SEEKING HELP - IF YOU ARE REFERRED TO A PSYCHIATRIST

a. Overview

If your psychological symptoms are sufficiently severe, a psychiatric evaluation may be suggested. If you agree, be prepared to list your current and past medical problems and medications and your symptoms (their duration and frequency and any other observations you have about them).

b. Medication: Questions to Ask

At the conclusion of the evaluation, medication may or may not be recommended. It is your choice whether or not to take it. You don’t have to decide on the spot.

You may want to look up additional information about your diagnosis and the recommended medication on the Internet or at the library before you decide. It is also your right to have the psychiatrist explain your diagnosis and the medication in detail. Consider asking questions such as:

            What is my psychiatric diagnosis? How did you arrive at this diagnosis?

            What are the various types of medications that have been found useful for this diagnosis?

            What are the potential benefits and possible negative side effects of each of these medications?

            Are there any initial side effects that are supposed to disappear in time? If so, how long should I wait for the initial symptoms to disappear before I call the office?

            Why is this particular medication being selected over another?

            How much research has been done on this particular medication and what is the probability that this medication will be helpful?

            How long does it typically take for this medication to have an effect?

            If I were to overdose on this medication, would I die?

            Should I give myself the daily medication or should somebody else have the responsibility of giving it to me?

            What if I forget to take the medication at the prescribed time? Should I take it later in the day or wait until the next day? If I skip a day, should I double the dosage the next day, or not?

            What should I do if I vomit the pill for some reason?

            Will this medication interact negatively with other drugs or with alcohol?

            How will you determine if the dosage needs to be changed? Will blood tests be required? If so, how often?

            Do you have any literature on the medication that I can read?

            Can I become addicted to this medication?

            What will happen if I suddenly stop the medication on my own?

            At what point can the medication be discontinued? Is there a point after which the body becomes immune to the effects of the medication?

            If I stop the medication, how long does it take for the effects of the drug to leave the body? How long after the drug is discontinued should any dietary or alcohol restraints be observed?

            If this medication does not work, what other medications might be available?

c. Medication Monitoring

If you chose to take medication, be aware that medication needs constant monitoring. You may need to contact the psychiatrist several times before the right  kind of medication or dosage is established.

You will also need to call or email your doctor if the negative side effects are problematic, for example, if you feel numb or tired much of the time; cannot concentrate; have physical symptoms such as bleeding, muscle tremors, seizures, dizzy spells, hyperventilation, dark or discolored urine,  rashes, inability to urinate, constipation, loss of menstrual period or sex drive, severe headaches, nausea; or have suicidal thoughts or any of the symptoms listed in the Emergencies section below.

If your call or email is not returned promptly, call and e-mail again. Do not let these side effects go unattended!

Finally, be wary of any psychiatrist who does not seem familiar with the medication, who seems to discount your concerns or who does not return your phone calls or emails regarding questions or problems with the medication. If contacting the psychiatrist is always a problem, consider changing doctors.

However, it is recommended that you discuss this decision with your therapist, supportive others, as well as with the psychiatrist, or get a second opinion from another psychiatrist.

Copyright (c) 2018  Aphrodite Matsakis.  All Rights Reserved