Change can be painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.
Mandy Hale
An important part of determining if medication might be right for you is meeting with a member of our psychiatry team.
Once you’ve got a plan in place, your medication provider will monitor your progress with regular check-ins.
However, there are certain times when it might make sense be re-evaluated to ensure your needs are being met.
It’s all part of creating your own personalized emotional wellness care plan.
Today we’re highlighting 3 good times to consider scheduling a medication re-evaluation:
1. When it’s been awhile since your initial consultation
When medication is doing its job, you likely won’t need to make many adjustments between follow-up visits. But, if it’s been a year or more since your initial evaluation, it might make sense to schedule a medication re-evaluation to make sure everything’s still working well for you.
ASK YOURSELF:
- How long has it been since my initial medication consultation? Since my most recent follow-up visit?
- What questions do I want to discuss with my provider?
- What updates can I share with my provider?
2. When you’ve experienced some changes
Life can move quickly, especially when things seem to be going well. It’s easy to lose track of the various shifts that have taken place since you last met to discuss your medication management. And yet, to be most effective and safe, it’s essential that your care plan accurately reflect your current life.
ASK YOURSELF:
- Have I noticed any significant changes to my weight, sleep, mood, or energy level since my last visit?
- Have there been changes to my daily routine or lifestyle (e.g., relationship status, housing, employment)?
- Any other changes– big or small– that I’ve noticed?
3. When you’d like additional support
Hopefully, your current plan is working well for you. But, it’s perfectly normal to experience new needs and stressors over time. If you feel like you might benefit from exploring therapy or some other types of emotional wellness support, a medication re-evaluation is an excellent opportunity to discuss this with your provider.
ASK YOURSELF:
- Are there any new (or recurring) stressors I’d like to discuss with my provider?
- Am I experiencing worry in anticipation of a life event or other transition coming up?
- Am I curious about additional types of support to help me navigate these stressors?
Enjoy this post? You might also like:
- Medication Management at Sonder
- 5 Ways to Help Your Medication Work for You
- Meet the Psychiatry Team
Interested in scheduling a medication re-evaluation?