Time for a Change: How to Know When to Make a Dose Adjustment

There is no blood test or scan that checks for mental illness, so the health care team may check for symptoms using forms that rate symptoms on a scale or just by asking about them. Medication doses may need to be lowered if there are side effects. Medications can have many different side effects. For example, antidepressants can cause stomach upset when first started and can have sexual side effects like lowering the sex drive. Antipsychotics can cause weight gain, feeling tired, higher blood sugar, or heart rhythm problems. Other possible side effects of mental health medications include headache, feeling dizzy, dry mouth, trouble sleeping, and more. It is important to talk to a health care provider if any side effects are noticed.