The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) will be hosting a live Facebook chat on Friday to answer all your psychiatric medication queries.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) will be hosting a live Facebook chat on Friday to answer all your psychiatric medication queries.
Many South Africans are prescribed medication for depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic disorder and a variety of other mental illnesses every day, but people don't always know what they can expect, what the medications are being used for, whether there are any side effects and how long they will have to take the medication for.
If you are on medication – or you have a friend or relative that is – and have questions about the treatment but aren’t sure who to ask, this is your chance.
The SADAG chat is on Friday 12 June from 1 – 2pm, with psychiatrists Dr Mashadi Motlana and Dr Helen Clarke, and then from 7 – 8pm, with psychiatrist Dr Sheldon Zilesnick.
They will be live on Facebook to answer all your medication-related queries.
To log in, simply go to www.sadag.org and follow the link, or go directly to their Facebook page ('The South African Depression and Anxiety Group').
If you cannot join the chat at the specified time, or if you would like to remain anonymous, send your questions to admin@anxiety.org or SMS 'Facebook' and your question to 31393, and they will post for you.
The doctors will then answer.
“It’s vital for your long-term well-being and health that you can access information regarding treatment, but sometimes doctors don’t have time to give us all the information we need,” says SADAG's Cassey Chamber.
Questions might include:
•Is my medication known by any other names?
•Has it been effective for others? And how will it help me?
•How long will it take to see any positive effects?
•Are there any possible side effects? If so, what do about them?
•What happens if I miss a dose of my medication?
•Are there any foods, medications or alcohol I should avoid whilst taking the meds?
