What to Do If Your Mental Health Medication Isn’t Working

Realizing that your medication might not be working can be frustrating. If you’ve been taking a medication that worked well with few side effects for a long time, noticing a change in its effectiveness can be confusing and, quite frankly, stressful.

Finding a trusted psychiatrist in Chicago plays an important role in figuring out what to do next. Your provider can help determine why your medication may not be working as expected and whether changes to your treatment plan are needed. Knowing what to do if your mental health medication isn’t working, or seems to have stopped working, can also help you recognize when it’s time to speak up and discuss your concerns with your provider.

Let’s cover possible signs your medication isn’t working, common reasons mental health medications may become less effective, when to talk to your psychiatrist about changing your dose or switching medications, and what steps to take next.

Key Takeaways:

• Signs your medication may not be working include the return of core symptoms, new or worsened functional consequences, and feeling similar to how you did pre-treatment.
• Medications may seem less effective for several reasons, including a decreased response over time, increased stress, medication interactions, hormonal changes, sleep problems, or changes in your symptoms.
• Talk to your prescribing provider if you suspect your medication isn’t working as expected. They can evaluate what may be contributing and determine whether adjusting your dose, switching medications, or another approach is appropriate.

Signs Your Medication May Not Be Working

The signs that your mental health medication may not be working can depend on the condition it is being used to treat. For example, if you take medication for depression, you may notice that your depression symptoms haven’t improved, have started to return, or are getting worse.

In general, changes in your symptoms, mood, or ability to function in daily life may indicate that your current medication or dose needs to be reevaluated.

Signs a mental health medication may not be working as expected:

• Your symptoms have not improved, or they begin to return or get worse.
• You feel similar to how you felt before starting the medication.
• You notice new or worsening changes in your mood, thoughts, behavior, sleep, energy, or ability to concentrate.
• Your symptoms continue to interfere with work, school, relationships, or other parts of daily life.
• The benefits of the medication do not seem to last as expected.
• You don’t notice meaningful improvement after taking the medication as prescribed for the expected amount of time.
• Side effects are interfering with your daily life or seem to outweigh the benefits of the medication.

Side effects are another reason to talk to your prescribing provider. A medication may be helping your symptoms but still cause side effects that interfere with your quality of life or daily functioning. If side effects are difficult to manage or seem to outweigh the benefits of the medication, talk to your provider about your options.

Common Reasons Your Mental Health Medication May Seem Less Effective

There are several reasons a mental health medication may seem less effective than it once did. Sometimes, the medication itself may be working differently, while in other cases, changes in your health, lifestyle, or symptoms may be contributing.

• Decreased response over time. In some cases, a medication that previously worked well may become less effective over time. This is sometimes referred to as medication tolerance or tachyphylaxis, depending on the medication and circumstances.
• Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy, menopause or perimenopause, thyroid function, hormone therapy, and other factors can affect mental health symptoms. Hormonal changes may also influence how some medications are processed by the body.
• Medication or supplement interactions. Have you recently started or stopped another medication or supplement? Some medications, supplements, and even certain foods can interact with medications.[1] These interactions may affect how well a medication works or increase the risk of side effects.
• Life transitions and stress. Major life changes and periods of increased stress can affect your mental health. If your stress levels are higher than usual or you’re going through a significant transition, your symptoms may become more noticeable even if your medication regimen hasn’t changed.
• Changes in how your body processes medication. Age, genetics, health conditions, and other factors can influence how your body absorbs, metabolizes, and eliminates medications.
• Sleep issues. Poor sleep can affect mood, emotion regulation, concentration, and energy levels. Lack of sleep can also worsen symptoms of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD, which may make it seem like your medication isn't working as well. This can be especially important for people with co-occurring sleep disorders.[2]
• Co-occurring conditions. When you have more than one mental or physical health condition, symptoms can overlap or affect one another. For example, untreated anxiety may contribute to symptoms that overlap with or worsen depression. Your provider can consider your overall health when determining whether your current treatment plan is still appropriate.
• Not taking medication as directed. Medications may be less effective when they aren’t taken as prescribed. Depending on the medication, instructions may include taking a specific dose at a certain time, taking it consistently, or taking it with or without food. Missing doses or taking a medication differently than prescribed can affect how well it works.
• Changes in your symptoms or condition. Mental health symptoms can change over time. New or worsening symptoms don’t always mean your medication has stopped working, but they may signal that your treatment plan needs to be reevaluated.

