Mental health management is an intricate process — each step is as important as the next.
Medication is often a partner in this process,
Mental health management is an intricate process — each step is as important as the next.
Medication is often a partner in this process, working hand in hand with therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and social support to maintain a healthy step.
But what happens when you experience a dip in your mental health despite adhering to your treatment plan?
It’s possible that your antidepressant medication isn’t quite in step with your needs.
This is serious; a low dosage of antidepressant can make symptoms worse or cause relapse.
One has to know when they are being undermedicated in the course for self-advocacy for mental health.
In this post, we explore 10 signs your antidepressant dose is too low and the steps you can take to address it.
Before identifying the upcoming problem, it’s important to understand the basics.
Antidepressants refer to a category of drugs used in treating different mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders and certain types of chronic pain.
These chemicals balance serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine among other substances affecting mood and emotions.
Different kinds of antidepressants focus on different neurotransmitters in the brain.
Common varieties can be:
Let’s talk about the signs your antidepressant dose is too low.
One of the early signs of a low antidepressant dose is the resurgence of severe emotional lows or an increase in mood swings.
It may happen that this drug no longer keeps your mood stable as it did before, leading to sudden emotional outbursts or weeks of intense sadness.
But be aware that feeling some kind of an emotion even if it’s very strong doesn’t always imply that your medication isn’t working effectively.
But if these states continue to happen or intensely than before, it’s worth discussing with your prescribing physician.
The use of antidepressants often helps regulate sleep patterns: thus, if lately falling asleep has become increasingly difficult for you, staying asleep is also hard or waking up too early in the morning, perhaps your dose is too low.
onversely, excessive sleepiness can also be an indicator that your dose is not sufficient, as the right dose should promote a regular and restorative sleep-wake cycle.
While some antidepressants can initially cause tiredness, debilitating fatigue or exhaustion that interferes with daily functioning is not the goal of these medications.
If you’re finding it hard to muster the energy for work, hobbies, or social activities, it might be time to check in on your medication’s dosage.
A lot of times, antidepressants are used to treat conditions that disturb concentration and cognitive functions.
In case you have had an increase in difficulty with focusing or remembering things, it could mean your medication is not adequately treating such symptoms.
This can cause unintentional weight gain or loss which can be associated with the ability of an antidepressant to affect appetite.
If there is a sustained significant change either way, the dose of the drug may be far from optimal for your body.
Struggle with maintaining self-care habits like taking regular showers, brushing teeth and/or keeping a clean living space might indicate a declining mental health management.
A medication dose that is not high enough may not be providing enough support to motivate these crucial self-care routines.
It is important to immediately get help if these thoughts come back.
Even when on drugs/somedrugs, there exist possibilities that suicidal ideation might still occur because of inadequate dosing so any signs relating depression, suicidal behavior should be taken seriously.
Have you found yourself pulling away from social obligations or hobbies that you once enjoyed?
A low antidepressant dose can contribute to increased social anxiety and a desire to isolate oneself.
It’s important to differentiate between the natural ebb and flow of social desires and a concerning pattern of withdrawal.
Feeling tense, fast to rage out or simply being more irritable can arise because of an underdosed anti-depressant.
While antidepressants can’t eliminate stressors from your life, they can help modulate your response to them.
Increased irritability may indicate a failure in this modulation, suggesting that your dose needs reevaluation.
Finally, when the same quantity does not lead to any significant improvement in symptoms of depression and anxiety for quite some time, it might be a good time to assess how effective this drug is.
Your healthcare provider needs to adjust your dose or look into other treatment possibilities.
Correct medication dosage is not only about experiencing the benefits of therapy but also avoiding suboptimal dosing errors.
For antidepressants, using the right dose can mean the difference between managing your symptoms and being prone to relapse.
It’s important to keep up with your healthcare provider regularly so as not to be left behind by their understanding of what’s best for you at present.
Openly communicating about one’s experiences and actively participating in your own care process may make a mental health journey more efficient.
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Join the conversation on recognizing and addressing the signs of a low antidepressant dose, and know that help is at hand.
To get further professional help and support, please contact Esteem Behavioral Healthcare today.
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