[jlock4507]

Last time I went to pdoc I said "you had mentioned giving me _______ for my anxiety, can we do that?" It felt weird asking her for meds....I don't know, I mean I'm not a doctor, I just felt like she would think i'm some kind of pill fiend if I ask her for medication.

Have you ever asked your pdoc for meds? How did you go about doing it?

[dirt69juggalo]

im always too afraid to ask for anything and for that matter say no to anything he offers i wish i wasnt

[expressiveone]

omg, i was just about to post the same thing!!! I recently have been racing thoughts, intrusive thoughts, and my anxiety is through the roof. I left a message with my pdoc today to make an appt, since my next one isn't until january and i CANNOT wait that long. I was once prescribed lorazepam 1-2 mg a day as needed when I had insurance. I was during a mixed episode at the time and it helped me so much when i was waiting for my long term meds to kick in. Unfortunately,I am having breakthrough episodes and I am literally 3 pills away from having nothing for these randomly emerging panic attacks.

I am sorry you are having anxiety! I do know how you feel and I dont think it is weird to ask. I think it is the way you go about asking and describing your symptoms. I think insinuating that you do not plan or want to become addicted to them is your best bet at getting them prescribed because, it may just be that you need your meds adjusted and that will clear up some if not all of the lingering anxiety. My plan is to ask for some "short term" medication to help me during this difficult time until my non addicting meds are adjusted. I hope you manage to get it sorted out... good luck.

Oh and if anyone else has any suggestions. please let us know! thanks!

[dejavu65]

Originally Posted by jlock4507

Last time I went to pdoc I said "you had mentioned giving me _______ for my anxiety, can we do that?" It felt weird asking her for meds....I don't know, I mean I'm not a doctor, I just felt like she would think i'm some kind of pill fiend if I ask her for medication.

Have you ever asked your pdoc for meds? How did you go about doing it?

I asked for Lithium (the jury is still out on that decision). I asked my new PDoc after my PDoc that left the practice told me that it was going to be his last choice before hospitalization. I felt kinda weird asking but I trusted my old PDoc and I did not want to go to the hospital. The new PDoc told me that she had something else in mind prior to me asking but if I did not mind the constant blood work then she thought it was a good idea. When it comes to questions like that, I feel like they will hopefully guide me in the right direction.

I hope this is not too confusing.

[dragonfly2]

One of the fastest roads to recovery is to be a partner in your treatment. Learn about your condition and the medications. And not just the ones you're on, but read up on other meds you may have heard about. It sounds like your doctor values your opinion, bringing you on board with discussions about your anxiety meds. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about what you think might help. Unless you have a history of medication abuse, I doubt your doctor will think you're looking for pills in that way. If you have had such issues in the past, then you and your doctor can discuss it openly and determine strategies to help you avoid that while still getting the meds you need.

So often, we perceive the doctor-patient relationship to be one where the doctor is dominant and the patient is supposed to be submissive. That shouldn't be the case. Granted, the doctor has the education and ultimate final say on what he or she will write scripts for, and the authority to do what needs to be done to keep us safe (whether or not we like it), but in this sort of outpatient setting we are more equals than people sometimes realize. These are our bodies and minds that are being subjected to these medications and we have a voice in what that treatment will look like. The best doctors I have had have been the ones that appreciate me taking an active role in my treatment. I know there are some arrogant control freaks out there, but it doesn't sound like your pdoc is one of them. Don't be afraid to be assertive.

I used to be afraid like you, and like dragonfly said I used to think there was a power uneqaulity. This was even one of my topics in group therapy. Not just with pdocs but doctors in general. Finally after I just got sick and tired of feeling like I had no say in my health I just decided to take the reigns.

Now I ask if I want something. If I feel like they are overlooking something I just ask. In a non aggressive way. And I've found that most doctors are receptive to this and do appreciate your input. As far as meds go I am very cautious about what I will and will not take. I am continuously told I should be on antipsychotics for life. However I am not comfortable with that and I disagree with the logic. My pdoc respects my stance and does not keep pushing the issue. However he is still willing to work with me on finding other solutions.

My advise it to just go ahead and try it and see what happens, from there it will just keep getting easier to find your voice and realize that the power struggle we perceive may just be that, our perception.

Hi jlock4507! In the example you gave, you said that it was one that your pdoc had previously mentioned herself. I don't think you should feel at all weird about that!

Totally agree with dragonfly, especially the first paragraph. And in terms of worrying about coming off as drug-seeking, if you honestly aren't, don't worry about that. That behavior is (or should be) pretty obvious to a professional. Anika makes a good point about asking in a non-aggressive way, which it sounds like you did. Personal and recent experience... I'd kind of mentioned an idea in passing a few times previous, but it didn't go anywhere, and like give-and-take goes, I was agreeable to trying her strategy first. A couple times ago, I brought it up again, and since her earlier strategy didn't seem to be working, she was agreeable to giving my idea a try. It's worth noting that it'd been established that I was pretty responsible in the meds dept. and that I'd be watching for the red flags. So far, so good. She was very pleased to see that it's been going well. After all, that's the goal, right? Don't be afraid to partner.

[alwaysrejoice]

I recently asked my pdoc if i could go back on Seroquel. he agreed.

[~Christina]

By all means ... Ask for help or medication .. I am very proactive about how im doing on a medication or if I think something else needs to be added or subtracted .. The end result is me AND my doctor making a decision about MY care

Be your own advocate ... Gone are the days of the doctors being the elite and we all meekly nod and say thank you ..

