Baystate Behavioral Health - Adult Outpatient 3300 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01107

"Always great.(and Gabapentin is not a pain killer)"

"I had been going to Baystate for many years, but I didn’t start having a problem here until somewhat recently. First, my regular doctor left the practice. No explanation why. She just left and I was left scrambling trying to find another doctor. I got put with an older doctor who recommended I take Gabapentin, which is an extreme pain medication that can knock you out, for klonopin withdrawals. I had extreme anxiety and was previously put on klonopin to cope, but needed to stop taking it. Gabapentin is not an anxiety medication. My aunt had taken gabapentin before and she slept through work because she was so groggy and weak from taking it. Therefore, I didn’t take it because I didn’t want the same thing to happen to me. So I called back to tell them Gabapentin wasn’t going to work and the on call doctor told me to take vistiril which also isn’t an anxiety medication! It’s an antihistamine meaning it’s used to treat severe ALLERGIES, not anxiety! Vistiril is essentially Benadryl on steroids. It’s not what you should be taking for anxiety OR withdrawal symptoms. Not only that, but my body rejected Vistiril and resulted in severe tremors and worsening anxiety. The doctor clearly did not know what she was prescribing, nor did she have the knowledge of what treats anxiety and withdrawal symptoms. Needless to say, I’m not going back. All they do is prescribe medication even those that have nothing to do with your symptoms! It’s all about making money for them."