Medication Management
Anxiety medications like SSRIs work well but can cause side effects: nausea, sexual dysfunction, weight change, or activation. Your psychiatrist in Frederick can adjust dose, timing, or medication to minimize side effects while keeping you well.
Schedule a Consultation →Dose adjustment and timing
Taking medication at night vs. morning; starting low and increasing slowly
Medication augmentation
Adding a second medication to counteract specific side effects (e.g., bupropion for sexual dysfunction)
Medication switching options
Alternative SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, or other classes with different side effect profiles
Many patients stop medication because of side effects without telling their doctor. Your psychiatrist has strategies: lowering dose, changing timing, adding a medication to counteract the side effect, or switching to a different medication.
Initial activation on an SSRI can feel like increased anxiety. Understanding this difference helps you persist through the first 1–2 weeks, when many side effects subside.
If an SSRI reduces libido, your psychiatrist can adjust timing, add medication (like bupropion), or switch to a different SSRI or medication class that has less sexual impact.
When side effects are managed, you're more likely to stay on medication long-term and continue improving. Consistency matters.
SSRIs: nausea (often improves with food or time), decreased libido, weight gain, insomnia or sedation, headache. SNRIs: similar to SSRIs; may cause increased blood pressure. Buspirone: dizziness, headache, restlessness. Benzodiazepines: sedation, dependence, memory issues. Your psychiatrist will discuss these before starting and monitor for them.
Many do. Nausea often improves within 1–2 weeks. Sexual dysfunction and weight gain may persist. The key is not to assume they will disappear—tell your psychiatrist if they bother you so we can make a plan together.
No. Stopping abruptly can cause withdrawal and rebound anxiety. Talk to your psychiatrist first. Often, a small dose adjustment, timing change, or addition of another medication solves the problem without stopping the anxiety medication.
Anxiety worsens with stress and improves with distraction or reassurance. Side effects are constant and not tied to stressors. Initial activation on an SSRI (jitteriness, restlessness) is a side effect that usually passes in 1–2 weeks. Your psychiatrist can clarify the difference.
Different SSRIs and medication classes have different side effect profiles. If sertraline causes sexual dysfunction, escitalopram or bupropion might not. If nausea is severe, buspiron or a different SSRI may be better. We adjust or switch based on your response.
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