How to Contact Your Psychiatrist About Medication Side Effects and Treatment Adjustments

If you are taking psychiatric medication and experience concerning side effects, worsening symptoms, or feel your current treatment is not working well for you, you can contact your psychiatrist through our support team.

How to Contact Your Psychiatrist

To contact your psychiatrist about medication side effects or treatment concerns:

1. Contact our support team via phone, email, or chat
2. Specify that you would like to contact your psychiatrist (include the doctor's name if you remember it)
3. Describe your concern clearly, including:
4. • Which medication(s) you are taking
   • What side effects or symptoms you are experiencing
   • When the symptoms started
   • How the symptoms are affecting you
   • Any changes you have made to your medication (such as reducing or stopping doses)
4. Provide your contact information so your doctor can respond

What to Expect

When you contact your psychiatrist:

• Your message will be forwarded to your doctor for review
• Your doctor will review your concerns and may recommend:
• • Medication adjustments: Changing the dose, timing, or type of medication
  • Alternative medications: Switching to a different medication if side effects are intolerable or treatment is not effective
  • Simplified treatment plans: Reducing the number of medications if appropriate
  • Follow-up consultation: Scheduling an appointment to discuss your treatment in more detail
• Response time may vary depending on your doctor's availability, but urgent concerns are prioritized

Important: Do Not Stop or Change Medication Without Guidance

Do not stop taking psychiatric medication suddenly or make changes to your dosage without guidance from your doctor. Many psychiatric medications should be tapered gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms or worsening of your condition.

If you have already stopped or reduced your medication:

• Inform your psychiatrist immediately so they can advise you on the safest next steps
• Your doctor may recommend restarting at a lower dose or making a gradual reduction instead

Prescription Delivery

When your psychiatrist adjusts your medication:

• New prescriptions will be sent to your preferred pharmacy
• You may receive multiple prescriptions if adjustments are made at different times
• Pharmacies may forget to dispense all prescriptions — remind them if you were expecting multiple medications

Your psychiatrist may recommend:

• Regular follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and adjust treatment as needed
• Contacting the clinic earlier than scheduled if side effects or symptoms worsen

Contact Information

To contact your psychiatrist:

• Phone: 01 8686 121
• Email: medicus@medicus.ie
• Chat: Available through our website

Your psychiatrist is here to help you find a treatment plan that works for you. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have concerns about your medication.

Updated on: 03/08/2026