15 Questions I Wish Someone Would Have Answered When I Started Medications
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist. I am a person with a diagnosed mental illness who has gone through many different kinds of experiences with taking mental health medications. Please seek out a medical professional for specialized care for starting your medication journey.
When I first started my medication journey, a lot of questions came up. It was really intimidating to figure out the benefits of medications for mental illness and if it was right for me. But, with a little bit of information and curiosity, I learned that it was possible to start the journey with confidence and was able to find the right fit for me. After years of different doctors and medications, I’ve come up with a (non-exhaustive) beginner’s guide for what to think about when starting that mental health medication journey.
15 Questions I Wish Someone Would Have Answered When I Started Medications
How did you know you needed to start medications?
One of the first signs for me was when I wasn’t able to emotionally regulate myself with the tools I had gathered along my healing journey. They just weren’t working anymore. Before I started medication, I was having weekly, sometimes daily, panic attacks that I just couldn’t seem to get under control. I found that the smallest things would trigger me and my symptoms were unmanageable, no matter what I tried. The best metaphor I can put to it is that I felt I had truly used every tool in my toolbox and none of them were getting the job done, so it was time to find a new one to add to the box.
How do I find a psychiatrist?
If it’s accessible to you, talking to your primary care physician may be a good place to start. There’s a possibility that they may be able to prescribe you some medications while you pursue a psychiatrist that can offer more specialized care. Ask your doctor if they can refer you to someone, or search your insurance provider’s website to see if they have offerings. Another option is to do a search for your city on Psychology Today, which can give you the option to filter psychiatrists based on your wants and needs.
What should I expect from my psychiatrist appointment?
While every psychiatrist is a little different, they will generally ask you about your mental health history. They will also ask you if you have any prior hospitalizations, about your family’s mental health/health history, if you’ve taken any medications before, what your trauma history may be like (if that’s applicable to you), and what kind of care you are seeking.
One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is to have an after-care plan for your psychiatrist appointment. Sometimes these appointments can be emotionally taxing and require us to talk about hard topics. Have a self-care plan ready and know that what you are doing is brave and a big step towards ongoing care and wellness. When it comes to the questions about medications themselves or any concerns you may have, ask all of the questions! There are no dumb questions; there is no question that should go unanswered.
Advocating for oneself can be really difficult, but making sure that you have all of the information and giving it to your doctor, will allow them to provide the best support to set you up for success in your long-term care. As for ongoing care, know that some psychiatrists may be a little more chatty and almost feel as therapists that you see every once in a while, but there are others that only talk about medication and are solely focused on ongoing medication management. Be mindful of which type of psychiatrist you’re wanting to see, as that could impact your care.
Finally, know that psychiatrists can be a lot like therapists in the sense that sometimes you may not vibe with one and you may have to switch. Before you seek a different psychiatrist, try to bring up any concerns that you have about the way they are carrying out your care, and if they are not receptive or you are not getting the changes you’re looking for, it’s okay to switch and move on.
Should I try natural remedies?
Something that’s important to know about mental health and wellness is that taking care of ourselves requires a holistic approach. You can absolutely integrate natural remedies into your routine, but there is no shame in pursuing mental health medications if that feels like something that would benefit you. Holistic wellness means eating in a way that makes us feel good, moving our bodies in ways that feel accessible to us, having our basic needs met, being in connection, getting our vitamins, minerals, and consuming things that our bodies need—and sometimes it also means getting on medications to help us emotionally regulate when we need some extra help.
TLDR; you can absolutely include natural remedies in your routine and know that medication intervention is 100% valid alongside your natural wellness practices if that’s something you feel will help you.
““Holistic wellness means eating in a way that makes us feel good, moving our bodies in ways that feel accessible to us, having our basic needs met, being in connection, getting our vitamins, minerals, and consuming things that our bodies need—and sometimes it also means getting on medications to help us emotionally regulate when we need some extra help.””
What about the side effects? Is it worth it?
Side effects were one of my biggest worries with starting medications. Make sure you talk about this with your doctor about what to expect. Communicate if you have any side effects that you are particularly worried about and talk about a plan with them if that side effect is unmanageable. For me, I was really worried about not feeling like myself, or what my psychiatrist called “affective flattening,” because it was something I had experienced with past medications.
I communicated this with my psychiatrist and it was something that we keep a close eye on. It’s also important to remember that some side effects with mental health medications will usually subside after a few weeks, so it may be worth being patient and letting your body work through these big new changes. But know that the benefits of taking medications for mental illness more often than not outweigh the side effects once you find the medication that’s right for you.
At what point of severity should I be concerned about the side effects?
Your doctor should tell you about any side effects that require medical attention (such as a rare side effect known as Serotonin Syndrome) so that you know what to keep an eye out for when it comes to that level of severity. However, when there are side effects that just come with adjusting to a new medication, I would say a good rule to play by is if a side effect is interfering with your daily life and you are unable to function in a way that feels comfortable or normal for you, it may be time to consider getting off that medication.
