Evesham Consulting Rooms, Northside Cremorne Clinic

This review is for DR VARAD KUMAR. @ Eversham House Consulting Rooms, next to Northside Cremorne Clinic, where he was my treating Psychiatrist. I was proactive in bettering my situation, with my Psychologist at the time and GP of many years. Although this was before the regulations certain Doctors still frowned upon anyone who took Xanax (Alprazolam) knowing nothing about back ground history. I had tried multiple antidepressants, proper trial and only side effects, not pleasant or fun. No help at all. I called Northside as I know the area, I was told I would have my own bed for at least 2 weeks. Facilities were not adequate building was fine, convenient however I was never allowed leave the premises, which is odd considering my circumstances. This was towards the beginning of getting hopes up only to be crushed once again. I called reception and went through the basic questions, name on list (there was a 3 month waiting list then) for health insurance to cover it. To put things in perspective. I had a history of Panic Disorder, Alcohol use and Xanax dependence (for Panic Attacks) long before it was some fake drug sold on the street, I would not touch. I had bad experiences only with anti depressants, saw a Psychologist who chose to not continue working with me. So my GP and new Psychologist who I did not know well then, wanted me to get some help. I called and spoke with reception. I asked them: "Is there a Doctor there who is willing to work with me - knowing I refuse to take antidepressants?" - I was told, that is unlikely. A short time later I was called back and told Dr. Varad Kumar will see you and we agreed on those terms. They said we will do a slow taper with Xanax. Great, I was excited to get my life back on track. I took 10mg xanax prior to going and was not drowsy or slurred or anything like that. I was told they have allocated me 8mg XANAX a day and as I used my own before coming in I can use that if need be. I used 4. Poor sleep due to being woken up though understand this is always the case specially on cat 3. The very next day I was switched to 60mg Valium. I politely challenged Dr. Kumar, who I should add was a nice person and easy to talk to - this was previously foreign to me for a Psychiatrist. When I said know I have been told by a reliable source (someone who works at needle exchange and well respect Psychologist) that 1mg Xanax is equivalent to 20mg valium. he looked at his piece of paper, called an 'expert' and decided he was correct (he is a doctor of course he is right). So I was switched to a pathetic dose of valium. I felt unwell, was having withdrawals, lying in bed in pain watching people smoke ciggies all day. I recall shaking trying to eat some fruit salad. I attended one class about CBT and was amazed not a single other person had known the or heard of the term - yet it is THE first line of treatment aside from meds (anti-d's). The third day Dr. Kumar advised me that we will, and I quote "Knock the Benzo's out of you in a week, then put you on an antidepressant". I said, NO that was not what we discussed. it was not up for discussion, he went against his word and said we will use Seroquel and other drugs then mentioned what better place to trial an antidepressant. This was blatantly against what we had agreed on and I left. Why take antipsychotics for panic then an antidepressant. He was polite he had a nice office, at the Evesham House, with a nice view of a leafy street. I left, why stay? Doctor went back on his word. He was wrong because a couple of years later I gave in to antidepressant and downhill since. Multiple drug overdoses from Lexapro as it messed my mind. Now it is documented I can't take them. So another Doctor adamant I am a drug addict because I took Xanax for Alprazolam, told me antidepressant only option. They were wrong. Now a few years later, denied from detox on over 25mg valium. Not welcome on anxiety ward on 5mg valium/daily. Yet it was fine to put me on 60mg in 2014. Dr. Kumar is nice however he got it wrong. The grass is not greener.