How Much Control Should Patients Have in Managing Their Medications?
It may often seem that doctors don’t trust their patients regarding management of their medications, particularly controlled substances, including tranquilizers and stimulants. This is a dilemma that I face all the time in my practice. Some medications are powerful and excellent at treating specific symptoms, such as Xanax for anxiety, but they carry significant risk of dependency and misuse as recreational drugs.
I am a strong believer in using the right medication and not being fearful of using these medications when they are indicated, as long my patient and I engage in ongoing conversations about the risks and that we both carefully monitor their usage.
