OCD Action

lard
Member

Hi
I am seeing my phychitrist tomorrow at 3, I'm worried that I will be palmed off again as I have been in the past.
I have been on sertraline mitazapine combination for a long time, over 9 months and I feel that the cons out way the pros, I feel I have given this long enough to know if it is going to help. It fails to ease the rumination and I still have OCD symptoms.
I know that meds ain't a cure but surely taking them should help rather than hinder.
I want to try fluvoxamine as this is one of the only ssri's that I haven't tried. I have tried others in the past but feel I never really gave them much time as the doctor at the time was pushy and kept changing them.
My question is can I take control of my treatment and tell them what I want to try next or do I have to bow down to their 'greater knowledge'?
I just want to do all I can to recover but feel at the moment that the doctors are happy for me to just struggle on the wrong meds and coping methods.
Thanks
Martyn

Tue Jan 10 2012 16:28:33 #
Tess
Member

Hi Martyn
Don't really know the answer to this one. I don't think your psychiatrist will take kindly to be told what medication to prescribe, paticularly as your reason is not based on any medical knowledge but purely because it's the only SSRI you haven't tried, especially if you didn't give the other meds a fair chance. I think all you can do is to make it clear that you are not happy with the medication you are on and explain why, it might help you to write down what you feel your psychiatrist should know in advance so you don't forget anything. If you feel you are being fobbed off and left to struggle then say so and see what response you get.

Tue Jan 10 2012 17:48:15 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Tess, Hi Martyn, yes, a difficult one... I too am aware that my meds aren't necessarily helping me enough, and I'm on the top dose of Fluoxetine, and I have an Olanzapine at night too. Changing your meds will relate to how long you have been on them, as Tess rightly said, and the psychiatrist will be able to advise maybe? If you request it he/she may agree, but it is in the lap of the Gods really. See what happens, you can but try, and that is all, hopefully you'll get a good result from your appointment.
wannabe

Tue Jan 10 2012 19:40:38 #
Mike
Member

Martyn,

You certainly can be in control of what medications you take, but you should definitely listen to the doctor's opinion so that you can make the best informed decision possible. If your medicine has not helped you with the OCD, and you are still really struggling, it is clearly not the right medication. The doctor might try changing the medication or adding a supplemental medication, like risperidone. The doctor should be able to convince you that whichever decision he recommends is the one that makes the most sense, so that you agree that he/she is making the right decision.

Also, medications are quite iffy. They don't work for many people, and for many others they work a little but have undesirable side effects. Studies suggest that ERP therapy may be the single best treatment for OCD, possibly even better than medications (and without side effects!). Do you have a therapist with whom you can undergo this therapy?

-Mike

Wed Jan 11 2012 19:44:49 #
wannabefree
Member

How did it go Martyn?
Are you okay?
Wannabe

Wed Jan 11 2012 20:08:05 #
lard
Member

Hi all
Well spent an hour and a half with the phychitrist, it was decided that i should come off the Sertraline and start Fluvoxamine.
This was the outcome i wanted but now the hard work begins, switching is going to be tough.
One thing i was worried about was when i went to get my precription from the chemist, 2 of them didnt have it in stock and didnt really know much about it, hope its not being discontinued!
Lets hope i have more success with these meds than ones before.
Thanks for replies.
Martyn

Thu Jan 12 2012 19:49:24 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Martyn, it may be hard work, but it will be worth it in the end. It might make a few side effects, but it'll still be worth it... They wont be discontinuing it I think, it is probably just a case of the pharmacist either running out, or never having dispensed it recently... Good luck with it, I hope it is the right meds, and works for you. It'll be worth it.
Wannabe

Thu Jan 12 2012 20:47:47 #