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When considering medication for the
treatment of anxiety, here are some suggestions.
1.When you tell your doctor about
medications you are already using, make sure to include any over-the-counter
drugs or alternative medicines, such as herbal supplements. Although we may
think of these medicines as harmless, some can cause serious problems when
combined with prescription medication.
2.If the prescribing doctor is new to
you, make sure he or she is aware of any medical conditions—such as cardiac
problems, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, pregnancy, nursing, and
addictions—that could complicate your treatment.
3.Ask your doctor how the medication
works and what to expect when you take the drug. What are the intended effects,
and what are the side effects?
4.Find out what side effects signal
the need for medical attention.
5.As much as we like to think of
doctors as magicians, they rely on you to let them know what works and doesn't
work. Sometimes, the initial prescription and dosage are just right for you.
Other times, you need to work with your doctor to figure out the right dosage
of the right medication. The process can sometimes feel discouraging, but stick
with it. The rewards are worth it.
6.Ask your doctor up front how you
would go about stopping the medication if it would need to be discontinued. It
can be dangerous to stop certain medicines abruptly, and these need to be
tapered off slowly under your doctor's supervision.
7.Follow your doctor's directions for
when and how to take your medications, and expect the best.
Source: The Anxiety Answer Book by: Laurie A. Helgoe, PhD, Laura R. Wilhelm, PhD, Martin J. Kommor, MD
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