If you have a mental illness, chances are your doctor will prescribe you one or more medications. While not every patient will need medication to manage his or her illness, it often makes a huge difference in how he or she is able to manage life in general. What happens when your medication seems to make things worse? Is there something you should do? The following are some steps to consider.
Call a Friend or Family Member
If you’re worried about the effects a certain medication is having on your mental health, contact a friend to be by your side. He or she may not have the medical experience required to fix the problem, but at least you’ll have someone there to help you think rationally through what to do next.
Visit the Emergency Room
If your medication is causing effects that would be considered an emergency, don’t hesitate to go to the emergency room. If your life is in danger, or if the medication is causing you to act irrationally, putting others in danger, it requires emergency care. The emergency room physician can contact your mental health professional to discuss the medication and what has been happening to you while on it.
Speak with Your Doctor
Contact the prescribing doctor. Make sure you were actually prescribed the right medication, and that it was filled correctly. Your doctor can discuss dosage information with you, as well as regular side effects and how long it will take to start working as intended. If you have the right medication and have been taking it correctly with the wrong results, the doctor may choose to switch up the medication based on the effects you’re having.
Get a Second Opinion
If you’re unsure you’ve been prescribed the right medication in the first place, you may want to get a second opinion. Consult another doctor, speak with a mental health professional, or visit with a counselor who can help you determine whether you’re on the right medication. If your second opinion aligns with the first, your original doctor may be able to help you through some other resources for help. If the second opinion differs from the first, you can decide whether to change doctors permanently or at least give the second doctor a try.
Contacting a Mental Health Professional
Mental health issues can be quite severe and require medication. If you’re worried about the effect your medication is having on your life and well-being, it may not be right for you. Speak with a therapist, like a therapist from Lotus Wellness Center, to discuss the options you have for what to do about it.