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Dr. Raina is board certified in psychiatry and addiction medicine. He has practiced in public & private sector, in rural & urban settings - both as a clinician as well as a medical administrator. His clinical experience spans all demographic groups and all major psychiatric diagnostic categories. His particular expertise is in psychiatric diagnosis, in developing comprehensive treatment plans and in terms of subject matter, PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, dementia and addictions. He is also an experienced medical educator with particular interest and expertise in teaching medical interviewing and psychiatric diagnostic skills.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine
Doctor Q&A
330 Answers
218 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Spend time/have fun: A key element of appropriate treatment of any addiction is substitution of dysfunctional addictive rituals with functional rituals. Figure out a way t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
If miss troubles: If anything good is to come out of adhd, the severity of the condition should be mild-to-moderate, the sufferer should have above average intelligence... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Crisis vs Rx: The goal of inpt treatment in psychiatry is usually to stabilize acute crisis (e.g., suicidality, violent ideation, intoxication on or withdrawal from... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Ignore failure: Yes. Discuss with your doctor. Use multiple strategies e.g., nicotine replacement, smoking cessation meds, behavioral approaches. And if you don't suc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Revia (naltrexone) Reaction?: Can't speak specifically for you, but generally speaking if side-effects from any psychotropic medication continue for that long without diminishing i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Not aware: I am not aware of any such relationship. Based on what i know about both, i also can't see any reason why there would be any relationship.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Yes. : Ibuprofen is probably most likely to cause this s/e by preventing platelets (clot-promoting blood cells) from clumping together, though Prozac (fluoxe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Usually not: Ambien (zolpidem) is usually unhelpful for ptsd nightmares. Prazosin might help. Talk to your doctor about it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 61-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Major Mental Illness: Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental illness which features recurrent episodes of severe depression and of hypomania/mania - which is best explained ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Tough; case by case: Most individuals who have struggled with alcoholism in past and can drink in moderation after a sustained period of abstinence only if they have done ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
733 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Duration of action &: One is short-acting, the other long-acting. One has greater risk of addiction than the other. One is metabolized in the liver, the other is not.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Ignore: Ensure you are getting enough protein from vegetarian food sources.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Yes, but...: Generally speaking, unless a person is a subject of court-ordered mental health treatment, a person can refuse any treatment modality for any physical... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Different yet same: The receptors through which they initially act are all different, due to which withdrawal symptoms are different. However, final common pathway for ad... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
2010 data: 2010 data show that by number of scripts written in us, the only psych drugs in the top 25 are Alprazolam (@#10), zolpidem #12, citalopram #17& sertra... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Depends on s/e: Most early s/e of most newer antidepressants (prozac (fluoxetine) and later) are mild and transient for most patients. In that case they resolve spont... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Stop using: Depends on your body, the substance you use, the amount you use daily and possibly your liver and kidney function, and the type of drug test (whether ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Depends: Depends on your body, the preparation u r using (e.g., xr), the amounts u use daily and possibly your liver and kidney function, and the type of drug ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Depends: Not all high risk drinking is alcoholism. According to the national institutes of health, high risk drinking in men is more than 4 standard drinks in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Unlikely: Unlikely. There are animal studies indicating Celexa (citalopram) may improve stress-induced missed periods. If concerned discuss with personal physic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Yes, they can be: Alzheimer's impairs a person's ability to recall, comprehend and explain things. Itcauses people to forget how to do simple tasks they used to do easi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Yes but carefully: In the us the question asked on job forms is usually not 'do you have a mental illness?' instead it usually is some version of 'are you impaired by a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Not sure: If you have bipolar disorder your child's chance of having same goes up, but its not certain that he/she will. No psychiatric disorder has 100% heredi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Managed, but ...: Depression is best thought of as a chronic illness with recurrent episodes that are separated by periods of remission. For many, a depressive episode ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Works for pain: Buprenorphine/subutex does work for pain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Go to ER: Though some of the symptoms make me wonder about opioid (e.g. Heroin, oxycontin, vicodin), there seems to be enough variation from its usual presentat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Matter of consent: If someone were only/predominantly sexually attracted to elderly who are too demented to give consent, he or she would also be considered emotionally ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Unlikely: It's possible but unlikely. The more important concern i would have is - why are you on relatively low doses of two antidepressants rather than an opt... