Feel much better with a more active role in my treatment

I'm only in my 2nd month of treatment. The first appointment I went to I was told what medication I would be on, I asked a few questions about it and went on my way. I wasn't very confident in the choice my doctor had made for me.

This time I did research beforehand, and lots of it. I went into my appointment and told the doctor what I absolutely would not take and told him what I would prefer to take based on previous experience with the medications myself, experiences other people have had, and information online. He decided to go with my preferred course of treatment. I am feeling so much better about the meds I'm on now and feel confident that they are going to help.

Do you allow your doctor to dictate your meds, or do you do your homework and take part in the decision making process?

I always take an active approach in my treatment. Having worked in mental health I am familiar with all the drugs and knew what would work best for me. And having worked with my pdoc professionally he took my word for it and so far so good. He has had to tweak the dosage on things but for the most part all has been great.

I absolutely take an active part in my treatment. I research the heck out of every drug I'm on, or any new drug that the Dr. want's to suggest trying. I also feel like my pdoc listen's to me. I'm a little more passive when it comes to my addiction treatment, as I'm still new to recovery and don't completely trust my own judgment so I pretty much do what my addiction Dr. tells me.

--splitimage

I really didn't know much before my first appointment, so I just went with what my pdoc prescribed. I did wait a week before filling the script though as I was hesitant to try medication. I spent 2 days just trying to decipher what he wrote and then another 5 or 6 googling it. After googling it I was a little bit scared as I found out what the med is "usually" prescribed for (something I did not have). But, I took it anyways it was a very low dose and I decided to give it a try.

I did ask at my next visit though why he prescribed me a medication for schizophrenia when I was not schizophrenic. I'm not going to go into his reasoning here, but it made since to me, so I agreed to stay on the medication.

There has been one time when I asked if we could increase the dose and he agreed. All the other times he suggested the increase, and I just went with it. When he added a 2nd medicine for other symptoms, I just went along with it figuring he was the professional.

Guess as I become more comfortable with him I let him take the driver seat more. I give in pretty easliy.

Okay, I believe that I have rambled enough, so I'll shut up now.

Just my two cents, whatever it is worth.

My pdoc and I work together but sometimes he will put his footdown like if a med I suggest has a bad side effect.

I spend a LOT of time on Google, and even on here I learn a lot about meds and personal experiences.
If I feel a higher dose may help me, I will suggest it.

I think the more active you are the more likely you are to be comfortable with what's going on

After years of riding the med merry-go-round, I started doing a lot of research on what was prescribed. The pdoc I have now (state run doc) gets a little superior in attitude when I question his reasoning for the meds but I have a good t and she listens when I voice my opinions. She recommends on how to speak with the pdoc about my concerns and how not to be confrontational with him. Having a bpd dx, I don't always keep control of my emotions as I need to and my t is great at teaching me how to have a conversation with the pdoc and not be labeled as 'non compliant'. Fortunately, I don't have to have many conversations with the pdoc and this seems to work best for me. Pdocs have always managed to make me feel like a bad little girl all over again and I usually end up crying which in turn stirs up my anger and fears. I'm really not sure the reasoning behind my reactions. Authority problems? I don't know.