How to Evaluate a Psychological Medication

In a day and age where doctors prescribe pills to treat numerous ailments, psychological medications are in the medicine cabinet of nearly every home. I have a great deal of experience with psychological medications, after being diagnosed with depression at age twelve and my six year old daughter has been through every medication on the market to treat her ADHD. While a lot of people simply take the pills offered without question, one must learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication treating their ailment.

Keep a journal regarding your medications

One of the biggest struggles I ran into was the follow up appointment with the prescribing doctor. He would want to know how I felt and what side effects I'd suffered, if any. The problem with this is that a follow-up appointment would be anywhere from two weeks to two months after I started taking the medication. It is easy to forget the little things that the doctor might need to know. I bought a memo pad to be used just for remarks about my medications. I write down the dose, when I take it, and any unusual feelings or side-effects caused by the medication. This not only helps you remember what to tell your doctor, but it also helps you be more aware about what is going on with your body. What may be an insignificant side-effect to you could be something that leads your doctor to change your medication.

Rate how much better (or worse) the medication makes you feel

I implemented a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the worse I've felt in my life and 5 being the best I've felt. I note daily in my journal of how I feel when I wake up and when I go to bed. Since a lot of medications must be started at a lower dose so the body can adjust, your doctor may increase or lower the dose as needed to achieve the desired result. However, your doctor needs to know how you feel at what dose to make a proper adjustment. In my case, with anti-depressants, I typically need more than the starter dose to make me feel better. I've had up to four increases on various medications before the doctor decided it was time to switch to another medication.

Be careful about researching the side-effects

I have found it much better to not research or read about the possible side-effects of medications until I think I am afflicted by one. Every prescription from the pharmacy is accompanied by a list of possible side-effects. I file these away for future reference, if needed, and then pay close attention to my body's reaction to the medication. In the past, when I've known about the side-effects in advance, I tend to psych myself into thinking I am having a side-effect or reaction. The human brain is an interesting thing when it comes to what you think you know. If you think yourself into thinking you will suffer from a side-effect, it is possible you will trick your brain into developing one. Obviously, if you find yourself suffering from fast heart rate, breathing difficulties, or any other major debilitation, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Make sure you give the medication enough time

Each person is different in how their body responds to medication. While I seem to notice an immediate effect from some medications, it typically takes up to three full weeks for your body to adjust and get enough medication in it to be effective. I've seen numerous people take pills for a couple days then throw them away because they don't feel any different. Not feeling any change means your body has not accumulated enough of the substance. In absence of any major side-effects, do not stop taking the medication. Discuss it with your doctor before you decide to take yourself off the medication. Patience can pay off in the long run with most medications.

Don't be scared to ask your doctor for an adjustment or change

Being open and honest with your doctor is of the upmost importance when dealing with your medication. I personally have a hard time asking my doctor to increase my medication. After a near lifetime on medication, I fear being labeled as an insatiable pill addict. It is much easier for me to just accept the little change I have achieved and not ask for "too much." This has resulted in me still suffering from some horrible effects of depression when they could have been subdued by an increase in medication.

Regardless of what your psychological medication is for, listening to your body and subjectively assessing how you feel can make a huge difference. It is important to not overreact or under react to possible side-effects and always keep your doctor informed of any physical or mental changes. With any psychological medication, there is always the possibility that it can cause or increase thoughts of suicide. If this occurs, you need to immediately contact your doctor or the nearest hospital. Your medication can be changed to something else and give you the quality of life you deserve.