Q How long do I need to receive Korean medicine treatment for anxiety disorder before I feel results?
A Usually improvements in sleep and muscle tension appear first within 4-6 weeks, and core anxiety symptom changes are evaluated after 3 months.
Detailed Answer
With Korean medicine treatment, physical symptoms such as improved sleep, reduced fatigue, and eased muscle tension often appear first (4-6 weeks), while a decrease in core anxious worry follows later (3 months). Just as SSRIs require at least 4-6 weeks of continued use before their effect can be judged, Korean medicine treatment is also better assessed on a 3-month basis rather than by short-term evaluation. Once symptoms stabilize, tapering is reviewed after 6 months of maintenance treatment.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we review the HAMA (anxiety scale) together with a sleep diary at the 8-week point. When patients see that sleep and muscle tension improve first, they personally feel the treatment effect and adherence increases. After 3 months, we decide together whether to switch the prescription to a maintenance phase or to conclude treatment.
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