Medication review - scared they’ll take me off it

AnonymousToe

So I’ve been taking fluoxetine for 2.5 years and this is the first time they’ve asked me to book a review appointment. I’m scared they might take it away. I dont know what I’d do without it. I don’t think I’d be able to go to uni anymore and I’m not even exaggerating.

It’s not totally perfect (emotional blunting & weird motivation loss etc) but the pros wayyyyy outweigh the cons. I’m scared because the doctor who prescribed it has left now so it won’t be with them. I’m just worried that another doctor might disagree with the prescription and take me off the fluoxetine.

toffuna101

AnonymousToe wrote: »

So I’ve been taking fluoxetine for 2.5 years and this is the first time they’ve asked me to book a review appointment. I’m scared they might take it away. I dont know what I’d do without it. I don’t think I’d be able to go to uni anymore and I’m not even exaggerating.

It’s not totally perfect (emotional blunting & weird motivation loss etc) but the pros wayyyyy outweigh the cons. I’m scared because the doctor who prescribed it has left now so it won’t be with them. I’m just worried that another doctor might disagree with the prescription and take me off the fluoxetine.

you can always voice your concerns that you dont want to be taken off the medication. they cant decrease or even stop the fluoxetine without your consent. usually with this medication youd be gradually taken off the meds anyways so if it goes wrong the psychiatrist can just put you back on those meds. just of curiosity have you been experiencing depressive symptoms recently? or do you use fluoxetine for another health issue?

AnonymousToe

Thank you @toffuna101
I take it for social anxiety

independent_

In my experience they’d only take you off it if you felt it wasn’t helping you, if side effects were too bad, or if you’d reached the maximum dose and it wasn’t having much effect. They’d be more likely to change you to another one in those cases, but if you definitely don’t want to change, it’s absolutely ok to say that. They need to review you to see if you’re having any side effects etc and to renew your prescription, I very much doubt they’d take you off it if you were finding it helpful and side effects weren’t too bad.

Sian321

Hey @AnonymousToe , thank you so much for making this thread. I hear what you're saying, and how anxiety inducing it feels to think of having this medication taken away or changed when you've been feeling hugely supported by it.

I will share below some further resources which may feel supportive for you ahead of the appointment:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/talking-to-your-gp/

https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/rights-laws-and-criminal-justice/your-rights/advocacy-for-mental-health-making-your-voice-heard/

(A tool for using in a first-time GP mental health consultation. I know this won't be your first time in a mental health appointment, however, sharing in-case useful!) - https://www.docready.org/#/home

I wonder whether it might feel helpful to write some of your concerns down before you go into the appointment so that you have that list to support you in advocating for yourself?

When is the appointment due to take place, and might there be the chance that a loved one could come with you as extra support?

AnonymousToe

Hi @Sian321 thank you. It’s a telephone appointment in about 3 weeks. My mum is gonna try to be there with me when I have the phone call in case I need help speaking to them. It’s always difficult when even the doctors don’t make things accessible 🤦‍♀️

Thank you for sharing your experience @independent_ 🩷