i have had depression for years and have been on different medications. recently my doctor now thinks i might be bi-polar. i dont think i am and she has given me medication for bi-polar and i have been taking it but i think its making me more depressed and i feel really sick. i am also still on medication for depression. i think i only have cronic depression and maybe anxiety. can i refuse to take the bi-polar medication?
2006-10-08 17:47:32 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Doctors can't make you do anything you dont wan't to do. They have no authority. But, they are there to help you.
If you don't think your bi-polar, get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinion. If they all concur, I suggest you really do start to think about it.
Write down everything that you feel when your taking the medecine. Tell your doctor exactly what's going on when you take it. Ask for alternative medicine. Your doctor should ALWAYS explain to you the benefits, side effects, risks involved when perscribing any medicine.
When you go to other doctors for 2nd and so on opinion, tell them what you've been diagnosed with, how you feel, what medicine your taking now, and what you have in the past. Give them as much information to work with.
2006-10-08 17:56:58 · answer #1 · answered by gilafro 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can refuse to take the bi-polar medication. However, you should fully discuss this decision with your doctor. Discuss the reasons you feel that this medication is not working, there may be an alternative to try, or the intial diagnosis may be wrong. Especially considering the type of medication you are talking about, it is not a good idea to stop taking the medication without a medical opinion. Mood altering drugs often have withdrawal symptoms (even if only taken for short periods of time), and require careful planning when being 'weened' off. Finally, if you don't agree with your doctor, its always good to get a second opinion, even if its from another doctor at the same clinic.
2006-10-08 17:59:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes as the patient you are the most important person on your health care team. Discuss the options with your doctor there are many alternatives medications as you are well aware of. I don't recommend stopping any medication cold turkey that is for depression or bi-polar disorder because it could have negitive side effects. Also as a side note, if your doctor doesn't respect your right to be involved a second opion or a new doctor might be an alternative.
2006-10-08 18:08:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to take anything you don't want to. I was diagnosed with depression and have had several medications to try to help me. They all generate some side effect and have made me feel different, lousy, sick, etc. and I stopped taking them. If I have to change whatever times I will as I won't take something that isn't helping me or making me feel ill. I have missed a lot of living because of all of this. Staying in constantly due to not feeling well, not sleeping, all kinds of issues. It's not me and I am tired of it. I don't blame you at all. Just refuse...
2006-10-08 17:54:24 · answer #4 · answered by silhouette 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can definitley refuse to take certain types of medications. Do what you feel is right.
When I went to my doctor from anxiety/depression she was about to perscribe me Paxil....I've been on it before and It actually made me really close to killing myself. Because the medicine made me more confident....unfortunantly in a bad way. I told her that so it made her choose something different.... she gave me Effexor for chemical balacing and Xanax...I accepted Effexor...but refused Xanax outright...I've heard way to many people going insane from taking xanax...and that's it very, very VERY addictive...I couldn't belive she was giving me Xanax so easily....so i said no and just wanted effexor...
I knew myself better...I knew that if xanax was addictive that I would be hooked on it as well. I didn't want that.
Well I never felt better. And I have my bad days but it's normal type of bad days that everybody gets. Not the type that wrecks me for the whole month.
2006-10-08 18:03:27 · answer #5 · answered by charming_imogen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is best to take a second or third opinion as well, doctors are human beings, they can make mistakes and can be stubborn to accept their mistakes.
It is best to get an independent view from another doctor.
There are always different ways to skin a cat, your doctor might know of the one he/she knows.
I heard a saying " If the only thing you know is how to use a hammer then every problem will look like a nail to you"
2006-10-08 17:57:04 · answer #6 · answered by Best Answer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can stop taking it. Why are they trying bi-polar drugs? Because the depressants for depression aren't working? Why is nothing working unless you are bi-polar? Why aren't you trying it all?
2006-10-08 18:03:17 · answer #7 · answered by Kitty L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not a good idea to refuse to take it just explain how it is affecting you & ask if he can change it for you or try a different Dr but don't just stop taking them without a Drs ok as that can make you sicker
good luck & get better
2006-10-08 17:56:27 · answer #8 · answered by ausblue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have to be careful when stopping a drug, there can be withdrawl symptoms with those types of meds, consult your doctor or pharmacist before just quitting them. And, there's more than one type of medication to treat different problems, ask the dr. if there's a different dosage or type of medicine because it's making you feel worse. I'm sure the dr isn't expecting the meds to make everything worse....
2006-10-08 18:03:18 · answer #9 · answered by beckerton12 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES
I work in this field...and there is no way that you can continue on a med that makes you feel this way...if your prescriber is unable to come to a compromise then find someone else...just because they are a MD does not mean that they are correct in your diagnosis. Speak to another psychiatrist to find alternatives, and other Dxs........educate yourself....people with hypertension and diabetes are encouraged to educate themselves.....and so should you....best of luck
2006-10-08 18:04:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