People suffering from depression or anxiety often find they benefit greatly from the use of medication in the short-term. Prescription drugs have shown themselves incredibly helpful for lessening the symptoms associated with these serious mental illnesses. As these medications take hold, people with anxiety and depression are more free to enjoy their lives and even explore alternative therapies beyond prescriptions. As helpful as these prescriptions can be, there are some precautions to keep in mind when taking new depression and anxiety medications.
Side Effects To Watch Out For
While patients are likely to find that new depression and anxiety medications all come with their own laundry list of potential side effects, there are a few common ones to keep an eye out for. They include:
• Allergies. This is a potential side effect of any kind of medication. When new depression and anxiety medications are introduced, patients should watch out for skin reactions, breathing problems, swelling and other signs of allergy. If symptoms appear, a doctor should be notified immediately. If the reaction is particularly severe, immediate medical attention is indicated.
• Stomach complaints. These can go along with almost any medication. If stomach problems do appear and are particularly troublesome, it is worth mentioning the problem to the doctor.
• Headaches. These can sometimes appear with the use of new depression and anxiety medications.
Other potential side effects with these medications are more problematic with anxiety medications. The things to watch out for when these are prescribed include addiction propensity, sexual dysfunction and extreme drowsiness.
When To Call The Doctor
When new depression and anxiety medications are in use, it is not out of the ordinary to call a doctor when concerns arise. There are times when calling is almost always in order. They include:
• When side effects are troublesome. Even if a side effect seems very minor, if it is causing personal concern, mention it to the doctor. If side effects are severe, immediate notification is called for.
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• When new medications are prescribed. If another medical professional prescribes medications, make sure to mention the depression and anxiety medications that are in use. If questions or concerns are still present, call the initial prescribing physician for advice.
• When any concerns crop up. New depression and anxiety medications can take some time to work and in some patients one medication might not do the trick. If there are any concerns at all when taking new medications, make the prescribing doctor aware of them.
New depression and anxiety medications can pave the way for more effective treatment of these conditions. These drugs do not come without their share of precautions though. When there is a concern, it always pays to pick up the phone and ask the doctor.
