Finding a different drug
Finding the right drug is not straightforward. It will involve trial and error. But the choice should be based on the views of both you and your doctor. Both you and your doctor need to make a record of how you’re feeling and how your symptoms are affected by the drug.
It can sometimes be difficult to get enough information from your psychiatrist or GP during a short appointment. So it is a good idea to write down questions that you have about your medicine beforehand to make the best use of the time.
Some questions you might like to ask are:
- Why have you prescribed this particular medicine for me?
- Why have you set the dose at this level? What are the most common side effects of this drug?
- Given that I have suffered from side effects such as _____(weight gain / tiredness / nausea….)_______, are there other drugs that would be less likely to cause me these side effects?
- When will you decide if this definitely is the best treatment for me? Have you taken my family history into account (eg diabetes) when choosing this drug?
- How often will my medication be reviewed?
- How often will the impact of the medicine on my physical health be reviewed?
- Will you refer me to a psychologist or arrange a course or a talking therapy?
- Why are you prescribing more than one antipsychotic for me?
- Are there any financial considerations which affect what you can prescribe?
