Before your initial discussion with a provider, it may be helpful to gather key information. Gathering information can save valuable time.
Essential for the first visit:
- Current medications
- List ALL meds, including nonpsychiatric, over-the-counter, birth control and supplements
- Include tablet size (mg) and number if its psychiatric
- Past psychiatric treatments
- List of meds tried in the past with approx date, duration and max daily dosage
- Pharmacists or past providers can help provide records
- Benefits or side effects of meds
- List of meds tried in the past with approx date, duration and max daily dosage
- Family History
- Details about unusual kin can help, even if undiagnosed i.e. legal problems, addictions, impulsive behavior
Optional for the first visit:
- History of current episode
- present symptoms
- when the problem started and what made it better/worse
- Past medical history
- Any medical conditions you have and those from your past
- Women: menstrual status and date of last period
- Alcohol and substance use
- Don’t hide it!
Source: “Bipolar, Not So Much”
The Calculating Mind 