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Mental-health medicines
What to expect, and what to ask.
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WEAVE FAMILY, ONE PAGE
MENTAL-HEALTH MEDICINES: WHAT TO EXPECT
THE TABLET IS ONE STEP. THE PLAN IS THE MAP.
Know its job, routine, warning signs and review date.
'I knew the tablet colour, not the plan.' At the next visit, we wrote four things down.
PURPOSE: What should it help? ROUTINE: When and how do I take it? SIDE EFFECTS: What should I watch for? REVIEW: When do we check benefit, side effects and tests?
Medicines differ. Follow your prescription and current leaflet.
1. Keep one list: prescribed, shop-bought and traditional medicines.
2. Take it as prescribed. Attend tests. Check before mixing medicines.
3. Missed a dose? Ask. Do not guess.
4. Report missed doses, side effects and changes you want.
Side effects do not mean the plan failed. Reporting them helps improve it.
FAMILY: With permission, help with the routine and report changes. Never change, share, hide or force medicine.
URGENT HELP: Wrong or extra amount; severe breathing trouble or face swelling; collapse, seizure or marked confusion; immediate self-harm risk. Immediate danger: call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not suddenly change medicine yourself. Follow the clinician's advice. Tele-MANAS 14416 / 1800-89-14416.
Dr. Wilfred D'souza, Dr. Niharika Reddy. weave.clinic/family