7 Signs Your Medication Plan for Anxiety Needs Professional Review

If you’re taking medication for anxiety, you can probably recall how hopeful you were when you started taking it. It may have brought you relief at first, but it doesn’t seem to be working as well now. Your life changes, your stress levels fluctuate, and your response to medication can change as well. 

That’s when it’s time to check in with our team here at Great Care Health Services in Nashville, Tennessee. Our group of licensed professionals offers in-person and virtual medication management to help optimize your mental health.

In this month’s blog, we outline seven signs that indicate your anxiety medication plan could benefit from a professional review.

1. Your anxiety is creeping back

Maybe you're worrying more than usual, lying awake at night replaying conversations, feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks, or avoiding social situations that never used to bother you.

Sometimes anxiety returns gradually, making it difficult to recognize until it's affecting your daily life. If your symptoms are becoming more frequent or more intense, don't assume you have to live with them. 

Your medication, dosage, or overall treatment plan may need to be adjusted by our knowledgeable team.

2. You’re dealing with side effects that won’t go away

Some side effects are common during the first few weeks after starting a new medication. But ongoing issues deserve attention.

You might be struggling with:

• Constant fatigue
• Brain fog
• Weight changes
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Sexual side effects
  
  

If side effects are interfering with your quality of life, talk with our team. In many cases, a dosage adjustment or a different medication can make all the difference.

3. You’ve started taking new medications or supplements

Even over-the-counter medications and supplements can interact with anxiety medications. Changes to your physical health may also affect how your body processes medication.

Whether you've started treatment for high blood pressure, chronic pain, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, or another condition, it's a good idea to review your anxiety medication regimen to ensure everything is still working safely together.

4. You’re using substances to try to feel better

If you find yourself reaching for alcohol, cannabis, or other substances to calm your nerves despite taking medication, let's have an honest conversation.

Self-medicating can make anxiety more difficult to treat and may increase the risk of medication interactions or dependence. A professional review can help identify safer ways to manage your symptoms.

5. Life looks different than it did before

Major life events can affect your mental health. Many life events can increase your anxiety and change how well your medication works. These include:

• Having a baby
• Starting a new job
• Losing a job
• Caring for an aging parent
• Moving to a new city
• The death of someone you love
• Divorce

Your medication plan should evolve as your life evolves.

6. You’re thinking about stopping your medication

Are you thinking about going off your medication because you’re feeling better? Or because you don’t think it’s helping much anymore?

We don’t recommend stopping on your own.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) advises working closely with your healthcare provider before making changes, as some anxiety medications should be tapered gradually to reduce the chances of your anxiety returning.

Likewise, the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) emphasizes that your anxiety meds work best when they’re routinely monitored and combined with other appropriate treatments, such as therapy and healthy coping strategies.

7. It’s been more than a year since your last medication review

Even if you're doing well, regular medication reviews are important.

Your provider can evaluate whether your current medication is still the best choice, discuss any concerns you may have, and make adjustments before small problems become bigger ones.

If your anxiety medication no longer feels like it's working the way it should, schedule a professional review to discuss your options. The right treatment plan should evolve as your needs change. Sometimes a small adjustment is all it takes to help you feel more like yourself again. 

Call Great Care Health Services today to schedule a consultation. You can also request an appointment online.