What is an optimal dose, and when should I seek care?

An "optimal dose" means that your medication treatment plan has reached a dosage, timing, and frequency that supports you and your life well.

Published: November 25, 2022

Signs you’ve reached your optimal dose

When you reach your optimal dose, you will consistently feel like your attention is able to focus and you have better control of your mood, anxiety, and/or sleep without any major side effects. 

For instance, you can hold your focus on an item without a feeling of an impending deadline and you’re not having regular heart palpitations or feeling a ‘cliff’ at the end of the day where your symptom control suddenly ends. Some mild changes in your sleep are common on stimulants, so you need to be the judge of what is acceptable - and don’t forget about all sleep hygiene techniques.

Once you reach your optimal dose, you can meet with your Frida clinician less frequently, about once every three months.

When to reach out

If you notice your symptoms start to change for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team to schedule you in for your next appointment. We can talk about what may be happening and discuss treatment plan options. 

Life changes and things happen, so it’s natural that your dose and needs can sometimes fluctuate. This is normal, so do not be alarmed if you find that this happens.

When should I go to urgent care?

If you feel like something is wrong and you need urgent attention, the right answer is always to seek in-person medical care. For instance, this could include heart palpitations that won’t go away or are associated with chest discomfort, pain, or pressure or you’re having trouble breathing.


Frida Care Team

We are a group of clinicians, continuous care support, writers, and creators who care deeply about patient care and ADHD. Together, we write content that we hope sheds light on ADHD and the health care space at large. You can reach us at support@talkwithfrida.com if you have any questions!