Australian Consumer Patient Rights

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a psychotropic medication?

What is informed consent?

Is it dangerous to use multiple psychotropics simultaneously?

How do I find out if my drug is the cause of my symptoms?

My Doctor has increased my dosage and now I am experiencing side effects; what should I do?

How do I organise a genetic test?

Do I have to pay for the genetic test?

Since starting antidepressants my symptoms have become worse but my Doctor claims this is due to my condition and suggests increasing my dosage?

My child has been feeling depressed and anxious since being treated with Strattera and our Doctor has suggested treating them with an antidepressant as well, is this dangerous?

Does my doctor have to tell me about any potential side effects before prescribing me antidepressants?

I am experiencing side effects after being prescribed antidepressants and my doctor refuses to believe me what should I do?

I have a family member who is currently on a Community Treatment Order (CTO) but our family feels the drugs are contributing to their symptoms. Do we have any legal rights to obtain a genetic test?

Are antidepressants approved for children?

Why are antidepressants not approved for children or teenagers?

Can antidepressants and antipsychotics make a person aggressive or violent?

What is a psychotropic medication?

A psychotropic medication is a licensed psychoactive drug taken to exert an effect on the mental state and used to treat mental disorders. Usually prescribed in psychiatric settings, these medications are typically made of synthetic chemical compounds, although some are naturally occurring.

What is informed consent?

According to the Australian Medical Association (AMA), Informed consent is a process of communication between a patient and physician that results in the patient's authorization or agreement to undergo a specific medical intervention.

In the communications process the physician providing or performing the treatment and/or procedure, should disclose and discuss with the patient:

The patient's diagnosis, if known;
The nature and purpose of a proposed treatment or procedure;
The risks and benefits of a proposed treatment or procedure;
Alternatives (regardless of their cost or the extent to which the treatment options are covered by health insurance);
The risks and benefits of the alternative treatment or procedure; and
The risks and benefits of not receiving or undergoing a treatment or procedure.

Click here to visit the AMA’s website.

Is it dangerous to use multiple psychotropics simultaneously?

Yes. Multiple use of psychotropic’s can be dangerous depending on their genetic metabolic requirements. Drug-drug interactions can commonly lead to Adverse Drug Reactions so it is important to know your genetic capacity and the metabolic genes required by the drugs prescribed. Also, there are few conclusive studies to support the simultaneous use of multiple psychotropic medications, meaning; the safety and efficacy has not been proven in this type of treatment.

How do I find out if my drug is the cause of my symptoms?

You can ask your doctor to request a DNA-dose test. This test can establish your genetic capacity and provide your Doctor evidence to establish if your drug is the cause of your symptoms.

My Doctor has increased my dosage and now I am experiencing side effects; what should I do?

You should discuss these symptoms with your Doctor and request that they conduct a DNA-dose test to establish your genetic capacity.

If your Doctor has increased your dosage because the initial dose did not help your depression or anxiety symptoms, but the increased dosage appears to have increased the severity of these issues and/or provoked symptoms such as nausea, headaches, sleeping problems or general agitation, it is possible that you are unable to either benefit or safely metabolise from this choice of drug.

An alternative treatment such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) may be required and you and your Doctor should consider investigating the cause of the symptoms further. It has already been established that there are links to depression and anxiety from physical conditions such as hypothyroidism, glandular conditions, coritsol levels or vitamin deficiencies.

How do I organise a genetic test?

You need to contact your Doctor who can request the test from their local pathology centre. The pathologist then refers it onto the necessary pathology lab and is forwarded to a genetic specialist for formal assessment and report.

Do I have to pay for the genetic test?

Yes, the cost is approximately $200. Unfortunately at this stage the Government does not provide funding or rebates. We encourage you to sign our petition to make this testing available for all Australians. (link to our petition page)

The report titled Australian Centre for Health Research Improving the Quality
Use of Medicines in Australia Realising the Potential ofPharmacogenomics
October 2008. (PROVIDE LINK TO REPORT doc attached) indicates the Government is aware of the implications of not providing this testing. The report indicates that the Department of Health and Aging (DoHA) is spending 1.6 Billion dollars a year caring for patients who are not benefiting from their drug treatment or who are suffering from Adverse Drug Reactions associated with drugs that use the CYP450 genes.

Since starting antidepressants my symptoms have become worse but my Doctor claims this is due to my condition and suggests increasing my dosage?

These issues need to be discussed with a qualified heath professional and in many cases a supervised withdrawal plan may be necessary if your drug is responsible for your symptoms.

