How to track medication side effects
The simplest way to track medication side effects is a short daily note: what you noticed, when it started, how long it lasted, how much it affected your day, and what you were taking. Recording it close to the time, rather than from memory at your appointment, gives your doctor a much clearer picture of what changed.
Last updated Published by MANOAI Pty LtdDeveloped by clinicians working in psychiatry
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Why track side effects between appointments?
Appointments are short and often weeks apart. Side effects can come and go, build up slowly, or be hard to describe once you are sitting in the room. A written record means you do not have to rely on memory, and it helps your doctor see patterns, such as a change that started soon after a new dose.
Tracking is also a way of taking part in your own care. It turns "I have not felt right" into something specific you and your care team can work with.
What should I record each day?
A useful daily note takes a minute or two. Try to capture:
- What you noticed, in your own words
- When it happened, and how long it lasted
- How strong it felt, on a simple scale such as mild, moderate or strong
- How it affected your day: sleep, work, walking, eating or sitting still
- Your mood and general wellbeing
- The medicines you took, and any missed or changed doses
How often should I log side effects?
Once a day works well for most people. A brief daily entry, even on days when nothing much happened, builds a baseline that makes changes easier to spot. Add an extra note on days when something new happens or a medicine changes. Consistency matters more than detail: a short note every day is more useful than a long one once a fortnight.
Why noting medication and dose changes matters
Many side effects are most likely soon after starting a medicine, increasing a dose or switching between medicines. Writing down the date of every change, alongside how you feel, lets your doctor see whether a side effect started around the same time. It is one of the most useful things you can bring to an appointment.
Use your own words first
You do not need clinical vocabulary to track side effects. Describe what you feel as you would to a friend. If you later learn the clinical term, you can add it. These are common pairs:
- Shakiness or trembling: tremor
- Can't sit still, restless inside: akathisia
- Stiff, tight muscles: muscle rigidity
- Slowed down, moving heavily: bradykinesia
- Dry mouth and constipation: anticholinergic effects
- Movement side effects in general: extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)
Paper diary, notes app or side effect tracker app?
Any of them can work. A paper diary is simple and private. A notes app is always with you. A side effect tracker app can keep medications, symptoms and check-ins together, remind you to log, and turn your entries into trends you can look back over.
The best choice is the one you will keep using every day. Whatever you choose, make sure you can bring it to your appointment and share it easily.
How EPSpeak helps you track side effects
EPSpeak is a free side effect tracker for people taking antidepressant or antipsychotic medication. It brings the pieces of a good record into one place:
- A medication log with doses and gentle reminders
- A daily check-in: read a short affirmation aloud and answer a few wellness questions, in under a minute
- Trends that build over days and weeks, so gradual change is easy to see
- Side effect profiles for psychiatric medicines, drawn from published research
- Opt-in sharing with a clinician you choose, by QR code
EPSpeak works on your phone alone, needs no account, and does not diagnose anything. It helps you keep a clear record to discuss with your doctor or care team.
What to do with your record
Bring it to your appointments and use it to lead the conversation. Point to when things changed and how they affected you. Your record is for talking things through, not for making decisions alone: never stop or change a medicine based on your notes. Your doctor or care team can help you work out what the pattern means.
Common questions
The best app is the one you will use every day. Look for one that works on your phone alone, takes a minute or less, keeps medications and symptoms together, and lets you share your record with your doctor. EPSpeak is a free option built for people taking antidepressant or antipsychotic medication.
Yes. EPSpeak is an Australian side effect tracker from MANOAI Pty Ltd, free on Google Play for Android and on the App Store for iPhone, with no ads, no in-app purchases and no account to create. It is built for people taking antidepressant or antipsychotic medication.
Yes. Small changes are easy to dismiss on the day but can form a pattern over weeks, and a pattern is useful information for your doctor. Note minor side effects briefly, with the date and how they affected you. Your doctor can then decide whether they matter, rather than you having to judge that alone.
Keep a clear record with EPSpeak
Log your medications, check in each day in under a minute, and share your record with your clinician when you choose. Free on Android and iPhone, with no account needed.