Medication Management in Point Cook
Medicine can be one part of treating depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. GPs at the clinic prescribe and review these medicines, and can help you weigh up whether one suits you.
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Deciding whether to start
Medicine is not the right choice for everyone. Things to weigh up include how severe symptoms are, how long they have lasted, what has helped before, other health conditions and personal preference. For milder symptoms, therapy and lifestyle changes are often tried first.
Starting a medicine is a shared decision. Taking time to think it over, or talking it through with someone you trust, is perfectly reasonable.
Questions worth asking
- What is this medicine for, and how will I know it is working?
- How long before I notice a difference?
- What side effects are common, and which ones should I report?
- Can I drink alcohol or drive while taking it?
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
- How long am I likely to need it?
The first few weeks
Many antidepressants take a few weeks to reach their full effect, so early days can feel like nothing is happening. Side effects such as nausea, headache or disturbed sleep are often more noticeable at the start and may settle.
Occasionally, people starting an antidepressant, particularly those under 25, feel more agitated or have new or worsening thoughts of self-harm. Contact a doctor promptly if this happens.
Interactions and other medicines
Some prescription medicines, over-the-counter products and herbal remedies interact with mental health medicines. St John’s wort, for example, should not be combined with many antidepressants. Bring a full list of everything you take, and mention pregnancy, plans for pregnancy or breastfeeding, as these can change which options are suitable.
Reviews and monitoring
Regular reviews are part of taking these medicines safely. They cover mood, sleep, energy and side effects, and whether the dose or medicine needs changing. Certain medicines, such as lithium, need blood tests to check levels or side effects, and Dorevitch Pathology has a collection point inside the clinic for those samples. Keeping a simple note of mood, sleep and side effects between visits makes each review more useful, and a running list of questions stops anything important slipping your mind during the review.
When travelling in is difficult, some reviews may suit a doctor’s phone appointment instead. Call reception to ask whether a phone review suits your situation and what the fee is.
Stopping or switching
Stopping suddenly can cause discontinuation symptoms such as dizziness, irritability and flu-like feelings, or bring symptoms back. Once you have felt well for some months, a doctor can talk about whether to continue, and any reduction is normally planned and gradual.
Specialist advice
Most people taking medicine for anxiety or depression are managed by a GP. A referral to a psychiatrist may be suggested when symptoms are not improving after trying different options, the diagnosis is unclear, or more specialised treatment is needed. GP care continues alongside the specialist’s advice.
Alongside other treatment
Medicine often works better combined with talking therapy and steady routines. Read about Individual Therapy to see how the two fit together.
Fees and bulk billing
Out-of-pocket fees apply to most consultations, and each practitioner sets their own fees. Bulk billing is available with all our doctors for Veterans’ Affairs patients, pensioners over 65, childhood and adult immunisations and GP care plans. See our fees page or call reception before you book.