An appointment with your psychiatrist can help you better understand what may be contributing to the change and whether an adjustment to your treatment plan is appropriate.

Should You Increase Your Dose or Switch Medications?

Sometimes, a psychiatrist may recommend adjusting your dose rather than switching medications completely. So, when might one option be considered over the other?

When your doctor might consider increasing your dose:

• Partial improvement. You’re experiencing some benefits from the medication, but your symptoms aren’t adequately controlled. Depending on the medication and your individual response, your provider may consider adjusting the dose.
• Room within the recommended dosage range. Medications have different recommended dosage ranges. If there is room to safely adjust your dose, your provider may determine that an increase is appropriate.
• Few or manageable side effects. If you’re tolerating the medication well and experiencing some benefits, your provider may consider whether a higher dose could provide additional symptom relief.

When your doctor might consider switching medications:

• Little to no improvement. You haven’t experienced meaningful symptom improvement after an adequate trial of the medication.
• Difficult side effects. Side effects are difficult to manage or outweigh the benefits you’re getting from the medication.
• Changes in your treatment needs. Your symptoms, diagnosis, overall health, or other medications have changed, and your provider determines that another medication may be more appropriate.

Your psychiatrist will consider these and other factors when deciding whether to adjust your dose, switch medications, or make another change to your treatment plan. Never increase, decrease, stop, or switch a psychiatric medication without first talking to your prescribing provider.

How Long Should You Wait If Your Medication Isn’t Working?

How long it takes a mental health medication to work depends on the medication you’re taking. Some medications take several weeks to reach their full effect, while others work much more quickly. For example, antidepressants may take several weeks to provide their full benefit, while the effects of stimulant ADHD medications are typically noticeable much sooner.

Your provider should let you know what to expect when you start a new medication, including approximately how long it may take to work. If you’ve reached that point and aren’t noticing enough improvement, your symptoms are getting worse, or you’re experiencing difficult side effects, talk to your prescribing provider. You don’t have to wait until your next scheduled appointment to bring up concerns.

The same applies if you’ve been taking a medication successfully for a long time and notice that it doesn’t seem to be working as well as it once did. Rather than waiting a specific number of weeks, let your provider know about significant or persistent changes in your symptoms. They can help determine whether your medication needs to be adjusted or whether something else may be contributing to the change.

Do not stop taking your medication or change your dose on your own. If you experience severe or rapidly worsening symptoms or are in crisis, seek immediate help.

What to Do If Your Mental Health Medication Isn’t Working

If your medication doesn’t seem to be working as well as it once did, it can be stressful and frustrating. You may be tempted to stop taking it, change your dose, or make several changes at once. Instead, talk to your prescribing provider so you can figure out what has changed and determine the safest next step.

Here are a few things you can do:

• Continue taking your medication as prescribed. Don’t stop taking your medication or change your dose without talking to your provider first. Some psychiatric medications need to be gradually reduced to help prevent withdrawal or discontinuation symptoms.
• Keep track of changes you’ve noticed. Write down your current symptoms, when you first noticed a change, and whether your symptoms have become more frequent or severe. It can also help to note changes in sleep, stress, other medications or supplements, and anything else that may be relevant.
• Schedule an appointment with your prescribing provider. Share the changes you’ve noticed and bring your notes with you. Your provider can help determine whether your medication needs to be adjusted or switched, or whether something else may be contributing to your symptoms.

Don’t wait to contact your provider if your symptoms are getting worse, side effects are interfering with your quality of life or daily functioning, or you’re considering stopping your medication. Your provider can help you understand your options and, if you decide to discontinue a medication, guide you on how to do so safely.

Psychiatrists can evaluate your symptoms, prescribe and manage psychiatric medications, and make changes to your treatment plan when appropriate.

Personalized Psychiatric Medication Management in Chicago

Collaborative care is essential in medication management for mental health. Whether you’re looking for anxiety medication management, ADHD medication management, or depression management, it’s essential to find someone who will work with you closely to find the right option.

We are here to help you find the right psychiatrist in Chicago for you. Clarity Clinic has multiple in-person locations such as River North, Lakeview Broadway, Lakeview Belmont, Loop, Arlington Heights, and Evanston. We also offer telehealth throughout Illinois, making it easier to get the care you need.

At Clarity Clinic, your psychiatrist or psychiatric provider will work with you to understand why your medication may not be working as expected and determine the next steps. Click the button below to start browsing the different providers you can book with at Clarity Clinic today!

Mental Health Medication FAQs