Title: 
Doctors, Doctor...I am Sick

Word Count:
647

Summary:
This article is about the importance of communication between a doctor and the client who is suffering from an anxiety disorder. Discussing your medications with a physician is vital as lives are at stake.


Keywords:
Anxiety Medication, Anti Anxiety, Anxiety Disorder


Article Body:
When a loved one is sick, who do we run to? Who you gonna call? Nope! Not the Ghostbusters!                   Of course, It is always a standard procedure to see your family doctor if you think and feel that there is something wrong with you or anyone in the family. Doctors and other health professionals, who have the right training and acquainted with our medical histories, are the only experts to whom we can entrust our health issues and concerns.

We visit a doctor if we feel that something is physically bothering us, if we are sick.  More importantly,     we seek their advice regarding what suitable and safe medications we can take to get us back on the road to recovery.  Taking medicines is a serious matter that is not left to chance or decided upon with little or not information.  Taken without the proper prescription and supervision of qualified professionals, we might even end up doing more harm to ourselves.  

We know that certain illnesses can only be cured or treated by using specifically designed medications.  One such condition is called Anxiety Disorder.  Anxiety medication, if properly used,  can help a patient  calm down and find relief from other troubling symptoms. There are a number of effective anti-anxiety medications currently available in the market.

Antidepressants are the most common choice among individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Preferred medications such as Valium, Zanax, Lexapro and Ativan are the most common anti depressants known today. Aside from these medicines, there are also some forms of therapy which are also recommended in treating this disorder. 

But one of the more efficient ways to help ease the symptoms of this disorder is actually by having a talk with your physician to discuss the progress of your treatment and the effects of the medicine prescribed for you.

It really helps to have an open mind since it takes a lot of faith on your part to accept and follow the advice of the doctor, who, more often than not, is a stranger to you. If you feel suspect that may be suffering from an anxiety disorder, be honest to tell your doctor about it.

Here are some helpful tips on what to discuss with your doctor and what to ask about your medications:

•	Let your doctor know about all the medications you are taking, including prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements.

•	Ask your doctor all the information you need when you are given a new medication. Should you avoid any food? How will the medication help you? 

•	Make sure you know when and how to take the medications. Ask for specific instructions.

•	Ask what side effects of the prescribed medications you should expect.  Ask the doctor what to do if you develop any side effects.

•	Find out how long it will take for the medication to take effect and what to expect when the medication starts working.

•	Ask for the doctor's contact details just in case he cannot be reached at his or her office.

Another source of information regarding questions about your medications are pharmacists. These professionals should provide you essential information on your prescriptions, which can include the generic name, alternatives and price range for the said prescribed drugs.
 
Discussing the merits and effects of taking medication with a physician is a must-do before taking any drug to vital tool to alleviate symptoms of anxiety disorders. It is important to have a thorough discussion with your doctor before you start to take any medication. Monitoring and constant evaluation of the effects of your medicine is needed to determine the efficacy of your prescription.  In short, talking to your doctor is as important as the act of taking your daily dose of medicine. So, the next time you encounter problems or need answers to very important questions about your medications, you know “who you gonna call.”


