[ahdm]

I met with my new pdoc today and I told him I'd stopped taking my meds in November. He asked if I wanted to go back onto medication, and I said yes. So he said he'll put me on Sertraline. But I've only just realised that I've been on Sertraline before, but it didn't work! What do I do???

[puzzclar]

I would let your pdoc know. Either by a message or by talking to him directly.

[ahdm]

The thing is, I don't have an appointment with my pdoc for another 2 months... And I did try leaving a message, about picking up my meds from Sue (care co-ordinator) rather than at my GP surgery (my pdoc asked what I preferred) but they didn't seem to understand what I was talking about at all... So I'm very wary about calling them again to leave a message...plus, they have no way of contacting me, because I don't have a phone..

It sounds like you might need to ask to move your appt up or be on a waiting list (which I guess you would have to call in every day to see if there's an opening). There's no point in taking a medication that hasn't worked in the past, then dealing with side effects and withdrawal (if you have any) just to get on another in two months.

Can you practice writing a clear message--one or two sentences saying that you can't take the prescribed medication and need to talk about another option? If they ask why you can't take it, say that you'd taken it in the past and it didn't work but had forgotten to say that during your appt. (I have forgotten basic things lots of times. It's to be expected. Hopefully, they will get that.)

[ahdm]

Okay, I'll try calling them tomorrow. Thanks

[BlessedRhiannon]

I'd just call (or in my pdoc's case, email) and let them know that you'd just remembered that you'd tried the med before and did not have a good experience with it. Ask if they can do a quick phone consult and prescribe something different. Don't leave a detailed message, if you don't trust that it will get back to the pdoc clearly. Instead, ask when a good time to call would be or see if you can schedule a phone consult so that you can call at that time and be sure to get the pdoc.