Laeeq Tahir

Psychiatrist | Psychiatry

860 Mountain Road 404 Moncton NB, E1C2N7 Show map

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About

Laeeq Tahir, MBBS, MD, FRCPC, works at Moncton Medical Center within the Moncton Hospital in Moncton, New Brunswick. The Hospital is recognized as a leader in healthcare delivery and health promotion. A psychiatrist for nearly 30 years, Dr. Tahir specializes in anxiety, mood disorders, and other issues pertaining to adult psychiatry. Dr. Tahir continued post-graduate education with his internship training at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, in Pakistan, and then with his residency at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Duke University in the United States. He is a renowned Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and holds certification by the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada. In his spare time, Dr. Tahir has authored several medical publications, precepts in the field of psychiatry, conducts consultations, and is an Assistant Professor at the Western Ontario and Dalhousie Universities.

Education and Training

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/Quaid-E Azam Medical College

Board Certification

Certified by the Royal College Of Physician and Surgeons of Canada

Provider Details

Male Hindi, Urdu 26 years of experience

Laeeq Tahir

Laeeq Tahir's Expert Contributions

My Answers

Do you have to take anxiety medication forever?
It all depends on individual situations. Some people could be able to do recover fully and may not need medications forever, while others with more chronic and treatment-resistant conditions may have to take medications for a long time. What helps is to get cognitive behavioral therapy and practice relaxation, breathing, meditations, and mindfulness techniques. READ MORE
Sleep paralysis?
Sometimes it could be the care in people who have an illness named Narcolepsy, or because of certain medications, lifestyle, or recreational drug use such as cannabis. Sometimes it happens as a normal phenomenon when your sleep routine is disturbed when you go directly into the rapid eye movement phase of sleep as that sleep phase is a natural safety mechanism that our physical body is put to paralysis when we are actively dreaming so that our body parts don't move according to movements performed in dream to keep you and whoever else is sleeping with you. And if your mind wakes up suddenly prematurely during this sleep phase, then you will notice this kind of phenomenon. You may want to see your doctor to rule out Narcolepsy or other treatable or preventable causes. READ MORE
Personality disorder?
In patients with personality disorder without any organic causes, the brain scan is usually normal. READ MORE
Is it normal to have anxiety after a stroke?
Having anxiety after any medical illness is very common and it could be considered normal if it doesn’t affect your day-to-day functioning and does not last longer than a few months. READ MORE
Mental health?
From the description of your situation and symptoms, I believe that you are the same person I have just replied to with the suggestion that you please be evaluated by a psychiatrist in person as soon as possible. READ MORE
Forehead/Top of Head Pressure/Sensation?
This seems to be a quite complicated situation and warrants an in-person valuation. I would recommend that you consult with a psychiatrist as soon as you can, please. READ MORE
Can lamotrigine help anxiety?
Even though it is not indicated to treat anxiety particularly as a monotherapy, it has been used successfully as an adjunct to antidepressant/anxiolytics medications to get enhanced anxiolytic effect. READ MORE
Is what I'm experiencing anxiety?
Although it's quite difficult to reach to a diagnosis without detailed assessment in these conditions but from your description of what you have been feeling it does seem to be anxiety disorder, with or without comorbid depression. Here is what I think that needs to be done. 1. you need to be thoroughly assessed, if not done yet. (I assume your doctor has already done so as you have been prescribed medications) 2. Sertraline is good medication in these conditions, but it takes quite a bit of time for it to establish steady state blood level in your body to give you desired effect (2-4 weeks after achieving optimum dose). Optimum dose ranges anywhere between 100 to 200 mg depending upon individual symptom profile, severity, and duration of symptoms. some individuals respond better to one medication than others and that need to be continuously evaluated. 3. Alprazolam is very short acting benzodiazepine class medications with high potential of addiction. we do use benzodiazepines in the initial phase of treatment for a short period of time, until we reach optimum dose and patient starts feeling desired effects. the guidelines recommend using medium to longer acting benzodiazepines with lesser potential for addiction such Clonazepam(Revotril) 4. Last but not least, you may need to get some cognitive behavioural therapy from a psychologist or trained therapist too. I hope this will be of some help to you. READ MORE
Do antidepressants have permanent effects?
Having a permanent effect becomes a relative term when treating Christine of illnesses like depression, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Medications would have some kind of permanent effect, but would need to be taken on a regular basis. The recommendations are to treat first episode of depression for 9 months to 1.5 years and then follow closely to monitor if symptoms reoccur. If it’s second episode of depression, then treatment should be for 3 years before taking a chance to see if symptoms reoccur. If it’s third episode and beyond, then the treatment becomes kind of an indefinite period of time. Individuals patient's psychosocial circumstances and resiliency as well as brain plasticity also play important roles in determining treatment intensity and duration. READ MORE
What causes abnormal behaviors in adolescents?
Sometimes, different behaviours at that age could be construed as abnormal that may not be completely abnormal. However, OCD in itself is psychiatric disorder that can impair normal mental processes and behaviour. it is difficult to comment if his behaviour is normal or if he is having some real mental health related behavioural issues. The best course of action would be to get him evaluated by a psychiatrist/mental health professional. READ MORE
Activity of my grandson -2 years old?
Even though it is not my area of expertise, I believe it is normal curiosity-related behavior at that age. Laeeq Tahir, MBBS., MD., FRCPC READ MORE
Antidepressants?
I don't think it's a good idea to stop antidepressant without consulting your doctor. There isn't any herbal medication that has been tested scientifically to be a proven antidepressant so far in the literature. Plus, we don't know much about herbal medication side effects and drug interactions. READ MORE
I’m pretty sure I have a tic disorder?
You definitely need to be evaluated by a professional to rule out tic disorder. As far as I know, there isn’t any jurisdiction where patients with tic disorder need to be admitted to hospital. READ MORE
Emotional problem related to porn?
It could very well be related to OCD, but it seems like you have developed an addiction to this. As such, you definitively need professional help by consulting with a psychiatrist to treat OCD if you meet the criteria for it and more importantly to see an addiction counsellor. Laeeq Tahir, MBBS., MD., FRCPC READ MORE
Can social anxiety be cured?
Social anxiety disorder is very treatable and, depending on the patient’s profile and treatment response, it is possible to cure it in some patients. Individual variations do occur. Nonetheless, patients do get better enough to the point that they can function normally in day-to-day life even if they are not 100% cured. READ MORE
What is the best antidepressant for ADHD?
Trintellix is considered better due to its effects on improving cognitive functions. READ MORE
Can mood stabilizers help with anxiety?
Depending on the mechanism of their actions, some mood stabilizers can help anxiety symptoms if appropriately prescribed in the context of the patient's symptoms profile. READ MORE
Can you drink alcohol when you have anxiety?
Alcohol is a well-documented contra-indicated substance to use if someone has any kind of mental health problems. READ MORE
How do you calm a bipolar person?
With the appropriate treatment of this illness from a professional, patients are able to be calmed down. READ MORE
What is end stage bipolar disorder?
Bipolar Disorder is a very much treatable illness and even though it tends to be chronic there is nothing like end stage illness. But patient must adhere to the lifelong treatment. As long as one is on the treatment, they can function normally like anybody else. READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