What about the side effects that impact my sex life?
What I want to tell you is that there is no one size fits all (with anything regarding sex or medications). For some people, there are side effects that people feel negatively impact their sex life, such as decreased desire, difficulty with orgasm, and/or getting an erection. For others, however, medications can help people feel less anxious or gain more access to calm triggers, which in turn, can help them explore different desires or be in the moment in a more mindful way.
If medications impact your sexual desire, talk to your doctor and talk to your partner. This is a deep invitation for communication about your need to change how you access pleasure, explore different ways of touch or sensation, or talk to your doctor about a medication change, if you are feeling an impact that is intolerable.
What do I do if a medication doesn’t feel like it is working?
If you are having any kind of questions about your medication, make sure you clearly communicate those with your doctor and do not stop taking medications without telling them. You should also note that sometimes it may take several weeks to start seeing benefits from medications. This is not a bad thing; it just takes your body some time to adjust.
How do I know if they are working?
Something that really helped me track what changes I was experiencing was to keep a symptom tracker. I really recommend talking through this with your care team and asking them what to look out for. Also, ask someone close in your life to check in with you every couple of weeks. This is especially helpful if you talk to that person often because they may be able to notice changes before you do.
When I started taking medications, I didn’t expect the changes to feel so subtle and to happen over a longer period of time. That’s why tracking them, journaling, and just overall staying mindful of your body will help you notice when you are feeling better or need to change medications. For me, I just started feeling lighter. I would wake up and wouldn’t feel this weight of panic on my chest every morning like I once did. I still felt anxiety, but it just feels more manageable. I have more access to my regulating tools than before. Ultimately, know your “working” will likely look different than mine.
How long before I know if I should change Medications?
A rule of thumb I like to suggest is that because it does take a few weeks for your body to adjust to a new medication, wait a couple of months. If you are still feeling unregulated or like you need more tools in your tool belt, talk to your doctor and they will be able to talk through with you if changing medications is the right option.
What does the process of switching meds look and feel like?
In the same way that medications can have side effects when you start, many medications can have side effects when you stop or change them. As always, your doctor should be in communication with you about this. If you are changing medication and start to experience withdrawal symptoms or other negative side effects, think of it as if you are sick in the sense that you should take the utmost care of yourself. Tell the people in your life that you are going through some changes and that you may need a little extra time, rest, and compassion. If you are experiencing side effects that feel dangerous or urgent, contact your provider immediately.
How many different medications will I have to try before finding the right one?
This is a complicated question. I’ll tell you a little bit about my journey. When I was in my early 20s, I tried to seek out medications and ended up trying several different ones; none of them felt like the right fit, so I gave up. I went many years without medications and managed relatively fine. These last two years, however, I needed to add to my toolbox.
The first medication I tried gave me unmanageable side effects that I tried to push through for about a month because I knew that sometimes it takes the body time to adjust. They continued to be unmanageable, so I switched to a different medication. The change I felt was almost immediate. All of this to say: it can be a long journey to finding the right one. The good news is that there are genetic tests that can be done to analyze how your genes may interact with certain medications, so see if this is an option for you. Of course, with any medical questions or concerns, please stay in communication with your doctor.
How do I integrate them into my routine?
Take stock of what your routine already looks like. Ask yourself if there is a certain time you have to take your medications. If you take them in the morning, maybe put them next to your coffee maker or toothbrush so that way, you will see them every day. If you take them at night, set them on your bedside table with a glass of water or carafe. Setting alarms is also a good way to stay on top of your medication schedule.
A tip I’ve learned since I have to take mine with food is to keep little snacks next to wherever I keep my pill container. So, even if I haven’t had a full meal yet, I can take them with the snack I have at hand. My biggest piece of advice for medication routines is to just set yourself up for success by integrating them into what already exists. Think of things that you do daily anyway and start there.
Do I need to take medications forever, or are they temporary?
For some people, medications can absolutely be a tool to help manage mental health concerns long-term. However, some may also turn to medications simply for a season of life. Either is okay and ultimately is something you should chat with your doctor about. But, know there is no shame in long-term medication intervention or taking them in the short-term.
““ I recently read, ‘Pills don’t give you skills, they help you acquire them.’ It’s not my personal goal to get my mental illness to ‘go away.’ It’s my goal to self-regulate and be able to approach life with more energy and space...””
Will my mental illness go away when I start taking meds?
As a general rule, I don’t think that mental illnesses “go away,” but rather are just something we manage and approach with self-compassion and tenderness. I just see medications as another tool to help me cope. I recently read, “Pills don’t give you skills, they help you acquire them.” It’s not my personal goal to get my mental illness to “go away.” It’s my goal to self-regulate and be able to approach life with more energy and space and medications help me achieve that.
Overall, taking medications can always be a scary path to go down because it’s unfamiliar and there is so much stigma associated with taking mental health medications, but with the right care and preparation going into your appointments, there are ways to be equipped so you can navigate the process with gentleness and more ease. And when in doubt, just call your doctor. There is no question too small.