You need to discuss these issues with your doctor and we urge you to request a DNA-dose test to establish if you have the genetic capacity to safely metabolise or benefit from this type of treatment.

Physical treatments for conditions such as depression and anxiety do not benefit all and in many cases individuals with these symptoms may find treatments such as CBT will alleviate their symptoms.

My child has been feeling depressed and anxious since being treated with Strattera and our Doctor has suggested treating them with an antidepressant as well, is this dangerous?

Yes, it has been established that many children experience side effects from medications used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Medications such as Strattera have been linked to provoking depression and anxiety. It is also important to note that Strattera is contraindicated for use with antidepressants; this means that should not be taken together. Both Strattera and antidepressants are metabolized by the CYP450 genes, which can lead to over dosage and adverse reactions.

Without a genetic test to establish your child’s ability to metabolise even one of these drugs your Doctor is at best guessing the outcome.

It is also essential that as a parent you understand that antidepressants are not approved for use in children under 18yrs nor recommended for persons under 24yrs*. The reason for their lack of licensing and approval is not due to lack of clinical trial data but rather the evidence obtained from countless trials that confirmed the risks outweigh the benefits in this age group. The controlled trial data in this age group did not meet safety regulation standards to obtain approval to treat children with depression or anxiety.

*Pfizer Pty Ltd. obtained approval in 2001 to treat children between 6-18yrs with Zoloft™ (Sertraline) when diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Although, it is important to note that this approval was conditioned prior to 2004/2005 when both the FDA and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) issued warnings about the use of SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors – a newer type of antidepresssants) in children to treat depressive symptoms due the fact they can provoke suicidal ideation in this age group.

Does my doctor have to tell me about any potential side effects before prescribing me antidepressants?

Yes, this is called Informed Consent and your doctor has an obligation as part of the Australian prescribing guidelines to ensure you are aware of all the risks and benefits associated with any drug treatment.

I am experiencing side effects after being prescribed antidepressants and my doctor refuses to believe me what should I do?

You should demand a DNA-dose test to establish your genetic capacity and this may assist your doctor in determining if the symptoms are related to a condition or a result of the drug treatment.
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If you are not satisfied with your Doctor’s response you have the right to a second, third or fourth opinion. This is your health and if your doctor makes a mistake it may result in life threatening or permanent injury so you need to be in control and be informed.

Yes, if the Doctor in charge refuses to consider the test you can appeal to the Mental Health Board on behalf of your family member or friend or request assistance from the mental health legal services in your area to assist you in this appeal.

The mental health legislation in Australia does not state that a doctor can force a patient to endure a treatment that science establishes they are allergic to. The claim commonly used by the psychiatric industry is the benefits outweigh the risks. This claim has yet to be tested in the courts.

The benefit must outweigh the risk for this argument to be true. Thus, the counter argument is that if the risks outweigh the benefits the patient has a right to cease such treatment and be provided with the right to alternative treatment.

This does not mean that a patient who is clearly a danger to themselves or others can be released into the community, although they have the right to safe and effective treatment and once they are no longer a risk to themselves or others can be discharged from hospital.

Are antidepressants approved for children?

No, antidepressants are not approved to treat depression or anxiety in children.

Why are antidepressants not approved for children or teenagers?

Antidepressants are not approved to treat depression or anxiety in children or adolescents because the sponsors (pharmaceutical companies) have not been able to provide evidence through studies that the benefits outweigh the risks. The strict regulation of prescription medicines require sponsors to provide supporting evidence and even though the sponsors have conducting many trials involving this age group the results confirmed that there was a doubling of suicidal ideation in children being treated with the drug compared to those taking the placebo.

Can antidepressants and antipsychotics make a person aggressive or violent?

Yes, these drugs can provoke a number of side effects including behavioural problems such as aggression and violence. There have been a number of reports of homicidal ideation and acts from patients being treated with these drugs. Akathisia is a side-effect of these drugs and whilst a mild case is characterised by agitation and restlessness, akathisia can intensify and lead violent acts including homicide and suicide.

The Australian Government recently published recommendations from an Expert Advisory Committee in relation to the safety and warnings of psychotropic drugs. The report advises the TGA to include warnings about Akathisia, to date our regulator has failed to act.

There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained in these statements touching on legal matters is true, correct or precise. Law varies from place to place and it evolves over time—sometimes quite quickly we advise that individuals seek legal counsel for current legal information.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.