One of the common mistakes people make is to stop using medication before they were supposed to, thinking that the problem had already cleared up. In one study, it was found that about 65 percent of parents of children with eczema stopped giving their children ointment just three days after it was prescribed, and certainly too early. They would have gotten better results if they had kept with it, even if they thought that the eczema was clearing up on its own. In general, it is best to use your medication for the period prescribed, and only stop if you are told to by a doctor or have a result that your doctor told you would be a sign to stop. It is also a bad idea to diagnose your own problems; for instance, many women believe that they have yeast infections, but often have other infections that they would be aware of if they simply saw a doctor about the problem.
On the other hand, you shouldn’t simply trust your doctor without asking some questions, even if only for your own peace of mind. One study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, found that many patients who were prescribed medication for schizophrenia or other severe mental conditions actually did not have such conditions, and could have used drugs designed for their more mild problems like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Although you may not be wrongly prescribed something, you should always at least ask some questions so you can be educated about what you are taking.