PEOPLE with mental illness need better holistic healthcare to manage the physical side effects of their medications, experts have warned.

University of Queensland-led research, conducted with UK colleagues, investigated the side effects of psychotropic drugs, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, and found increased medical monitoring was needed to help manage side effects, such as weight gain, increased blood pressure and sleep disturbance.

The team recommended patients undergo a full physical health evaluation before being prescribed medication, to get a baseline of heart rate, blood pressure, weight, and liver and renal function.

Once using medication, the researchers suggested that both the patient and their healthcare providers monitor for new symptoms and weight gain within the first month, with a six- to 12-month follow-up to measure cardiometabolic parameters, such as blood sugar levels and cholesterol.

Senior author Dr Toby Pillinger of King’s College London said psychiatric medications save lives, but could also cause serious physical side effects.

“Too often, these are seen as the cost of treatment, or worse, ignored altogether,” he said.

“Patients deserve better – we can and must protect both mental and physical health.

“With simple monitoring and timely interventions, we hope to reduce the burden of side effects and improve long-term outcomes,” Dr Pillinger concluded.

Read the paper HERE.

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