What to write in a symptom log
Write what you felt, how strong it was, how long it lasted, what came before it and what you did. Being ready to answer questions about your symptoms can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition.1 Use the same fields each time:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Wednesday, 3:20 pm |
| Symptom | Headache |
| Strength, 0 to 10 | 6 |
| How long it lasted | Hours |
| What came before it | Slept badly, stress |
| What you did | Rested |
| Strength afterward | 3 |
On the 0 to 10 scale, 0 is none, 5 is hard to ignore and 10 is the worst you can imagine.
Printable symptom tracker template (PDF)
Prefer paper? The free symptom diary has the same fields on one page, and you don't need to give an email. Print a few copies and keep one where you'd notice it.
Track symptoms next to your medication
If you take a medication, this also works as a medication symptom tracker. Answer yes to the medication question and each entry gets a dose note, and you can mark Took a dose under what came before a symptom. The PDF has the same fields.
How often to log your symptoms
Log a symptom when it happens, because details fade by evening. If it's there all day, log it once a day at the same time. Tracking for a week or two covers workdays, weekends and a bad night or two.
Don't wait to finish a log if a symptom is severe or getting worse quickly. Get medical care.
What to look for in your symptom diary
- What comes before it. Sleep, stress, a meal, exercise or a dose.
- Time of day. When it starts and when it bothers you most.
- Whether it's changing. Compare how strong it was this week with last week.
- What makes it better. Compare your first and second ratings.
A log shows what happened together. It can't tell you the cause, so use it to ask better questions.
What to show your doctor
Your report lists each symptom with how many times it came up, how strong it got and the last date, along with what came before it and what you tried.
You can bring these questions with it:
- What do you think could be causing this?
- Do I need any tests?
- Could any of this be a side effect of my medication or a recent dose change?
If your symptoms started with an antidepressant
Most early side effects of antidepressants ease within the first weeks, while a few tend to last and are worth raising.
Side effects that often pass include nausea, an upset stomach, headache, sleep changes and feeling restless. Sexual side effects, weight change and feeling emotionally flat tend to stay while you take the medication. A change of dose or medication often helps with these, so mention them instead of putting up with them.
Call your prescriber the same day, or get urgent care, if you notice:
- new or worse thoughts of suicide or self-harm, especially early on, after a dose change, or in young people
- agitation, heavy sweating, fever, muscle twitching or confusion, which can be signs of serotonin syndrome
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- a sudden burst of energy, little need for sleep, racing thoughts or unusual risk-taking
Hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause can change how a medication feels. Any side effect that bothers you is reason enough to bring it up.
FAQ
What should I write in a symptom diary?
What you felt, how strong it was from 0 to 10, how long it lasted, what came before it and what you did about it.
Is there a free printable symptom tracker?
Yes. The one-page PDF on this page is free, needs no email and has the same fields as the online log.
Can I track more than one symptom?
Yes. Add as many as you need. Each one gets its own chart, and your report groups your entries by symptom.
Where are my entries stored?
In this browser, on this device. We don't receive what you write, and there's no account. Clearing your browser data deletes your log, and Safari can clear it after about 7 days without a visit. On iPhone, add this page to your Home Screen to avoid that, and download a copy now and then.
Can I download all my entries?
Yes, at any time. My log has a button that saves every entry as a CSV file you can open in Excel or Google Sheets. You can use that file to restore your log on another device.
Can a tracker tell me what's wrong?
No. A diagnosis comes from a clinician. Your log gives them a clearer record to work from.
Sources
More free trackers and templates
- Medication log: Mark each dose as taken, late or skipped, and note side effects. See two weeks at a glance.
- Anxiety tracker: Log what set it off, how strong it felt and what helped. See your pattern on a chart.
- See all trackers and templates