Psychiatric medication

Explains what psychiatric drugs are, what to know before taking them, and information on side effects and coming off medication.

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What do I need to know before I take medication?

Before deciding to take any drug, it helps to have all the information you need to make an informed choice. As a start, you could use the following list of statements and see if you can answer 'yes' to all of them.

I understand:

what the drug is
why I have been offered it
what other treatment and support options are available, such as talking therapies, peer support and complementary and alternative therapies
what the possible benefits and risks of taking medication are
what the possible side effects are and how likely I am to develop them
how, when and how much of the medication I may need to take
how long I may need to take the medication before it begins working
how long I might need to continue taking the medication for. For example, if it is for a few days or weeks, or for a longer period
how to store the medication safely, such as in a fridge
how to stop taking the medication safely
what different names the drug might be called
what to do if my medication runs out. See our page on accessing medication for more information.

I have:

checked the ingredients list and know that there's nothing in the drug that I'm allergic to, intolerant of, or don't want to take. For example, some drugs contain lactose or gelatin
read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that comes in the drug packet, and understand the information it has about my medication. Our A to Z of psychiatric medication has links to download PILs for different psychiatric drugs.

I have told my doctor if I:

take any other medication, including non-prescription medicines
have any other physical or mental health problems
am pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant in the future
have any previous experiences of psychiatric medication. For example, this may include what I took, what worked and what didn't, and any side effects I experienced.

If you are unsure about any of these details, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist. If this feels like it might be a difficult conversation, our page on talking to your GP may help.

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This information was published in March 2021. We will revise it in 2024.

References and bibliography available on request.

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