge of the newest advancements.
I now have found an excellent psych doc at Kaiser San Francisco- Dr. Rafael Gray. He is very smart and up-to-date, and although his style is brusque he is very compassionate. But time is very limited in Kaiser appointments and I doubt that he would be able to help me as fully if I had not had the earlier help outside Kaiser. He works with vitamins, herbs, and supplements in combination with conventional meds.
I recommend Dr. Richard Lannon in SF as a resource, 415-563-6366. He teaches at UCSF, is associated with Langley Porter, and although he is usually booked he can recommend young docs who were his students and who work closely with him. He is the most compassionate psychiatrist I have ever met (I've met a lot). anon
My son saw Marianna Eraklis (https://www.dbped.com/) for the same thing several years ago. She is a pediatrician, not a psychiatrist, but this is her sole area of practice. My son and I both really liked her. The two caveats are that she may be hard to get into (but she seems to figure it out) and is VERY expensive. We had to pay out of pocket, but it was worth it and he only saw her a few times. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to chat.
Dr Deanna Lau in Santa Rosa has been amazing throughout our ADHD medication journey that we started in June with our son. She does zoom visits as much as possible so that you’re not driving up to Santa Rosa constantly. Highly recommend her!
I recommend Dr. David Atkins, MD.
Hopefully you'll find someone who you're happier with, and it seems that you do have some recommendations. I'm a general pediatrician with an interest in ADHD (and my husband and kids all have it). To a large extent, finding the right med/dose is truly a matter of throwing it at the wall to see if it sticks. We don't really yet have a way to predict who will do better with the ritalin class meds vs. the amphetamines, and different formulations will affect different kids in different (and unpredictable) ways. Hopefully you'll get to a good place without too many bumps in the road and you'll find someone that inspires confidence.
My teenager see Dr. Reierson at Lifestance for ADHD meds. She's been very responsive and seems knowledgeable.
My son is being treated by Dr. Marianna Eraklis. She's in Orinda but after the initial evaluation and diagnosis, all of our check-ins have been online (though you can opt for in-person check-ins as well). My son and I both really like and respect her. She is extremely knowledgable and engaging. She's helped us tweak his meds, which have been a game changer for us.
Good luck!
Hello, I second Dr Eraklis, amazing. I submitted her information to insurance as “in network” deficiency, provided her information, diagnosis, codes etc, need to re certify every year, but insurance has always approved as “in network” for my son. I pay her in full and then submit the receipts to insurance and they pay 90 percent. It has worked for me for all his providers for Anthem and Aetna. It does take some work as u submit to insurance and they ignore the certification and then u need to resubmit, sometimes 3 times but given that most therapists, the person who did the neuro exam, coaches do not take insurance, it is worth the process given the difference on a 220 bill paid out of network as $70 vs in network deficiency paid $198.
hope this helps