Carlos B Vargas, MD

I went to see the psychiatric nurse practitioner about anxiety on a Monday. She seemed caring and understanding and offered some treatment options, and I asked to think them over that night and call her back the next day. I called a few times the next day and couldn’t get ahold of anyone in the office so I left a message. It was Friday before I heard back but missed the call and she left a voicemail. I then tried calling back the next Monday but still no one was answering phones and I kept getting voicemail.
I called to cancel my follow up appointment but couldn’t reach anyone so I left a message to cancel. Two days before my follow up I received an automated call confirming my appointment. I then called the day before said appt but again reached no one.
I don’t understand how it can be so difficult to talk to someone at the office. I will not be going back.

I was seeing Dr. Guerra for 20 + years before «Dr» Vargas took over. What a scammer! What a fraud, what a horrible practice now.
First the new receptionist was the rudest woman I have ever met, awful, awful person. But happily took my now higher price of $ 100 to see a PA not the Dr.
Is all I could ever afford since I pay cash was a visit every 4 months for $ 75.00 with Dr. Guerra. When I FINALLY got an appointment with a PA of Dr. Vargas (The same one I had on a previous visit who wrote by prescription for Klonopin, happily for $ 50.00) was now my worst enemy. She accused me of being an addict and said «maybe they will refill my proscription for one refill.» I was shocked as I had been on this medication for over 20 years. Then after much argument she gave me one refill and said I have to get off this medication since the ‘Feds” were cracking down on controlled substances.
I have PTSD I don’t think the Feds would care!!!
I was now out $ 100, treated like an addict from the same person who on a previous visit 3 months earlier, happily gave me my meds with 3 refills and HAD to make an appointment for 30 days later for another $ 100 dollars and miss work. Finally, I was made to promise that I cut my dosage in ½ or face the wrath of Dr. Vargas… crazy! Which meant no meds and as anyone who takes this medication knows you could die from abruptly stopping this med. Some «Dr.»
I came back after my one refill was done. It was ½ of what I normally used and I was dying of anxiety. They were pissed that it lasted longer than 30 days AND asked me why I never got an electro cardiogram to check on my heart??? Good grief!
It gets much worse. next the same PA after they took my $ 100 said I need to get completely off Klonopin over and over and wrote me 3 additional prescriptions to help compensate for the anxiety. Much more cost, ½ dosage of Klonopin at ½ doasge was aat a much high cost and a higher cost of constant repeat visits.
Now get this: I was then told in order to GET all these prescriptions with 2 refills of ½ dosage of Klonopin I had to take a drug test right there and then like I had been pulled over by the police. And guess what at another cost of $ 20.00 or «no scripts.» I didn’t have a choice and this quack of a «Dr» Vargas is banking money on the backs of the ill. I went to a room where a girl with a disgusted look on her face (Oh yeah only after I paid my $ 20.00) gave me a cup and walked me embarrassingly through the lobby of the office building and waited for me to come out in front of all these other business offices and took my sample. I asked why on earth I needed to do this. It was because they wanted to make sure I was using the Klonopin. OK now at 53 years old and on this med for diagnosed PTSD for 20++ years I was now a drug pusher. What a horrible insinuation. What horrible practice, what unprofessional greedy «Dr.»
Soooo I go to the pharmacy now out more than 120.00 in a month, missed work, now a ¼ the dosage of what I needed I had to pay an additional $ 89.77 for all these new meds that did nothing but make me a walking zombie. I was fine and well before this nightmare began! And guess what NO refills on the Klonopin!!! Scammed again. I was also forced to make another appointment before I left for yet another$ 100 in a month.
This is just an endless nightmare! I was fine and living happily with Dr. Guerra for 20++ years. Now I am in a living financial, emotional nightmare. The people are awful, you’re made to feel like a drug pushing addict all while Dr. Vargas dips deeply into your wallet. Very unethical, quack, Dr. who’s on;ly passion to help people is taking their lives and their money.

If I could have given «0» stars I would have. I have called the office at least 3 – 4 times this week. Twice I got a person (after a long complicated voice message). The person promised me every time that the doc would review my chart and call me back.
The other times I left messages practically begging for someone to call me back. No call, no action.
Left another message today saying that it is imperative for someone to call me back as I cannot drop my meds cold turkey and I needed a refill. Still no call back.
I’m so disappointed. And their voicemail raves about their prompt return calls, and professional service.
Not true. — Stay away!

The most genuine and caring doctor I’ve ever had, who truly changed my life for the better and called it like he saw it, with all the compassion you would hope to expect from a health care professional. Truly a class act.

Dr. Vargas is now with the Specialty Clinic of Austin (
). He has been seeing my child for over a year. We began seeing him at his previous office, and have been very pleased with his new location and the practice he has joined.
What I have learned about psychiatry is that, in this case, it is not therapy. It is not therapy AT ALL. Dr. Vargas is continuously studying and understanding the most recent research. His fine-​tuned gifts are in hearing struggles and issues, collaborating with your child’s therapist, and creating a treatment plan with medication. That is his gift.
He does talk over my daughter’s head quite a bit, and does not have a natural rapport with children. Years ago I had a similar experience with an ENT when two of my children needed tubes in their ears. My first reaction was, «Why is this person working with kids? They almost seem uncomfortable with them?»
So, why do I keep going back? Because this man is passionate about what he DOES do, and he does it very, very well. He is about hearing, listening and treating. He does not provide psychotherapy at all, and it my job to make sure my child receives that IN ADDITION to his services. He is cautious in his approach to meds, and has listened to me to better help him make the best choices for my child. He also has nudged me when I have been too cautious. He reminds me that we can always back off or stop a medication if we are unhappy with side effects. He has never barreled over or through me in all the time I have known him.
Our medication check-​in appointments now are only 15 minutes. It is painful to drive the hour and a half, then have such a short time with him and realize he has to quickly review to remember who we are. I have several friends who work in this field and I do understand the need for the time constraints, the insurance and liability struggles, etc. When I need to take longer to share more and get more feedback, he gives me longer. When we are making any changes to meds he is thorough, and takes AMPLE time to discuss and consider what is best.
There have been a few times he might ask a question that we have addressed previously. I am obviously frustrated and can state, «We talked about that a few months ago. It is probably in your notes somewhere.» He is understanding and we move on. I have come to realize he is sometimes equally as frustrated by the way the system forces him into certain structures and scheduling. I know it is not his ideal, so I choose to view us as a team. Help one another within the framework (no matter how much we detest it).
He is very good at his job. The front office staff are professional and have helped with the glitches we have had along the way with medications prescriptions and scheduling. There are very few psychiatrists in the state of Texas who will work with and treat younger children. We drive and hour and a half one way to have someone on our insurance and that is willing to help us help our child.