Pakistan has been dealing with mental health problems for quite some time now. Due to the stigma attached to therapy and lack of practicing professionals, there is still a hesitation among the masses when it comes to treatment. Although there is some acceptance when it comes to medication for some common problems such as anxiety but there is still a long way before the masses are completely educated.
Many people refuse to take psychiatric medication even when a psychiatrist has prescribed it because they are afraid of their side effects. In this article, we are going to address this very concern by listing some side effects of psychiatric medication and how you can deal with them.
Anhedonia
Many psychiatric medicines especially anxiety medicines numb the brain down for a specific period of time. In this numbness, many patients become incapable of experiencing emotions. As a result, they are unable to enjoy pleasurable activities.
One way to counter anhedonia is support from friends and family along with hormone balancers prescribed by a doctor.
Sleep Problems
Insomnia or over sleeping is another problem that a lot of people taking psychiatric medications can experience. Different psychiatric medicines have different impacts. Sedatives which are generally used to treat highly anxious people are likely to lead to over-sleeping. Antidepressants, on the other hand are likely to cause insomnia.
Time and dosage can be very important in reducing or enhancing the side effects of psychiatric medicine. It is better to take sedatives at night while antidepressants are better for morning. If you experience sleep disturbances because of mental health medicines, you should consult your doctor so that he/she can adjust the time and dosage of the medicine.
Weight Gain
One problem that a lot of people taking psychiatric medicines face is weight gain. According to research, people can gain somewhere in between 4 and 40 pounds during the course of treatment.
A lot of psychiatric medications are mood enhancers since they are built to counter negative emotions such as sadness and anger. An enhanced mood makes food seem more appetizing and people tend to eat more. According to psychiatrist, a good way to counter such weight gain is to exercise hard and meditate on a daily basis.
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This article was produced in partnership with oladoc.com, a digital health company in Pakistan. Using oladoc, you can find the best psychiatrist in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, and book an appointment online.
