Dr. Jamal Fawaz, MD

I saw Dr. Jamal Fawaz from 2018-2021. During my time, I was only prescribed about.. maybe a half dozen different medications. Some didn’t work, others I couldn’t afford. My diagnoses are Bipolar 2, PTSD, and OCD. At the time of my departure, I was on Effexor XR and Buspar. When asking for something to help with my hypomania, for example Lamictal, he proceeded to ask me if I partook in the usage of recreational drugs or substances. I mentioned that I occasionally smoke marijuana, but it wasn’t a daily habit that affected my life. Dr. Jamal Fawaz proceeded to compare me to somebody who uses highly addictive substances daily, such as heroin, cocaine, meth, and highly addictive narcotics. He refused to give me any new type of medication after that, saying he “wouldn’t treat someone who was trying to make themselves psychotic.” Overall, wouldn’t recommend if you’re a marijuana user, medical card or not, as he does not believe in it and called the THC Industry a “money machine.”

First visit, he was very talkative and open, and diagnosed my ADHD/GAD/MDD and considering how my last psychiatrist absolutely f*cked me over, I felt like he cleared the expectations bar. However, since that first visit, he has been very set in his approach of "take care of the anxiety first and only when it's 100% stable", which could take months, then to treat my debilitating ADHD. He quoted quite a few unlikely and very extreme side effects to taking stimulants with anxiety (ex. heart attacks), and when I mentioned that I was drinking unusual amounts of coffee to manage my ADHD (4-6Sbux shots a day), he was even more unmoving and unwilling to try a different approach. He is very minimalist about ADHD treatment (to the point of no treatment) and considers ADHD a gift and something that makes those with it unique, and ignores how debilitating it is.

I've severe anxiety & bi-polar disorder. I take clonazepam and have for decades. Dr. Fawaz is absolutely obsessed that I need to stop clonazepam. He called my (relatively small 1.5 mg / day dose) "3 6-packs of beer per day". When I described what was going on in my life, he looked surprised and said, and I quote "That's anxiety". I said "So, even on what you describe as 3 6 packs of beer a day I still have anxiety." He raised his voice at me and asked me to find another doctor. I did.

I love this man. He listens, comments, gives advise. I feel like a million dollars when I leave his office. I have recommended him to friends with children. The kids were not afraid and answered openly. Best of luck to you dr fawaz

He doesn't listen. He rushes you. Doesn't give eye contact.