If you have been prescribed medication by your doctor, especially if that medication was for mental health issues, your doctor should have discussed these ten things with you.
- Medical History: Your doctor will require your complete medical history in order to treat you properly. This should cover your medical history as well as your current state of physical health, including any past or existing operations, hospitalisations, chronic conditions, allergies, and prescriptions, including dietary supplements, over-the-counter medications, and recreational substances.
2. Psychological History: Inquire about any diagnoses, treatments, hospitalisations, therapies, or medications related to the individual’s mental health. Learn about the effectiveness and side effects of previously used medications.
3. Symptom profile: Your primary care physician should ask you about the severity, duration, and impact of your symptoms on your day-to-day life. They should also inquire about changes in the individual’s state of mind, thoughts, sleep, appetite, and level of energy.
4. Family history: They ought to inquire about any mental health issues or other severe health conditions that run in the family. There is a genetic component to many forms of mental illness.
5. Your doctor should ask you about the foods you eat, the exercises you do, the drugs and alcohol you use, the amount of stress you put on yourself, and the amount of sleep you get. The effectiveness of drugs and overall mental health are both impacted by these factors.
6. Your Current Life: They should inquire about your living environment, work, relationships, and any significant life changes or strains that have occurred recently. These elements have the potential to influence mental health as well as treatment.
7. Self-Injury and/or Suicidal Thoughts: Inquire whether thoughts of self-harm or suicide have ever crossed your mind. These vital pieces of information determine the urgency and mode of treatment.
8. Patient Expectations and Goals: Both your goals for your mental health and your expectations for treatment will be discussed. This aligns with the goals of your therapy.
9. Your doctor should explore medication, therapy, changes in lifestyle, and other options, and inquire about your preferences before making any treatment decisions.
10. An Understanding of medicine Before prescribing medicine, your healthcare provider should explain how the prescription works, how long it is expected to take to see results, any potential negative effects, any withdrawal effects, and any drug interactions. Inquire as to whether you have understood this information and whether it is acceptable to you.
Now, if you have been put on medication by your doctor and all of these ten things were not discussed, rest assured you more than likely have a drug dealer and not a doctor!
