When you first start a medication, your psychiatrist will likely ask to see you again in one month. Most psychiatric medications take at least 30 days to reach full potency in your system. During the time until you see your doctor, it is important to keep track of your mood as well as any significant changes in your appetite, sleep patterns, or overall health so when you meet with your doctor again you can determine if this is the best course of treatment for you or if adjustments need to be made.
After your doctor makes the needed adjustments to the medication dosage or treatment plan, you will be scheduled for a follow-up visit. Depending on the changes made, this may be anywhere from 30 to 90 days later. Once you and your psychiatrist are happy with the improvement you are seeing, future check-up visits will be spaced further apart.
While finding a medication regimen that works for you is a wonderful thing, it’s important to remember that many medications lose potency over time, making it particularly important to pay attention to how you are feeling as time goes on. If you notice that something isn’t right, schedule an appointment with your mental health provider as soon as possible to review your treatment plan and make adjustments.
Click the button below to download a free mood tracker to help you recognize mood changes while on medication.