The nocebo effect refers to the occurrence of negative symptoms or side effects caused not by the drug itself, but by the patient’s expectation or anxiety about the occurrence of these symptoms. It is largely due to the unfair stigma and taboos surrounding mental illness. It is the opposite of the placebo effect, where patients experience an improvement in their symptoms due to their belief in the treatment, even if they are taking a placebo.

Psychosomatic Reactions:

• Expectations of side effects can cause real physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness, which are not due to the action of the medication.

Agony and Fear:

• Anxiety about taking the medication and fear of possible side effects can intensify existing symptoms or create new psychosomatic distress.

Information and Education

• Discussion with the Doctor: Ask any questions you have about the new treatment. Understand the purpose of the medicine, how it works and what the real chances of side effects are.
• Education: Learn about the medicine from reliable sources, such as this page, and avoid self-diagnosis or searching for information from unreliable sources on the internet.

Managing Stress and Expectations

• Positive thinking: Focus on the expected benefits of the treatment and the possibility of improving your health.
• Stress management: Use stress management techniques such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga to reduce anxiety about taking the medicine.

Practical Tips

• Daily diary: Keep a diary to keep track of your symptoms and your reaction to the medicine. This can help to identify true side effects and distinguish them from psychosomatic symptoms.
• Avoid overanalysis: Avoid focusing too much on possible side effects and refrain from searching for information about every minor symptom that may occur.

Social Support

• Ask your family and friends to support you and help you stay positive.

Close Monitoring

• Regular Visits to the Doctor: Visit your doctor regularly for follow-up visits and report any symptoms that worry you. The doctor can help you understand whether the symptoms are side effects or a result of the nocebo effect.

The combined use of medications in psychiatric treatment is a common and effective practice, tailored to the individual needs of each patient. These combinations allow doctors to target multiple symptoms or disorders at the same time, improving the overall effectiveness of treatment.

For example, an antipsychotic may be added to a treatment with an antidepressant to enhance the antidepressant’s effectiveness and address symptoms such as intense anxiety and physical manifestations of anxiety. In this regard, these medications work through different mechanisms, such as regulating dopamine and serotonin in the brain, providing a more comprehensive approach to symptom management.

Individualising drug combinations allows for better symptom management and can reduce the side effects that may result from using a single drug at higher doses. It is important for patients to work closely with their psychiatrist to ensure that their treatment is appropriately adjusted and monitored.

Warm weather and heat can have a significant impact on the effectiveness and safety of psychiatric medications. It is important to take precautionary measures to protect the health of people taking these medicines. Work closely with your doctor to ensure you are taking the right precautions and adjust your treatment as needed during the warmer months.

Αφυδάτωση:

• Antipsychotics: Certain antipsychotic medications, such as olanzapine and chlorpromazine, can reduce the body’s ability to regulate its temperature and increase the risk of heat stroke and dehydration.
• Diuretic Effects: Some antidepressants and mood stabilizers, such as lithium, may increase fluid elimination from the body, leading to an increased risk of dehydration.

Electrolytic Disorders:

• Increased sweating and fluid loss can disrupt electrolyte balance, which is particularly dangerous for people taking lithium, as it can increase the risk of toxicity.

Θερμοπληξία:

• Some antipsychotic medications can reduce the body’s ability to sweat, increasing the risk of heat stroke at high temperatures.

Υπόταση:

• The combined effect of heat and medications that cause a drop in blood pressure, such as certain antidepressants and antipsychotics, can lead to orthostatic hypotension and dizziness, increasing the risk of falls.

Precautions for Safe Management in Hot Weather

Ενυδάτωση:

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, during the day to avoid dehydration.

Avoiding Exposure to Heat:

• Stay in cool places during peak heat and avoid vigorous physical activity outdoors when temperatures are high.

Ένδυση:

• Wear light, comfortable clothes that allow the body to breathe and expel heat.

Regular Monitoring:

• Visit your doctor regularly to check your electrolyte balance and kidney function, especially if you are taking medicines such as lithium.

Dosage adjustment:

• Talk to your doctor about possibly adjusting the dosage of medicines during the summer.