After a while on one treatment plan, you may find that your medication doesn’t work as well as it used to. Dr. Philpott says that the following symptoms may suggest it’s time to discuss changing treatments with your doctor:
- An increase in your bowel movements
- Trouble or pain passing stool
- Weight loss
- Fevers
- Blood in stool
- Fatigue
However, she says, “It is important to be aware that sometimes these symptoms can occur for a different reason. That is why your healthcare provider should do some tests when this occurs, to identify what is causing the problem.”
“If you are feeling worse on the medication than off it, it is time to have a discussion with your doctor,” says Kane. Don’t be afraid to speak up. “Your doctor assumes everything is okay unless you say something,” she says. Her recommendation is to start by saying something like, “I’m not sure that my medicine is doing what it’s supposed to,” and then going into detail about your symptoms. Your doctor will appreciate your honesty, she says.
Philpott says it’s also important to be prepared going into your appointment. “Things to discuss with your healthcare provider would be what the specific symptoms are, when they started, and if [you] notice a fluctuation over time,” she says. For example, if you’re taking an injection and notice that symptoms start recurring before you’re due for the next injection, that’s important to note, she says.
Tell your doctor about any new medications you may be taking, including those that are over-the-counter, as well as any other new symptoms you’re experiencing. Finally, “being able to report how many bowel movements [you have] a day and at night, and how this has changed from your baseline, will be important,” Philpott says.
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