I don’t like how my medication makes me feel. What should I do now?
It is normal to experience mild side effects from new medication. This is your body adjusting to it. The medication was prescribed to help you, and the benefit of taking the medication usually outweighs mild side effects.
Your body takes time to adjust and get used to these things, but you have options if it is making you feel bad and affecting your life.
Here are some things you can do if you do not like how your medication is making you feel:
- Talk to your doctor. Do not stop taking your medication without talking to them first. This could worsen your condition or cause withdrawal symptoms.
- Track and log your symptoms. This can help your doctor decide if this medication is right for you. They will know if these are normal side effects or not.
- Ask about replacement medication options. Your doctor might be able to lower your dose or change your medication.
You should call your doctor or 911 immediately if you are having trouble breathing, swelling of the tongue or throat, hives, itching, feeling lightheaded, or fainting. This could be an allergic reaction.
What are some common side effects?
Every medication can have different side effects. The examples listed here are side effects that can happen with many medications, not just one specific medication.
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Vivid dreams
- Irritability or aggressive behavior
- Restlessness
- Sluggishness
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Weight gain or loss
- Hallucinations
- Memory loss
You can find medication side effect information here with this FDA Label tool. Here are instructions to help you fill out the FDA Label tool.
Why do these side effects happen?
Everyone reacts differently to new medications. As your body adjusts to new medications, you may experience side effects.
If you are taking other medications, it can react with your new medication. This can also lead to you experiencing side effects.
When will my body adjust to my medication?
This can depend on the medication.
Mental health medications can take up to eight weeks for someone to fully adjust to a new medication.
Blood pressure medications, insulin and inhalers begin working quickly to allow your body to adjust faster.
Once you have had some time to adjust you may experience less, or minimal side effects. This may not always be the case depending on other health and medication factors.
If you are an ExactCare patient and have questions about your medication, call us at 1-877-355-7225. Our pharmacists are here to help!
