Different drugs have different mechanisms of action for treating symptoms. “In the case of mental-health medications, these are generally impacting receptors and neurotransmitters of the brain to help alleviate symptoms related to conditions such as depression and anxiety,” explains Dr. Douglas Misquitta, a psychiatrist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Given that there are multiple medications in various classes to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental-health conditions, Nausheen Hossain, a clinical pharmacist for Vanderbilt Behavioral Health, also suggests asking: Why do you feel this particular medication is appropriate for me and my symptoms?
How soon can I expect results?
“Some people have hesitations about committing to something that may be a lifelong treatment,” says Kovacevich. “The length of treatment can vary depending on how long the symptoms have been going on or how many episodes they’ve had.” Be honest with your provider about these concerns while also trying to be flexible about the timeframe.
Side effects—such as gastrointestinal distress, sleep disruptions, and more—can occur with many mental-health medications, says Dr. Manish Jha, a psychiatrist at UT Southwestern Medical Center’s O’Donnell Brain Institute. They often subside as your body adjusts to the medication.
If selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs—such as Prozac, Lexapro, or Zoloft—are prescribed for anxiety, people may experience increases in anxiety at first, says Hossain. This typically eases up within a matter of days or weeks.
It’s good to find out ahead of time what the possible negative effects are and how to handle them, says Misquitta. “If side effects do come up, there may be ways to lessen or eliminate them.” Ask your doctor about this, as well as what side effects should prompt a call to the office or a higher level of care, Hossain advises. Severe side effects—such as worrisome changes in mood, irregular heartbeat, seizures, or hallucinations—may require immediate medical attention.
Even if they aren’t severe, there may come a point for some people where persistent negative side effects outweigh the benefits of the drug, in which case it may make sense to discontinue the medication, says Misquitta.
Should I avoid any medications while taking this drug?
Read More: Why It’s So Hard to Reach Your Doctor—and How to Actually Get a Response
“Every medication is a little different, depending on how long the medication’s half-life is,” says Kovacevich. (The half-life of a drug refers to how long it takes for the concentration of that drug to decrease in the body by 50%.) “The half-life for Prozac is four to six days,” Kovacevich says, whereas “the half-life of Effexor is approximately five hours, and Zoloft is somewhere in the middle, around 26 hours.”
For some medications, missing a dose isn’t a big deal, but for others, it could be. The only way to find out is to ask the prescribing physician what you should do.
The original version of this story misspelled Nausheen Hossain’s last name. It is Hossain, not Hossein.
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