How much control should you have over...
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How much control should you have over...
| Fri, 01-27-2006 - 6:44pm |
How much control should you have over your med. management?
- A little
- A lot
- All
- Some
- None
You will be able to change your vote.

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I voted "all," but I'm excluding situations in which a person is a danger to him/herself or to others. That's totally different.
For example, my doctor and therapist were not at all happy with me back in May when I opted not to begin taking Effexor. I tend to experience bad side effects with antidepressants and am always very hesitant about starting a new drug. I did my own research on Effexor and decided it was not something I wanted to do. They disagreed with my decision, but I reminded them that it was my body and my decision to make. They backed off. They were also not happy with me when I decided to stop taking Celexa. They seemed to think it was not such a big deal that Celexa killed my sex drive. Why should it matter since I'm single? Excuse me! But it mattered very much to me. I weaned myself off of it and flat out refused to take it again. I will not put up with drugs that make me gain weight or lose my sex drive. My relationship status should have nothing to do with it.
So unless I become a danger to myself or to others, I fully intend to control all medications.
Laura
Yikes Laura,
I wouldn't want to deal with any of that either. I'd have done the same thing you did, As a matter of fact I am.
If you don't mind me asking, Is the sexual side effect all you had or is there more?
Hugs
Danielle
Hugs & Positive Thoughts Always,
Hey, Danielle. I've been reading your posts about all the trouble you've been having with meds and Jane, and I am so very sorry. That's got to be hard. I hope I didn't give you the impression that I had bad experiences with my doctor and therapists. They have both been wonderful to me, and we have agreed to disagree about the medication.
As for Celexa, the only side effect I remember experiencing is a total lack of sex drive. I was on it for about 6 weeks before I noticed that I had not in all that time had any sexual desire. I was on a fairly low dose at the time, and I simply weaned myself off of it over the course of a week and then told my therapist what I had done. And really, it was only the therapist who thought I was making a mistake. My p-doc was actually more understanding, even though he does think I go overboard at my reluctance to try new drugs.
But I have been on (at one time or another) Paxil, Lexapro, Celexa, and Zoloft. All were bad. Paxil and Zoloft, especially. I am currently on Wellbutrin-XL. It is the only drug that does not kill my sex drive or give me other side effects (weight gain, stomach cramps, etc.). I have made it clear to my doctor that I will never take another SSRI because of the bad side effects I experience with them.
So, yeah, I am not a fan of antidepressants. It was very hard for me to be assertive with them about this because in the past I just tended to do whatever a doctor (any kind of doctor, not just a psychiatrist) told me to do. It wasn't until the Celexa episode that I took control and said "I won't do this. It's my body, and I choose not to experience these side effects. The benefit does not outweigh the loss of sexual desire."
I hope you're able to find something soon that works for you. I really hate how much guesswork there is in psychiatric drugs, how you never know what is going to work or in what dose. I wish it were more clear cut.
Laura
Hi Laura,
Don't worry, You didn't freak me out. Jane was basically good to me too but our major problems started when I began refusing the med. treatments she wanted me on. As time passed my lack of therapy with her also concerned me, med management isn't all of it, ya know.
I'm glad for your information, I appreciate you sharing. A friend of mine suggested prozac. I'll see what the dr says when I find him that is, lol
Until then I'm not going to worry too much.
I'll keep you all posted. My appt for tomorrow has been changed to today.
Hugs
Danielle
Hugs & Positive Thoughts Always,
Hi there,
I trust my doctor to prescribe what he thinks is best for me. I don't know enough about them to play "god" with my meds. However, I do believe in trial and error.
Jolie
Hugs & Positive Thoughts Always,
I totally agree with you. I am sorry, I didn't mean to suggest not researching meds and just allowing the doctor to prescribe without having any knowledge. I research all the time, too. I just think after a while, a person is going to find what they "want" to see. Sometimes too much info isn't good either. For example, I just switched to paxil, and I did some research on it. I read all the literature on it, and I could go bonkers with all the stories out there about the drug. I decided to try it and see for myself. I am not always like that with research, but trust in your doctor, common sense and a little faith all play a role.
I hope I didn't offend you.
Best wishes,
Jolie
You didn't offend me, Jolie. I understood what you
Oh not in the least Jolie. Having different opinions is what makes groups even more special. We learn to see things from so many different perspectives. I'm glad it works for you : )
We all have our own ways, I'm not sure any one is right or wrong in so many things in life.
Hugs
Danielle
Hugs & Positive Thoughts Always,
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