Message your Oana clinician through your account. This is the most important step, and it's what the messaging relationship is for.Side effects from PCOS medications are common — particularly in the first few weeks of starting a new treatment, as your body adjusts. Most are mild, temporary, and resolve on their own. Some need a dose adjustment. A few signal that a different treatment would be a better fit. Your clinician can tell the difference and recommend the right next step.
Here's a practical framework for what to do depending on what you're experiencing:
- Mild side effects (most common). Things like initial nausea on a GLP-1, mild GI upset starting Metformin, breast tenderness on Spironolactone, scalp irritation from HairPlusPlus, or a temporary acne purge starting topical treatments. Message your clinician through your account. They'll often recommend giving the side effect a few weeks to resolve, suggest small adjustments (timing, food pairing, application technique), and check back in. Most mild side effects do resolve.
- Bothersome side effects that persist past the adjustment period. If a side effect is still meaningfully affecting your daily life after 2 to 4 weeks, that's worth a clinician conversation — not a reason to quit silently. Options often include dose reduction, switching formulations (for example, Metformin ER instead of regular Metformin, or topical instead of oral), or trying a different treatment in the same category.
- Side effects that feel significant or unusual. Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, signs of an allergic reaction (rash, swelling, difficulty breathing), unusual mood changes, severe headaches, fainting, or anything that feels wrong in a way you can't easily explain. Message your clinician promptly — and if you're not sure whether to wait for a clinician response, err on the side of seeking care.
- Medical emergencies. Anything urgent — chest pain, severe allergic reaction, suicidal thoughts, severe abdominal pain that's getting worse, signs of a serious medical event. Don't wait for messaging. Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. The messaging system isn't designed for emergencies, and your safety is more important than the protocol.
What not to do without talking to your clinician: stop taking a medication abruptly (some need to be tapered), double up on doses you missed, mix in over-the-counter products that may interact, or assume side effects will get worse if you push through.