Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu, MD

My experience with Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu at UTSW was extremely upsetting. I came in for help with addiction medicine after years of medical trauma, and instead of being treated with understanding, I was met with suspicion from the moment I sat down. He spent less than 7 minutes w me, but had already made up his mind before walking in the door. He questioned the legitimacy of documents that were legally required in my medical file, assumed I had been “pharmacy shopping” without checking any facts, and dismissed my explanation for why I requested a certain medication over another (requested it due to an upcoming surgery - the one he wanted to prescribe had interactions). He also told me something about my former doctor that was completely untrue and caused me a great deal of distress - something that could have been corrected with a quick look at the medical board’s website. I left the appointment feeling judged, dismissed, and retraumatized. People seeking help for addiction or medication… transitions deserve compassion and professionalism, not assumptions and misinformation. This was not the care I expected from UTSW.

rather than supported. I hope UTSW takes patient concerns seriously, because this is not the standard of care anyone should encounter when reaching out for help.

Was referred to Waklhu by another psychiatrist I was seeing. The first 2 visits went ok but then I had a mental health crisis, took off work to go to a bigger city that offered an intensive outpatient therapy program 4 days a week, ended up getting COVID and when I sent him the FMLA paperwork so that I could have the time off approved he refused to sign off on it leaving me scrambling to get my therapist or or PCP to fill them out instead and nearly cost me my job. All I was trying to do was take care of myself….steer clear of this “doctor”.

Dr. Wakhlu is exceedingly and genuinely kind and compassionate. He is jubilant and positive. I have been seeing him for about two years and have remained sober with his encouragement and expertise. He is an expert in the neurobiology perspective of addiction, and is careful and intentional with prescribing medication. Dr. Wakhlu goes above and beyond to make sure my needs are met, and every time we have an appointment he brightens my day. He knows how to get to the core of a patient’s substance abuse issue, and I would recommend him to anyone. While I do have issues at UTSW getting my meds filled on time, I would just recommend being proactive about your prescriptions and calling for a refill a week before they are due. But, he’s the best of the best when it comes to Addiction Psychiatry. I’m lucky to be his patient.

He is a very kind doctor who helped me get off pain medications that were no longer helping me...He saved my life!!!