Top 3 Signs That Mental Health Medication Isn’t Working The Way It Should
Medications won’t necessarily cure your mental health issues. But, they can help you manage its symptoms. Finding the right medication requires a steady stream of persistence. However, sometimes it quickly dries up if side effects start to make an appearance. It’s important to note that everybody’s brain and body respond differently to it. The most frustrating part about this is sometimes, you won’t even know why. Basically, just because it worked on somebody, it doesn’t mean it would also do the same with you. So, finding the right one can take some trial and error.
Top 3 Signs That Mental Health Medication Isn’t Working The Way It Should
# 1 | Feeling better right away.
This sounds strange. Doesn’t it mean it’s working? Not really. Available medications do their thing by indirectly increasing the levels of neurotransmitters thought to play a role in mood disorders and anxiety. This includes serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine. Feeling better right away can become a sign your medication isn’t working the way it should as it may be a placebo effect. Basically, you think it’s working and helping you. However, real help won’t happen that fast. It takes weeks for it to actually start working.
# 2 | Experiencing side effects that don’t go away even after twelve weeks.
Some people remain more sensitive to medication side effects than others. Unknown factors come to play. However, some people metabolize the medications more slowly which makes them have a tendency to build up in their system. When this becomes a repeated problem, doctors examine how the liver processes these medications. That way, they can try and avoid it due to differing rates of metabolism.
One’s body also adjusts to medication which can usually take up to twelve weeks to see the full effects. When even after that period, the patient doesn’t see or notice changes, they should let their doctor know. This becomes a key to not only finding the right medication for the patient’s medication but also receiving the proper dosage that compliments their lifestyle changes.
# 3 | Symptoms making a comeback.
Mental health issues are tricky. Some people experience recurrences even when they faithfully take their medications. If the patient experiences an uptick in stressors, they may find their symptoms making a comeback. Sometimes, it even becomes stronger. This stems from their environment has shifted.
Medications act on receptors in the patient’s brain cells. It can regulate the level of their response to medication by adding or removing some of these receptors. This, then, changes the level of its effectiveness. However, it should be noted that this doesn’t happen to everyone taking a particular medicine as people’s individual biology makes a difference.
There are other signs that show your medications aren’t working the way they should be. So, talk to our doctor. They can suggest instructions to give your body a chance to take the medications into effect. Seeking medical help is the first sign of getting better. So, don’t hesitate to do so.
