Trying new medications

one_step_closer · 12-04-2009, 01:33 PM

How long would you stay on one medication before you tried another? I always make sure that I keep taking my medication for the length of time that it says it will take to work. Usually I wait until I see my psychiatrist before I review my medication or I see my GP if the side effects are causing me problems, but I only see my psychiatrist every 6 months and i'm desperate to keep trying different medications to hopefully find something that works for me. I don't want to keep taking a medication that isn't working.

I've been on my current antidepressant, Reboxetine, for over 2 months and haven't noticed any beneficial changes. My psychiatrist said that if it didn't work we would try a combination of medication but as I said I don't see her that often. Do you think that my GP would know about combining medication or would I be able to get an earlier appointment with my psychiatrist?

Chloe. · 12-04-2009, 03:01 PM

Well my psych say that it takes about two weeks for the meds to kick in. If it's been two months and you're not seeing improvement, you may want to talk to your psych about the right med combo. Maybe your gp would know, but your psych would probably be better. That's just me.

sherlock holmes · 12-04-2009, 03:24 PM

You should try seeing your psychiatrist a month after you start a new med. If it was going to work you would have seen improvement after a month ish.

It sounds like you need to see him more frequently. GPs dont have the same extent of knowledge psychiatrists do.

nuclearnight · 12-04-2009, 11:18 PM

Very much in agreement with control freak in that you should be able to see some sort of improvement in a month, even if it's only minor. At which point I'd probably discuss increasing the dose for a month or two, and if there's no improvement after that, that's when I'd be thinking the current combination isn't working.

~Michelle

xXMessedUpXx · 13-04-2009, 01:25 PM

Also depending on what they're prescribing it might be only your psych can change your meds, GP's can prescibe everything. Try and get an earlier appointment with your psych :)

Danny R · 13-04-2009, 02:04 PM

I agree with nuclearnight, sometimes i've found it's the dosage that can be the problem, not the meds themselves. I find it best to just try to see what helps, and if you find something that helps (Even if just a minor change) discuss a higher dosage.

Danny -

Steel Maiden · 13-04-2009, 08:50 PM

Ok seeing your psych once every 6 months is useless. You need to see her more often. I mean I see my haematologist once every 6 months but that's for relatively minor problems. I see my psych once a month because mental health problems are more serious.

Simply call your psych and speak to the receptionist. Say that your meds are not working and you really need to see your psych. You'll be able to organise an appointment.

Just because your psych organises appointments once every 6 months doesn't mean that you can only see that often. If you need to see her more often, then you can do so.