ADHDAdult PsychiatryAnxietyGeriatric PsychiatryMood DisordersPersonality DisordersPsychosisPsychosomatic MedicineIME's

Faculty Titles & Positions

Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University, 2007-Present -
Assistant Professor, University of Western Ontario -
Psychiatric Medical Education Liaison, Consultant Psychiatrist, South East Regional Health Authority, The Moncton Hospital, 2007-Present -
Psychiatric Preceptor, Community Mental Health Centre in Miramichi, 2014 -
Clinical Asisstant Professor Memorial university of Foundland 2016 - 2017

Awards

Certificate of Recognition for Resident's Teaching, Dalhousie University, 1999-2001, 2008, 2009
University Sstudents' Council, Teaching Honor Roll, Award of Excellence in Teaching Medicine, University of Western Ontario, 2005-2006
Outstanding Graduating Resident Award, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1999
Golden Apple Teaching Award, 1999
Resident of the Year Awardfor Excellence in Clinical Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1999
Recognition of New Promising Thought Leader Award, First Annual Chief Resident Program, American Psychiatric Associtaion, 1999
Stepping Stone Award in Geriatric Psychiatry, American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, 1999
Overall Best Resident of the Year Award, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1998

Treatments

Mood,Anxiety, ADHD, Psychosis, Personality Disorders, Geriatric Psychiatry, Psychosomatic medicine,

Fellowships

Royal College of Physicians of Canada (Adult Psychiatry)

Professional Society Memberships

American Psychiatric Association, Canadian Psychiatric Association, Canadian Medical Association, New Brunswick Medical Association, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council

Articles and Publications

Conversion Disorder, treating a state of mind; The Canadian Journal of CME, 2007
The impact of CME on physician's knowledge, An analysis of 3 years data from Pre- and Post- CME tests; Research Insights, 2008

What do you attribute your success to?

Empathy and Eagerness for the Field

Areas of research

Impact of CME session on the knowledge of participants (2002-2005). Expanded and Organized the Department of Psychiatry, Monthly CME Conference to Remote sites in South Western Ontario (2005-2006). Integration of Weekly CME Events between three major hospitals of University of Western Ontario and Interactive Video Broadcasting to Remote Sites (2005-2006).

Philanthropic Initiatives

Independent Medical Examination on a Regular Basis Since 1999, Covering Variety of Issues Related to Disability. Court Ordered Forensic Assessments Regularly.

Hobbies / Sports

Humanity

Favorite professional publications

American Journal of Psychiatry, Canadian Journal of psychiatry

Areas of research

Impact of CME session on the knowledge of participants (2002-2005). Expanded and Organized the Department of Psychiatry, Monthly CME Conference to Remote sites in South Western Ontario (2005-2006). Integration of Weekly CME Events between three major hospitals of University of Western Ontario and Interactive Video Broadcasting to Remote Sites (2005-2006).