[Victoria'smom]

I was wondering how your doctor responded when asking for medication by name. I don't want to look like a drug seeker but as long as I'm trying over I want to give symbyax a try. I'm notorious for "non compliance " so like viibryd it's an AD/AP but without stomach issue. So would I seem like a drug seeker if I asked for things by name. My husband wants to try Wellbutrin and topamax because he's 150+ pounds over weight. If we ask would we look like drug seekers? This is a new pdoc who has never met us before.

[hamster-bamster]

Your H would look like somebody who wants to lose weight. You would not look unusual.

Let me give you an example of a "drug seeker".

I was on the medical unit with Lithium intoxication.

A man was brought into ER while I was waiting there. He was disheveled, with long knotty gray beard and a very loud voice. He complained of "pain in the groin area" and demanded benzos for the pain.

And I overheard the nurses' comments - so yes, to them he was a drug seeker. But you, asking for a medication at a regular outpatient appointment, justifying your interest with "let us try this because it may be gentler on my stomach" - no, you would appear a completely normal consumer of MH care. Nothing to worry about at all.

[hamster-bamster]

PS I once asked an on call pdoc for Elavil since I could not sleep. He was surprised that I knew the name of such an ancient drug, but he did prescribe it to me AND also said that he hoped that Elavil would do double duty for me, working as a sleep aid and as a headache preventing medication. Elavil indeed partially improved the situation with migraines, so the dr was right.

[Victoria'smom]

Thank you, we're both conserned about looking like drug seekers our other pdoc was very open to trying new things. Our pcp was one who sat us down and told us that we're unstable. I'm doing well on this Med except for the apathy, feeling like I have to run I'm the am, and it stealing some of my personality but I'm hopefully that changes with the lower dose of zyprexa

[~Christina]

I think as long as you come prepared with why trying X medication could be helpful, "Most" Pdocs are open to this as all they see are people in a struggle to find a workable treatment plan.

[nicole84]

I've done this often, with gp's and pdocs in the past. Having a vast knowledge from researching medications over the years and not suggesting meds of dependence is usually fine.

I've actually had the experience where the doctor has asked me if I've taken such and such before and how it was (like if a friend gave it to me, not ideal I know) and then they've prescribed it as they knew it had a positive effect. Also I've known of other people with the same experiences.

With drugs known for dependence like benzos it can be trickier, I take valium and my gp has offered other kinds with shorter half lives, but if I do take those it is very rarely as the tolerance and addictiveness that comes with it isn't worth it. I guess I'm a careful drug suggester? I don't abuse meds, and I don't want to be addicted as I was once to a painkiller.

[Blue_Bird]

I'm on several medications. One for anxiety (Klonopin). I started feeling like I needed the Klonopin more often the past month and didn't like that because I want to keep it for emergencies and panic attacks. The severe severe stuff. I still have been having pretty bad anxiety every day but I felt like I needed something milder that I could take everyday so I called my doctors office and told them what was going on and wanted to see about getting on hydroxyzine (Vistaril/Atarax) because I've heard some good things about it, and Benadryl helps me stop anxiously pacing so I thought it might act similarly since its also an antihistamine. They had no problem with it. I'll have the new medicine within the next few days to take and don't have to wait until my next appointment to ask about it since its something that's been driving me crazy and I still have the Klonopin for the panic attacks.