I'm supposed to be taking risperdal and lexapro, but I don't want to. I was hospitalized in January for manic depression and they think I need to be on meds forever. Everyone else says I seem to be improving, and I haven't been taking any. I was wondering, am I legally allowed to refuse what is perscribed? Or, as a minor, do my parents get to decide? I am fifteen and I don't want to be on serious meds anymore. I need to know whats legal.
2006-09-18 12:49:00 · 4 answers · asked by DeAd DiScO 4 in Health ➔ Alternative Medicine
There are patient's rights and one of those include the right to refuse medication. Just beware of the consequences of not taking them and be sure that doing so won't cause your health to decline.
2006-09-18 12:52:57 · answer #1 · answered by annarenee83 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a case now on the Eastern Shore in Virginia that a young guy with cancer is refusing chemotherapy and the courts are trying to force him to take it. Watch this case because it may change the laws.
In this case, his parents support his decission and are helping him seek alternative treatments and they seem to be working. If you are not going to take the prescribed meds, then you need a plan B to take care of your medical problems. You have to be proactive in your healing so what are you going to do? Zig Zigler said "If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got." So you have to make some changes and see if it helps. Go organic and eat healthy foods, cut out any crap fast foods, see a psychologist (not a psychiatrist) and work through your issues. Join groups with other folks with similar problems. Doing nothing is not an option if you have a problem, but strong meds may not be the answer either. Those meds take over natural body functions and after a while you have no choice but to stay on them for life, so you are wise to question the logic in that. Good luck.
2006-09-22 02:10:06 · answer #2 · answered by pdidididy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, you can refuse, but BE WARNED, your life will just get more and more distraught, SINCE you have Manic Depression, which is a disease, you should take your medication. Please at least consider it. If you refuse to, realize this will go on your record and you may end up in a worse place than you already are. Also-Do not get mad because you may or may not get the answer you wanted to hear. You should take it to get better control of yourself. At least one time to see if it helps you feel better.
Hope this helps :)
2006-09-18 19:57:08 · answer #3 · answered by bonycask 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe the meds are what are making you better. you might go back to where you were as soon as you quit taking them
2006-09-18 22:35:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