Questions to Ask
It can help to have a list of questions to use as a guide when you talk to your doctor, pharmacist, therapist or case manager. The list below offers some examples of questions about bipolar depression you may wish to ask different members of your treatment team. Please keep in mind these are just examples. You may want to add many other questions of your own.
- Questions for Your Doctor
- Questions for Your Therapist or Case Manager
- Questions for Your Pharmacist
Questions for Your Doctor:
- How can I tell the difference between the manic and depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder?
- What should I do if I become extremely agitated, depressed, or if other symptoms come back?
- Will I get better? Is there a cure?
- What should I do if I can't feel my medicine working?
- Is it OK if I drink an occasional beer or glass of wine?
- What causes some people to have a relapse, even when they are taking their medication?
- If I miss a dose of my medicine, what should I do?
- How long do I have to take this medicine?
- What medication side effects should I be aware of?
- What can I do to manage weight gain?
- Will this drug affect my sex life?
- I would like to get pregnant; how will my medicine affect my developing child?
- If I have or plan to have children, what are the chances they will have bipolar disorder?
Questions for Your Therapist or Case Manager:
- How should I tell my friends and loved ones that I have a mental illness?
- I want to get closer to my family. How do I start?
- I can't get motivated to exercise, even though I know it would make me feel better. What should I do?
- What goals should I set for myself?
- What can I do to keep my stress level down?
- How will my illness affect my ability to work?
- What should I tell my employer about my illness?
- How can I get help paying for my medicine?
Questions for Your Pharmacist:
- Is it important to take my medicine at the same time every day?
- What can I do to help remember to take my medicine?
- Are there certain foods or over-the-counter medicines I should not take with my medication?
- Should I take my medicine with or without food?
- Can I drive while taking this medication?
- Who can explain the written information that comes with my prescription?
- Can I drink alcohol with this medication?
- How can I tell which side effects of my medication are serious and require my doctor's attention?
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