Throughout our lives we can suffer situations that generate depressive feelings in us or great anxiety that we do not know how to handle. In these cases, if the doctor or psychiatrist, that is, the specialist, considers it necessary, we prescribe antidepressants and anxiolytics that help us, along with psychotherapy, to overcome these moments.
However, even if they give us guidelines, which are vital for the treatment to go well, in many cases we end up falling into some of the most common mistakes, which can not only make the treatment not work well, but even make the condition worse seriously. Keep reading this article and know what are the mistakes we make when taking antidepressants and anxiolytics and so it will be easier for you to avoid them when the time comes.
Although the doctor will tell us how to take them, many times they are not as effective as they should because we make a series of mistakes when following said treatment:
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Leaving it early: Both antidepressants and anxiolytics take a while to take effect, which means that, seeing no improvement, we decide to suspend the take them because they do not work, when we must do it, at least for two or three months to verify its effectiveness. It is also common, when we notice how our mood improves or how anxiety disappears, to stop taking medications on our own. In no case should we do this, since some guidelines must be followed when removing both the antidepressants such as anxiolytics, to avoid a rebound effect and a relapse in the symptoms.
- Modify the dose: Especially at the beginning, when not noticing improvement, many people decide to increase the dose or, if they notice many side effects, reduce it without first asking their doctor for advice. This, in addition to preventing the treatment from taking effect, can lead to complications in the event of an overdose.
- Repeat or prolong the treatment on our own: Antidepressants and, especially anxiolytics, can cause addiction if we take them too long and without following the correct guidelines prescribed by the specialist.
Therefore, it is important, when taking these medications, follow the established doses, be patient until see the effects and consult with our doctor if we notice major side effects for a change in the medication.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
