What If I’m Late Taking a Dose?
If you remember less than six hours after you have missed a dose, take your dose. If it has been over six hours, do not take it. In either case, take your regular dose at the next scheduled time. Don 't worry
if you have skipped one dose.
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What If I Accidentally Skip a Dose Entirely?
Missing just one pill will probably not hurt your treatment because antidepressant medication
builds up in your system over time. There ought to be enough of it to hold you over until your next regular dose.
Missing a dose becomes a problem when it becomes habitual. If you frequently miss doses, your treatment will be
less effective. Take your next dose the same as you always do.
What If I Accidentally Take an Extra Dose?
It is not a good idea to take more antidepressant than you are prescribed, but accidents do happen.
If you take one extra pill, remember to simply continue taking your medication as prescribed. Do not skip a pill
to try to make up for the extra one. Skipping a pill after taking a double dose may change the level of medication
in your system and cause your treatment to be less effective.
May I Take More If I Think I Need It?
It is discouraging when your antidepressant does not work as quickly as you like and tempting
to take more than your doctor prescribed. If you feel that you are not improving, talk to your doctor and together
investigate a possible change. Do not make any changes in your medication without your doctor’s recommendation.
Doctors try to prescribe an amount that will be a therapeutic dose. A therapeutic dose is the
amount that helps the patient the most without causing many side effects or any risks. If patients take more than
this amount, they could cause themselves to have more side effects or even a bad reaction. Also, sometimes taking
too much medicine can actually make you worse. That is why it’s important to take your medicine as prescribed.
Your doctor knows how much of your antidepressant is a therapeutic dose for you. He or she may adjust the medication
after you have been on it for a while.
How Can I Remember to Take My Medication?
If you have an alarm clock or a watch with an alarm, you can set your alarm for the right time
to take your medication. You can also use this method along with a pillbox.
Pillboxes are an inexpensive way to keep track of your dosing. You can buy them at any grocery
or drug store. At the beginning of the week, put each day’s dose in the compartments. Then every day, you can take
your pills out of that compartment.
Calendars are another easy way to keep track of your doses. As you take each dose, cross off
that day on your calendar. If you take more than one dose per day, you can write down the dose times on each square
and then mark them off as you go. This also works well together with an alarm clock or watch.
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