1 - Medication Management Frequently Asked Questions

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• Psychopharmacology is the use of medications that treat mental health conditions.
• Medications are most effective when combined with psychotherapy.
• Psychiatric medications should only be prescribed and monitored by a licensed physician or physician assistant.

Medication Management, otherwise known as Psychopharmacology, refers to the use of medication in treating mental health conditions. Medication can play either a small or significant role in improving most mental health conditions. There are some individuals who are treated with medication alone, while others are treated in combination with therapy or complementary / alternative treatments. Research has shown that the most effective treatments for most mental health conditions involve a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Some conditions require the use of multiple medications. Either a psychiatrist, psychiatric physician assistant or primary care physician experience in the use of these medications should be involved when multiple psychiatric medications are prescribed.

Medication is typically recommended when symptoms are moderate to severe or when symptoms have not improved with therapy alone. Sometimes a therapist will recommend that an evaluation be done by a psychiatric medication prescriber. This can often times be useful for individuals who want to learn if medication may be helpful or to understand what role medications can play in their treatment

Psychiatric medications can sometimes be used for short-term relief of symptoms. Other times medications may be beneficial for longer periods of time. These differences often times depends on the patient’s symptoms, medication effectiveness and the prescriber’s clinical judgement. Use of medications could range from weeks or months to several years. Typically the patient and the provider work together to weigh the benefits of medications against the risks or side effects when coordinating decision regarding starting and stopping medications.

If you are considering medication for a mental health condition, it can be helpful to weigh all of the pros and cons before making your decision.

Pros include:

• It’s effective
• It can speed up your rate of recovery
• It can provide the equilibrium needed for successful therapy
• It can improve your quality of life
• It can address biological triggers
• It can improve your overall function

Cons include:

• It can come with side effects
• It can take a while to find the right dose
• It can take some time to work
• It can come with some social stigma

In effective medication management, patients and their provider should work together to find the correct balance for the patient. The patient needs to remain committed to the process, and the patient should also adhere to all dosages and recommendations made by their provider. They should never give their medications to someone else or take more than their own recommended dose. Patients should keep in mind that there may need to be changes in their medication type and dosage over time, and that they may require less or even no medications at some point during the process. Either way, long term medication management services can help navigate these subtle differences.

• Antidepressants (SSRIs) can be used to treat depression and anxiety disorders: fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil).
• Antidepressants (SNRIs) can be used to treat depression and anxiety disorders: venlafaxine (Effexor), duloxetine (Cymbalta), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq).
• Antidepressants (NDRI) can be used to treat depression and anxiety disorders: bupropion (Wellbutrin).
• Non Benzodiazepine Anxiolytics can be used to treat anxiety: buspirone (Buspar), gabapentin (Neurontin), hydroxyzine (Vistaril).
• Benzodiazepine Anxiolytics can be used to treat anxiety, panic attacks and sometimes insomnia: lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium).
• Stimulants can be used to treat ADD / ADHD: dextroamphetamine salts (Adderall), methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), methylphenidate hydrochloride extended release (Concerta).
• Non Stimulants can be used to treat ADD / ADHD: atomoxetine (Strattera).
• Mood Stabilizers can be used to treat bipolar disorder and treatment resistant depression: Lithium, lamotrigine (Lamictal), valproic acid (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol).
• Antipsychotics can be used to treat schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and as adjunct therapy to improve depression: aripiprazole (Abilify), haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal), haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quentiepine (Seroquel), lurasidone (Latuda), paliperidone (Invega), ziprasidone (Geodon).
• Medications that may be used for sleep (some of these may be seen above in other sections): diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Vistaril), mirtazepine (Remeron), quentiepine (Seroquel), temazepam (Restoril), trazodone (Desyrel), zolpidem (Ambien).