[xRavenx]

I get scared of medication changes and have difficulties judging when a med change is needed. I guess I am having trouble determining how bad the symptoms need to be in order for a med change to be a good idea. I've been on my combo for a long time.
What are early signs for you that it is time to ask your pdoc about changing or increasing your meds?

I am going to a brand new Psychiatrist on Monday, and I'm very nervous about how it will go. I have been depressed for the past few weeks and do not feel like doing much at all and have a lot anxiety. I do feel my meds provide some relief though, and I do not get many side effects. Still though, I'm struggling enough where I don't feel right. I'm very afraid of side effects on something new. Maybe she'll just increase my meds, but we'll see.

Can anyone relate to being nervous about med changes or a visit with new pdoc?

[Gs550]

I don't think there's anyone here who isn't a little nervous about changing meds. Let's be honest, the side effects are sometimes not great. But I always tell myself it's not permanent - if it's not working or the side effects are intolerable I can try something else.

[Wander]

I can totally relate. I saw my pdoc yesterday and felt I might need a med change. I ruminated over it for days beforehand wondering what he would come up with. It made me anxious as I wanted to do the right thing but didn't know what it was. Do I sit with the depression and wait it out a bit longer or risk a change? In the end my doctor and I decided to leave things as they are unless I worsen or get suicidal.

For you though it must be so much more stressful as it is a new psychiatrist. How were you feeling before you got depressed a few weeks ago? Is this current situation something you can manage for another month, or do you need it to change sooner? Maybe the depression will pass, or not get too bad. I really hope so. It is such a hard decision to make. Good luck with your appointment and I hope your new pdoc is a good one.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Wander

I can totally relate. I saw my pdoc yesterday and felt I might need a med change. I ruminated over it for days beforehand wondering what he would come up with. It made me anxious as I wanted to do the right thing but didn't know what it was. Do I sit with the depression and wait it out a bit longer or risk a change? In the end my doctor and I decided to leave things as they are unless I worsen or get suicidal.

For you though it must be so much more stressful as it is a new psychiatrist. How were you feeling before you got depressed a few weeks ago? Is this current situation something you can manage for another month, or do you need it to change sooner? Maybe the depression will pass, or not get too bad. I really hope so. It is such a hard decision to make. Good luck with your appointment and I hope your new pdoc is a good one.

Thank you. I think the part that is making me the most nervous is that it is a new Psychiatrist. I was actually referred since my pdoc is on vacation, and my Therapist felt it was necessary to get in with someone sooner. Plus, she thought I needed to see someone who spends more time with patients, and I was recommended this pdoc. I checked reviews online after making my appointment....they are a little mixed, but the receptionist was very helpful when I called, and she has a detailed intake packet to fill out ahead of time. My other pdoc did not have anything as detailed.

Before I got depressed, I had some cycling with hypomania and depression, with some mixing. My behavior was erratic and more impulsive than usual. I crashed, and now the consequences are catching up to me from when I was in that state. Also, I've missed days of work because of feeling depressed, overwhelmed, low self worth, not feeling like doing anything, and losing hope. I have insomnia, and I feel my thoughts are "loud" and race at night. I wake up with a negative feeling. I was having on and off suicidal thoughts a week ago. Depression is really starting to affect relationships with others too since I'm withdrawing. I think work is a trigger, and I do not feel like socializing. It's not that I have anything against others, but I just do not feel up to anything anymore.

[bizi]

yes I can relate completely.
I am afraid of leaving my pdoc. I don't really like her, she judges me about my drinking. I think that I am under medicated but am afraid of what new meds will do to me and won't like the side effects. I run on the hypo side.
This last appointment I mentioned another problem that I was having and she was very supportive. I did not bring up my feeling that I needed a med change.
oh well.
I am drinking so much, think it is hypomania causing this to happen to me.
Maybe if I was better medicated I would not want to drink so much.
bizi

[Bigmike727]

Well my doc really doesnt like to switch my meds. Being honest though I am switching over from Depakote to Lamictal and everything is going well so far......... except for sleep. He has me taking it at night, but I find it very difficult to sleep on the Lamictal in the pm, so a call is in order to see if i can take it in the am instead. Was I nervous? Somewhat with the possibility of the SJ rash, but so far no rashes so I am calmer now, just gotta find the right dose now.

[p00dlez]

I can relate. I was on loxapine for so long and I was happy on it but my pdoc started to worry about the extrapyramidal side effect with it being a 1st Gen AP. I didn't want to switch to Geodon but I did reluctantly and I actually kind of regret it. I was scared of getting extrapyramidal side effects but I really didn't want to switch either.

The Geodon doesn't work as good and I don't really like it very much. If it weren't for the side effects I would go back on the loxapine today. As for switching pdocs, mine are like a revolving door. They keep leaving and going somewhere else. I have kind of gotten used to it now.

[bioChE]

Originally Posted by Bigmike727

Well my doc really doesnt like to switch my meds. Being honest though I am switching over from Depakote to Lamictal and everything is going well so far......... except for sleep. He has me taking it at night, but I find it very difficult to sleep on the Lamictal in the pm, so a call is in order to see if i can take it in the am instead. Was I nervous? Somewhat with the possibility of the SJ rash, but so far no rashes so I am calmer now, just gotta find the right dose now.

FYI, I take Lamictal in the morning. I used to take it at night, and had some problems sleeping. Hopefully your doc will be OK with the switch.

[OctobersBlackRose]

I also get nervous when changing meds or even upping the dosages, it can be scary cause you don't know how the meds.wilk effect you or how even a.chqnge in dose.will effect you.

[fairydustgirl]

I have had tons of med changes over the last 10 years but they are usually dependent upon what state my moods are in. lamictal works very well for the most part but any tweak in something else causes a change (antidepressants)...one was caused by the addition of prozac on top of effexor and the other was caused when I tried to go off effexor and use wellbutrin in hopes of helping with both depression and adhd symptoms. Manic off the charts both times and the first time put me in the hospital. So, during these times I am changed to depakote until I restabilize usually quite a few months later. I've had the psychiatrist changes too, they either leave or retire! My current one though I have had for 3 years and she's awesome. I have managed to be stable for over 2 years now.
The way I feel when I am in depression..I just want someone to FIX it so I will do whatever it takes to make depression go away. I've tried a LOT of different medicines but am basically back to what I started with 10 years ago, lamictal and pristiq (metabolite of effexor)
Hang in there, talk to your pdoc and have a good, educated discussion with him/her. I wish you the best!