It is common for our patients to need to try a different medication or a different formulation of the same medication to see if it might be better in terms of efficacy or side effects. In many of these cases, a 5- to 7-day trial of the new medication/preparation should be sufficient for both the patient and us to evaluate the results and decide whether the patient should continue the new medication. This is, of course, very different from switching to a different antidepressant or antipsychotic medication, where a longer trial is essential before the response can be evaluated.
Here are some examples that regularly come up in my outpatient practice. The reasons for wanting to try a different medication or formulation can include the following:
1. Inadequate effectiveness: The most obvious reason to try a different medication is that the medication is not as effective as was hoped.
2. Duration of action (either too long or too short)
3. Side effects