Saying No to Pdoc

I have been stable for 5 days but I have a pdoc appt Wed and she likes to change meds just to "make it a little better." Problem is that I lose days and days to side effect hell everytime (Abilify just killed me for 5 weeks). How do I say I need a break and please dear God don't touch anything! without being desperate or a bad patient?

You shouldn't be considered a bad patient. The doctor works for you, you are paying him/her. If you feel something isn't working, I say tell him or her and explain why. If it is difficult to say or remember, I sometimes write it down so I am prepared before hand. It's easier to become nervous or forgetful when sitting in that chair, so that written reminder helps. For me at least. Good luck!

Say you file a complaint if she keeps changing meds. But first just ask. Just say you don't want any changes, you'll only take your current meds. Doing experiments is not why you're there, unless it's necessary.

Finding the right dosage is far more important than the meds themselves. Any two or three meds, dosages carefully tuned would likely have a positive effect. Mood stabilisers may be slightly different in that respect though.

Threatening with complaints is really effective. They can lose everything.

Maybe don't assume you have to be like friends. You don't have to be. Not at all.

My pdoc was like this at first. He kept wanting to change things even though I was feeling fine.

I flat out told him "no, I don't want to change my meds. I feel good right where I'm at." Then he argued, "but you need to be on higher doses for them to be effective." I responded to that with: "well, can I try it out? If I need higher doses, I'll call you." He wasn't a fan of it, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it, unless he wanted to drop me as a client (which I know he wouldn't do).

Sometimes you just have to plant your foot firmly on the ground and stick up for yourself. It can be intimidating at first, but you are seeking help for yourself. You are your own best advocate

I don't think that it makes you desperate or a bad patient.

It's important that you maintain channels of communication and communicate this to your pdoc as I think that your reasons are valid.

Hopefully your pdoc takes what you have to say into account.

Just tell your pdoc you don't want to change anything.

If you having a hard time telling him you need a break perhaps you can write a note. Give it to him at the beginning of the session so you can talk about it before he decides to change things again. Some Pdocs just feel better and like they make a difference when they can write a RX.

Usually I'm the one changing up my meds actually lol. But I did have a few pdocs try to change them when I was feeling fine and I just spoke up. At the end of the day, they can't force it down your throat. I know there's times when the pdoc came off as intimidating to me and I didn't though. So I get it. Just speak up.

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