Im nervous how do i bring up trying a new medication with my doctor ?

I have major depressive disorder and I have been on 6 meds over a 14 month period I want to try to augment my current AD w/ a CnS due to the fact it shows to be more effective but I am scared she might think I am drug seeking if I come out and ask for it by name because those types of medication are a schudule II drug ... I would like to add i have never had any form of drug abuse and i am a stay at home mom with 2 childern one of which has PDD NOS on the autism spectrum that I am home schooling so sever depression with chronic fatigue and a whole lot of stress is all on my plate and I am at a loss ....the doctor has tried SSRIs along with the "newer" AD meds and i was on a steady dose of lithium for almost 8 months with no real change except being more tired and 20 extra pounds. I have done enough research to know that this could really work I just want to know how to start the conversation ... i have never had to do this before and i need to try something because if not the were talking about hospitalization and I cant leave my children



please help =/Im nervous how do i bring up trying a new medication with my doctor ?
It is your legal right as a patient to suggest or ask for any medication that you think may help you. Don't be embarrassed just be certain that he/she fully understands what you are experiencing and the responsibilities you have at home and your lack of energy even with the medications that you are taking. Lithium is an antipsychotic that prevents the highs or manic phase and doesn't help with the depression part of the desease. As a patient you are a partner in your mental well being. I have Bi-Polar disease and in the process of finding the right medication that would help me I have many times found information about other antidepressants and asked for a change. Believe it or not psychiatrists do appreciate a patient who is smart enough and willing to help themselves. Psychiatrists are not able to keep up with all of the new drugs and we need to participate in our own search for help. You are doing the right thing. I wish you the best and I am so very sorry that with the depression you have so many responsibilites on top of it.
I take generic amphetemine salts for my bipolar depression, but it was an accident, because I was prescribed them as an "antidote" to the sexual side effects from cymbalta (which it didn't help) HOWEVER I did notice that it helped me get more stuff done around the house, and I felt better about myself for that, which made the depression a tad better %26amp; I told my doc that, and she prescribes it for me. I will say that i have been thru like 2 dozen meds that haven't worked. She says it is well known that these drugs help depression, so I don't think you are out of line asking for it. Let your doc know you are at your wit's end because you can't get stuff done, bring in a printout of your info for backup (from a very legitimate website) and see what they say. It isn't a magic bullet. It just helps a little bit, and it does increase my anxiety a lot. I cut my pills in half a lot.Im nervous how do i bring up trying a new medication with my doctor ?
Just tell your Dr that you have been doing some research and you found a drug that you think sounds like it would be worth trying. And ask them their opinion and what they know about the drug.



Thing with mental illnesses is it is OUR job to manage our illness.....it is our Drs job to help us via meds. We should be doing our homework on what we are on, what other meds are out there, and be able to tell the Dr that what we are on isnt working, not just sit back and let the Dr put us on what they think and just let it go unless the Dr says its time to try something else. If your Dr just thinks you are just seeking drugs, then they do not take your situation seriously to begin with and you should find another Dr.
Just tell her the truth ... say what you just said now ... don't worry ... it would be fine ... she knows you already ... I doubt she will think that you're seeking for drugs ...

Explain to her what you wrote in here ... I believe that would be enough ... Just say: Hey, I've been doing some research ...

Say what you wrote in there ... not the whole thing of course ... but the reasons of you trying to get a new medication.



Hope this was helpful!

Happy New Year (:

And good luck!Im nervous how do i bring up trying a new medication with my doctor ?
Just ask your doctor. That's all. No fancy words or beating around the bush. At best you've got 30 mins with your psychiatrist to talk about anything you want to discuss. Make the best of it. The first words you say at your next appointment should be, "I'd like to try this drug because..." I've been in the care of psychiatrists for 12 years for bipolar disorder, and I've learned that there really is no way to be sure of the course your treatment takes, unless you take charge and make sure that the doctor is working with you and not on you. Don't be shy. If your meds are making you constipated say so. If your skin is breaking out and it's making you self-conscious, tell your dr. Sex problems? Tell her those too. And if you want to try a new med, PLEASE tell your doctor. She'll never know what you want to do about your illness unless you say something.
There has to be a level of trust between you and your doctor. Take the research to him/her and have a complete discussion with all of your concerns. Make the discussion about what is best for your children, how you can be the best YOU for your children.

)o( Blessed Be! ~ Whillow