Good Luck

[AniManiac]

Originally Posted by jlock4507

Last time I went to pdoc I said "you had mentioned giving me _______ for my anxiety, can we do that?" It felt weird asking her for meds....I don't know, I mean I'm not a doctor, I just felt like she would think i'm some kind of pill fiend if I ask her for medication.

Have you ever asked your pdoc for meds? How did you go about doing it?

Just the other day, my brand new pdoc started me on Lamictal, and mentioned reducing the Wellbutrin after a couple weeks. I asked if I could start reducing the Wellbutrin right away because the side effects are getting annoying at the max dose, and she agreed. I think it helped that I'm clearly not depressed right now!

Then when she started explaining what to expect with Lamictal and I mentioned "The Rash" she was really pleased that I had already looked into some of the common meds for bipolar. She said she really likes working with people who take ownership of their health and are willing to do some research on their own behalf.

So I wouldn't hesitate to ask - but do be careful about how you ask. Like others have said, keeping a respectful tone and couching your request in terms that shows that you've given it real consideration should help others understand your position.

I asked him just last week to prescribe me diazepam as I find these are the only ones that work for me as my GP prescribed them a few months back, He thought about it and then said he will write to my GP and tell him to give me them in a emergency.

[kykid]

I not only request a change in medication when it is necessary; I have also alerted my doctor/therapist when my symptoms change in degree or magnitude. I also get samples of Abilify from my doctor because with my insurance, the cost is prohibitive.

As a matter of fact, after being treated for major depression for 8 years by 3 different doctors, and after experiencing psychosis for the first time, I suggested to my doctor, and he agreed, that I could in fact be bipolar. Essentially, I diagnosed myself and he agreed.

It took several years of treatment and trial and error to find the correct combination of medications to treat my illness. During this entire time, my doctor relied on feedback from me regarding my medications.

By all means, share your ideas with your doctor. The life you save may be your own.

[jlock4507]

Originally Posted by kykid

I not only request a change in medication when it is necessary; I have also alerted my doctor/therapist when my symptoms change in degree or magnitude. I also get samples of Abilify from my doctor because with my insurance, the cost is prohibitive.

As a matter of fact, after being treated for major depression for 8 years by 3 different doctors, and after experiencing psychosis for the first time, I suggested to my doctor, and he agreed, that I could in fact be bipolar. Essentially, I diagnosed myself and he agreed.

It took several years of treatment and trial and error to find the correct combination of medications to treat my illness. During this entire time, my doctor relied on feedback from me regarding my medications.

By all means, share your ideas with your doctor. The life you save may be your own.

I also pretty much diagnosed myself and my doctor agreed as well. My mom is bipolar, so I knew the symptoms,and did a little research.. My mom is bipolar 1 and I am bipolar 2. I was in a hypomaniic state ever since my son was born a year ago, about4 months ago is when I finally saw a pdoc. I was treated for depression and anxiety for over 10 years. After trying every type of ssri and having really bad rections to them, did i discover that bipolar people often have hostile emotions while on ssri's(that's what happened to me)

[Travelinglady]

Oh, yeah, maybe I am a bit big-headed, but I definitely talk to my pdoc about medications. I might ask her about taking a certain one or ask her about increasing my dosage. I have even been known to refuse to take a certain drug. Some pdocs are more open to such opinions from their patients than others. But I am tired of being overmedicated and incorrectly medicated. It's my body and my brain!

[AniManiac]

Originally Posted by jlock4507

I also pretty much diagnosed myself and my doctor agreed as well.

Heh, I tried that - didn't work, but I was a screwed up kid and easy to blow off. And 15 years later, here I am with a bipolar dx. I wish I could look those people up and tell them, "I TOLD YOU SO!"

[ohlala]

Not only have I asked him, I have suggested meds to him. For example, I researched T3 (Cytomel) for relief of BP depression and showed him the professional journal articles on it and the case studies. Now I am titrating on it and getting the require blood tests to monitor my thyroid. We discuss meds in detail and if we are considering an addition or change I ask him why and what he thinks and what his experience has been with other patients and he weighs in on it. I like to be proactive in my care and I'm glad he works with me.

[dragonfly2]

Originally Posted by ohlala

Not only have I asked him, I have suggested meds to him. For example, I researched T3 (Cytomel) for relief of BP depression and showed him the professional journal articles on it and the case studies.

I did the same thing with my pdoc and Naltrexone for my dissociation. I've found most pdocs to be very receptive to this kind of thing.

[alwaysrejoice]

I have only been seeing my Pdoc since may. I recently was having a breakdown in his office and said all these doctors have med shoving all these meds down my throat for years and years! I cant tell what is working or not working when im on five meds! I think he is reluctant to suggest anything new now lol. I do want to ask him if I could have a tranquilizer like a dart they sedate animals with or something. I just want a BREAK.

[manicminer]

I asked for .5mg risperdal to take daily because I remember from 2 years ago when they had me on 1mg daily i was the walking dead

[dragonfly2]

Originally Posted by manicminer

I asked for .5mg risperdal to take daily because I remember from 2 years ago when they had me on 1mg daily i was the walking dead

Did you take that 1mg all at once? I was taking 0.5mg twice a day for a while and it didn't knock me out or anything. Worth a try if you still need it.

[manicminer]

Originally Posted by dragonfly2

Did you take that 1mg all at once? I was taking 0.5mg twice a day for a while and it didn't knock me out or anything. Worth a try if you still need it.

That's what i started doing on my own. I told him that so he wrote me the .5mg rx so i didnt have to keep breaking the 1mg in half.