DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 31-year-old single mother who suffers from severe back pain and depression/anxiety. My doctor currently has me taking more than 13 prescription drugs daily. I feel overmedicated, but when I talk to him, all he does it prescribe more pills. What can I do?
DEAR READER: Based on your brief note, it appears that your doctor isn’t listening to you at all. I recommend you switch to another physician who will sit down with you to review your medications and determine which ones can be eliminated. You should also have a physical examination and imaging studies to determine the cause of your back pain. I also recommend blood work to check your liver and kidney functions and, more important, to ensure that the medications aren’t causing more harm than good.
