Why Get a Second Opinion on Psychiatric Medication?

Recently, I sought a second opinion on my psychiatric medication change. I was suffering because of the lowered dosage of the medication, and I still am. It’s not the first time I’ve done this. Here’s why I’ve had to seek a second opinion on my psychiatric medication.

Getting a Second Opinion on My Psychiatric Medication

Before I tell you about why I got a second opinion on my psychiatric medication now, I’d like to talk about why I did so in the past. In 2002, I was seeing a really bad psychiatrist. She put me on an antidepressant that caused seizures, and it took two trips to the emergency room because of seizures and a doctor saying it was, indeed, the medication for her to look for another antidepressant. Then, she put me on an antipsychotic that caused severe nausea and kept saying she didn’t think it was the medication. When I finally went off it, the nausea went away, however.

So, I got a second opinion on my psychiatric medication. The new doctor recommended trying a mood stabilizer. Not only did the mood stabilizer eventually stop me from hearing voices from my schizoaffective disorder, but it promptly stopped me from feeling “dead” inside. The new doctor remained my doctor for almost two decades until she retired. She always listened to me and believed me when I reported a medication side effect.

Psychiatric Medication Changes and Getting a Second Opinion

Cut to the present time. I am going through a very difficult medication change. I’m starting to wonder if it’s worth it because the as-needed antianxiety treatment is one I’ve been taking for decades. My psychiatric nurse practitioner (NP) decreased the dosage, advising it can increase the risk of dementia. What I’m wondering is whether it’s worth all the misery I’m going through because of something that might happen 30 years from now.

This medication change has been so hard that I had to enter an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and I got a second opinion on my psychiatric medication change from the psychiatrist serving the program. My IOP is associated with the same hospital where my NP works. The psychiatrist said he’d voice my concerns to the NP and let her know how hard the medication change has been for me.

I haven’t done a perfect job of advocating for myself with my NP. I guess getting a second opinion on my psychiatric medication change is my way of advocating for myself.