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Related issues: Usually, by hypersomnia people mean excessive daytime sleepiness (eds), which is actually a fairly common consequence of insomnia. If you are looking ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Second opinion?: Sorry to hear that you have been suffering from this for a while. Before any further med changes, it might be time for a second opinion to ensure that... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Not long: Sporadic use of small amount of marijuana is likely to result in a positive urine drug screen for a few days at the most. Chronic use may lead to posi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Yes: Eventually, every medication leaves your body once you stop it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Mix Many Approaches: Consider medications to block cravings (discuss options with ur doc). Develop and strengthen functional rituals to replace dysfunctional rituals of ad... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
No: If by "stress everywhere everyday" you mean the stress of commute, too much to do in too little time, always running behind, etc - then, no whatever ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Depends on type: Dementias are of various types, and they start out by afrecting different parts of the brain. However, in their most advanced stages all dementias aff... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Therapy is key: Long-term psychotherapy is key to treatment of personality disorder though meds may have a role to play for certain symptoms. Mindfulness training can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Yes, w/ support: Yes. But only with psychological flexibility, a persistent positive attitude, and tons of support from family & friends.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Varied: Daily shifts in mood can be due to many causes some of which are - adjustment disorders, mood disorders personality disorders, neurological condition... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Upto 80 Hours: Upto 80 hours, though your liver function and water intake may affect it in different ways. If you have an addiction problem, please seek help for sam... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Exercise: The best self-medication for depression is aerobic exercise. Use it if you have no physical reasons to avoid it (in that case consult your primary car... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Don't know: Don't know since i don't know and don't know your symptoms or your history. However if the question is could anyone get schizophrenia, the answer is y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Weigh risks/benefits: It's important to weigh risks and benefits both of the medication and of untreated bipolar disorder on the unborn child. This is a question that is be... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Personality disorder: Any personality disorder is an established pattern of seeing oneself, of interacting with others, of mood changes, and of impulse control. This patter... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Maintain: Maintain regular schedule for meals, hobbies, social interaction and sleep.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
CBT works. : Cbt works for most anxiety disorders. One of the basic premises of cbt is called the abc (antecedent/automatic thought - behavior - consequence) i.e. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Too little data: There's very little research data available about ibogaine to give any kind of helpful answer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Yes, but not alone. : Yes, but it's not enough. Most psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorders, are the result of interaction between one's upbringing (which affec... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 56-year-old female asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Synergism possible: If you are asking about chantix, both it and Paxil (paroxetine) have black box warning about risk of suicidal thougths. In addition, Chantix can also ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
None.: Oxycontin is a long-acting preparation of oxycodone. So, there is really no difference in terms of either effectiveness for pain or in addictive poten... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Dheeraj Rainaanswered
Psychiatry 31 years experience
Should you?: In some countries you will be able to get any medication without a doctor's prescription. The real question is - should you? If whatever symptoms you ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
4
Recommendations
364
Thank you notes
Jan 18, 2014
I am so grateful for the caring, clear, informative, knowledgeable and wise replies Dr. Raina provides. I'm looking forward to learning from them. A great asset to this community!
Jan 19, 2014
Dr Raina is providing an excellent public service via Healthtap. The information she provides is informative, accurate & understandable. I endorse Dr. Raina.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Raina is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This saved my life. Thank You! I am 22 and I was diagnose w/bipolar at age 14 took medication for a yr then never again/ this must explain my depression my suicidal attem
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thank you very much I'm into my 6th day now and feeling a Lil better tonight at 10 o'clock it will be the end of the 6 th and start of the 7
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! effexor 150 mg effects my sex desire, and 50 mg of zoloft makes me too hyper and doesnt help my anxiety. So i try both now in low dose .
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Government Medical College, Nagpur, India
Graduated 1992MD
Residency
University of Illinois at Chicago
Awards
Thought Leader, Third Place, Evanston Region, IL - Summer
2013
Top Psychiatrist , First Place, Illinois - Summer
2013
Top Psychiatrist , Third Place, Illinois - Summer
2014
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