By Chan Lishan, Mental Health Advocate
I remember when I was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2008. I was subjected to a series of trials of different medications, all which had terrible side-effects. One gave me blurred vision, another gave me nausea. In the end, the medication deemed best and most suitable for me left me with a heavy head and very stiff shoulders that made me walk like a robot.
Later on, in seeking a second medical opinion, I tried a medication that not only significantly lessened my symptoms, but also did not have such challenging side-effects. But when my caregivers questioned the original prescription, they were told that this medication had not been considered because it was very costly.
This made me realise how important it is for the patient and the patient’s caregivers to take an active role in informing the psychiatrist of their particular and personal situation, and of asking questions to make sure that the medical recommendations made by the psychiatrist are justified. In this case, I could have avoided many months of unnecessary struggle had I asked, early on, if there were alternatives to his recommendation.
