11 Crucial Questions to Ask about Herbs and Medication for Anxiety and Depression

Always Ask Your Pharmacist About Prescription Medications and Herbs for Anxiety and Depression.

1. What is this medication, and what is it supposed to do for me?
You should be familiar with your medications, both prescription and nonprescription. In case you see more than one physician, always inform each doctor of each prescription and non-prescription medication you are taking. This will help ensure that the medication you take—prescription or nonprescription—is correct for your condition and overall situation.
Use your bonus ebook “My Medications” to keep a record of all your anti-anxiety medications and herbs to show to each doctor and pharmacist you visit.

2. How do I take it?
Taking your medication correctly is crucial to ensure that it works as you expect. Be sure to ask: Should take this medication on an empty stomach or with food?

3. When do I take it?
Be sure to ask: How often should you take it? Do you take it at the same time every day?

4. How long should I take it?
Serious problems often result from not taking all of the course of a medication, or by continuing medications for too long a period of time. Your doctor will indicate the length of time on your prescription order. Ask your pharmacist about how long to take nonprescription medicines.

5. Can this medication cause an allergic reaction?
The only sure way of knowing is though experience. If you always use the same pharmacy (which we recommend), the pharmacist will keep your medication history and can help you avoid allergic reactions to the drug or to inactive ingredients in your medications.

6. Should I avoid alcohol, or other medications, or herbs, or foods, or any particular activities?
Your prescription and nonprescription medications may interact with other drugs or herbs, causing negative effects. Foods or alcoholic beverages can also interact with drug products. Herbs especially, may make the effects of anti-anxiety medications stronger. Never begin taking a new medication, prescription or nonprescription, without asking your pharmacist if it will interact with alcohol, foods or other medicines. Some drug and/or herb products can cause drowsiness and may affect activities such as driving.

7. Should I expect any side effects?
All medications can potentially cause side effects, but that does not mean that these effects will be serious. Your pharmacist and health care provider can help you understand these side effects and prepare you to cope with them. If you experience unexplained or alarming side effects, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

8. Is there a generic version of the medication my doctor has prescribed?
Your pharmacist can tell you if there is an approved generic version of your medication. Not all prescription medicines have generic counterparts. Generic medicines are usually less expensive than their brand-name counterparts.

9. What if I forget to take my medication?
Try to follow the directions as closely as possible. However, you occasionally may make mistakes or forget to take your medications. The decision to take a missed dose depends on the drug. Don’t panic and take a double dose. Ask your pharmacist his or her advice when you have the prescription order dispensed. You should know the answer to this question before it happens.

10. Is it safe to become pregnant or to breastfeed while taking this medication?
Women should consider the possible effects of medications on an unborn child or a nursing baby. Some drugs cause no problems, but others can cause birth defects when the mother takes them early in pregnancy. Also, some drugs pass through a mother’s system into breast milk. Therefore, expectant and nursing mothers should ask their pharmacist or doctor before using any prescription or nonprescription medications.

11. How should I store my medications?
Medications and herbs can lose their effectiveness if stored incorrectly. The "medicine cabinet" in the bathroom is not a good place for storage because of the moisture and heat. Ask your pharmacist about the proper storage of all prescription and nonprescription medications.

Choose your pharmacist as carefully as you choose your doctor because he or she is an important part of your health care team. It is not uncommon to see more than one doctor; and for this reason, it is very important to use just one pharmacy so your medication records will be located in one place. Your pharmacist can help you keep track of what you are taking—prescription and nonprescription—and make sure that your medications will not interact harmfully with each other.
Your pharmacist also can serve as your medication advisor when treating yourself and your family with nonprescription (“over-the-counter”) medications. Even though these medicines do not require a doctor’s written prescription, they are still very powerful and may affect other medications.

This information was developed and made available by the Association of Natural Medicine Pharmacists. Pharmacists can educate you about your medications, both prescription and non-prescription. With a little investigation, you can find a pharmacist familiar with herbs and other alternative supplements.

Remember, pharmacists are your medication information experts. Be sure to ask them questions about how to safely use your medicine. He or she is trained to advise you on both prescription and non-prescription medications.

THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE LESS ANXIOUS YOU’LL FEEL.