By Domenic Chindamo - Pharmacist, Lygon Everyday Chemist, Brunswick East

If you’re taking medication for anxiety, low mood or ADHD - first of all, well done. Getting help is strength.

Medication can be life-changing. It can stabilise mood, reduce panic, improve focus and give people their life back.

But here’s the part that often gets missed:

Medication is one part of the plan - not the whole plan.

I often say to patients:

Medication can turn your body into a Ferrari. But you still need to know how to drive it. And you need fuel.

If You’re Taking Medication for Anxiety

Medications like propranolol calm the physical symptoms - the racing heart, the shaking, the adrenaline surge. SSRIs and SNRIs help stabilise serotonin and reduce overall anxiety levels.

But sometimes people say to me:

“My heart is calmer… but my mind still races.”
“I’m still wired at night.”
“I’m exhausted.”

That doesn’t mean the medication isn’t working. It means the nervous system still needs support.

Sleep quality, magnesium levels, stress load, muscle tension, caffeine intake - they all influence how anxiety feels.

And underlying causes matter too.

Chronic pain.
Hormonal shifts.
Inflammation.
Medical conditions.
Unresolved stress.

Anxiety isn’t always “just anxiety.”

If You’re Taking Medication for Mood

Antidepressants can regulate serotonin pathways and lift the floor of mood.

But mood recovery also depends on:

Sleep quality.
Movement and sunlight exposure.
Omega-3 fatty acid status.
B-vitamin sufficiency.
Adequate protein intake.

If you’re still feeling flat, fatigued or unmotivated, it doesn’t automatically mean you need a higher dose.

Sometimes it means we need to zoom out. Depression is complex. It’s biological, psychological and environmental.

Hopelessness can sometimes stem from ongoing pain, untreated sleep apnoea, thyroid issues, nutrient deficiencies or life stressors.

It’s rarely one-dimensional.

If You’re Taking Medication for ADHD

Stimulant medications like Vyvanse or Ritalin increase dopamine and noradrenaline. They can dramatically improve focus and productivity.

But focus doesn’t exist in isolation.

If sleep is poor, nutrition is erratic or stress is high, the benefits can feel inconsistent.

Some patients experience:

Jaw tension.
Appetite suppression.
Sleep difficulty.
Afternoon crashes.

Supporting recovery, muscle relaxation and sleep hygiene can make a meaningful difference in how sustainable treatment feels.

Again — the Ferrari analogy.

Performance requires maintenance.

The Four Pillars I Talk About Every Day

At Lygon Everyday Chemist, we focus on four pillars of health:

Sleep.
Movement.
Nutrition.
Mindset.

Medication works within the body.

But the body needs the right environment to respond optimally.

Magnesium supports nervous system regulation.
Omega-3 fatty acids play a role in brain health.
Certain amino acids like L-theanine may promote calm focus.
Inositol is involved in neurotransmitter signalling pathways.

These aren’t replacements for prescribed treatment.

They are part of a broader physiological picture.

And sometimes, improving sleep alone changes everything.

We even run sleep studies in pharmacy — because untreated sleep apnoea can mimic anxiety, depression and attention problems.

The goal is not to add more tablets.

The goal is clarity.

Help Is at Hand

If you’re on medication but still not feeling like yourself — talk to us.

Not about “buying something.”

About understanding your whole picture.

We can look at:

Sleep patterns.
Medication timing.
Nutritional status.
Lifestyle stressors.
Possible underlying contributors.

Sometimes the smallest adjustment makes the biggest difference.

Medication is powerful.

But your body, your habits and your environment matter just as much.

And when all of those work together — that’s when performance improves.

That’s when confidence returns.

That’s when clarity comes back.

We’re here for good.

References

Appleton KM, Rogers PJ, Ness AR. Updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on depressed mood.

Boyle NB et al. The effects of magnesium supplementation on subjective anxiety and stress — systematic review.

Carpenter LL et al. EPA vs DHA in major depressive disorder — clinical evidence review.

Hidese S et al. Effects of L-theanine on stress-related symptoms and cognitive function.

Lakhan SE, Vieira KF. Nutritional therapies for mental disorders — systematic review.

Mischoulon D, Freeman MP. Omega-3 fatty acids in psychiatry.

Sarris J et al. Nutritional medicine as mainstream in psychiatry.

Taylor MJ et al. Inositol for depressive and anxiety disorders — review of clinical evidence.