Can I text a doctor about medication side effects?

Yes - side-effect questions are made for text: you know what you take and what you feel, and that is most of the consultation. A clinician can usually sort three things quickly: whether what you feel is a known, expected effect of the drug (and whether it fades - many start-up effects ease within a couple of weeks), whether it is a warning sign that needs the drug stopped or the dose changed, and whether a switch or a timing change solves it - plenty of side effects vanish when a pill moves from morning to night or is taken with food. Two rules before texting. First, the emergency rule: signs of an allergic reaction - hives with swelling of lips, tongue, or face, wheezing, or trouble breathing - are 911 now, per MedlinePlus's drug-allergy guidance, not a chat. Second, the do-not-stop rule: unless the reaction is dangerous, do not quit a medication on your own - some drugs (antidepressants, beta-blockers, steroids) cause real problems when stopped cold, and a clinician can plan the change safely. Reporting matters too: in the US, the FDA's MedWatch program collects side-effect reports, and your clinician can file one. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you judge what you are feeling before you decide.