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Thinking about trying medication

How to decide if a medication is right for you

Each time you're prescribed a new medication, you and your doctor won't know how well it's going to work for you until you've been taking it for a while. It's also difficult to predict if you'll suffer from any side effects. You might need to try a few medications and different dosages before you find one that's right for you. Here are some questions to help you figure this out.

  • Does it work for you?

    Not all medications work the same for every person. Think about whether yours makes you feel better or not.

  • How much time does it take to start working?

    Lots of medications take some time to start working, and longer to have their full effects. Think about how this might impact your mental health and other things going on in your life.

  • What are the side effects?

    All medications have side effects, but not everyone experiences them. And everyone is affected differently. Side effects could be similar to your illness or completely different. They can also improve or go away over time.

Different people have different ways of deciding whether a medication is right for them.

  • Some people like to do what their doctor tells them without question.

  • Some people like to ask their doctor lots of questions about the benefits and side effects of the medication.

  • Some people like to research the medication a lot online first.

  • Some people like to look through all the information in the medication leaflet.

What if I choose not to take a medication?

Most of the time, you get to choose whether or not to take a medication. But sometimes, if there’s a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, you might not have a choice. In these cases, the medicine might be given to you without your consent to keep you and everyone safe.

If you're worried about the medication you've been prescribed, talk to your doctor, mental health team, or a trusted adult about it. You could also ask that person to go with you to appointments for support.

It's best if you and your mental health team agree to give the medication a try to see if it helps. And getting a parent or carer to support you with the treatment plan usually means you'll have a better chance of the medication working.

A young Black woman talking about something serious with an older Black woman in the park.
Finding the right medication could take some time, but it’s worth pursuing and working at. It may not work but it’s about adjusting your expectations and giving it time to see what happens.
Hannah
If it works well for others then that's amazing, but medication wasn’t something I was interested in long term. But once I found the right medication for me and got better, I realised it was definitely the best choice for me.
Tegan

Real stories about medication

More information and advice

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