About
Bio
A Psychiatrist with 16 years of experience.
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.
Geriatric Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Doctor Q&A
24 Answers
19 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 46-year-old male asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Effexor: Venlafaxine is somewhat notorious for increasing anxiety at start of treatment. I have noticed from experience that it tends to calm down in over a we... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
821 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Few weeks: Don't worry, you are on the right track. Side effects are likely to wear off in not more than a couple of weeks.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
787 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Please do it slowly: Hi
Please don't do it so quickly, alprazolam is unsafe for quick stopping due to high addiction potential.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
855 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Caution advised: That seems to be a fair option but before you go there, has there been any recent stress, Ill health etc. We need to be sure of other reasons of lack ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
754 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Slow taper: First of all, are you sure you want to go off it?
Is that what the doctor ordered?
If yes, you can do a slow taper by reducing to 5mg for a week, then... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
762 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Don't worry: Venlafaxine can increase the BP but the dose you are on is too small and the BP increase is also not much really.
Don't worry!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
821 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Slow taper: The ideal route would be to reduce it to 25 mg for 5 days, then take it alternate days for 3 days, then stop.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
762 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Depends on magnitude: All strokes do not show up on MRI. It depends on the size of the stroke and whether it was a large one or a mini one which won't show much at all. A l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
732 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 66-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Not a great idea: Hi
To maintain efficacy of any such medication, it is essential that it is taken daily to maintain steady blood levels. Therefore, ideally you should ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
639 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Limited benefit: Hi
Both medication are from the same group so I am not convinced of the additive benefit of combining both.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
794 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Yes: Quitting smoking will help. Working on your weight if you are overweight will give great benefit with this.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
834 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Similar efficacy: Most of the antidepressants indicated for panic disorder are SSRI's which have roughly similar efficacy. Remeron is a NASSA with slightly different mo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
719 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Seek help: Dear Jessica
I would rather you see your GP to discuss other treatment options which can include CBT and other varieties of Psychological therapies. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
723 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Need a professional : Dear Andrea
Yes, there are treatments to help with anxiety disorder which can dramatically improve quality of life. Depending where you are, your GP/... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
780 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Occasional insomnia: Dear Mr/Miss
May I ask which medication you are on? Some medications may cause insomnia. Also, if your Depression is having a temporary blip, you cou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
860 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Not such a good idea: Given that they expired over 1 1/2 years ago, I would not take them as they are partly organic molecules which can start disintegrating after their ex... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
705 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
No worries: Don't be worried, you are likely to sleep it off. But please be careful next time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
787 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Need a full medical : As there are a number of conditions (endocrine, cardio) which can mimic panic attacks, you do need a proper medical assessment and examination to rule... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
614 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Weight loss: As regards to weight loss, options remain very limited, especially for you given your cardiac state. Stimulants are not recommended at all for anyone,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
732 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Additive risk: Per se, drinking alcohol with Zyprexa is not very likely to cause psychosis although you have to very cautious because of the additive effect of alcoh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
744 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Pretty soon: Zoloft does not have a very long half life so should be out of the system fairly soon.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
762 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Moderation helps: Risperidone is an antipsychotic with minimal sedative properties. Alcohol can add to sedation. Also, drinking more than recommended quantities could w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
732 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Possible : As mentioned in the previous answer, antidepressant class matters. Tricycyclics are the worst culprits.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
667 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Qusai Bharmalanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 21 years experience
Need more info : I understand you have depression but it is important to know how long has it been for, previous treatments, etc. It might be better to go to your Fami... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
652 viewsReviewed >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.
12
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! It has been very difficult finding doctors to see the whole picture. Thank you for your advice, despite being told that it's psychosomatic, I just don't feel that it is.
HealthTap member
This saved my life. Thank you. Thank you so very much I truly appreciate it I will start. Again thank you and take care. When I have the money I would like to consult with you again!
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you Dr. Bharmal! This is extremely useful information and something to watch for.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Mumbai, Terna Medical College, India
Graduated 2002MD
Medical/Graduate school
University of Mumbai, Terna Medical College, India
Graduated 1998MD
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