Psychiatric Medication: Everything You Need To Know

Psychiatric medication can be essential for recovery from a mental health condition but not everyone is comfortable taking medication or even talking about it.

Unfortunately, even in this day and age, psychiatric medication is shrouded in myths and doubts. Because of this, millions of people fail to get the help they need. As a mental health organisation, we want to do our bit to break this stigma and educate people on what psychiatric medication actually is, and isn’t. 

What is psychiatric medication management?

Initially, your psychiatrist will prescribe medication for a trial period to observe and monitor its effectiveness. This is where the “medication management” portion of psychiatric care comes into play if you choose to avail medication support. A lot of times people do not realise that they have the choice of whether to get medication for their condition. 

Psychiatric medication management is working with your psychiatrist to ensure that the medication prescribed to you is safe, and effective, and comes with manageable side effects if any. Essentially, psychiatric medications work by slightly altering brain chemistry. For instance, serotonin is a brain chemical that is responsible for a person’s mood. Some medications can help regulate serotonin levels in the brain, reducing many low mood-related symptoms. 

Look at this as an ongoing process - once you start your medication plan, your psychiatrist will monitor you closely to ensure you're feeling better. If not, they will tweak the dosage or change the medication as needed. If you are still worried about taking medications, here are a few things to remember:

Medication will not change who you are 

It is a common misconception that psychiatric medications will alter your personality. This isn’t true at all. You may see changes once you start taking medications, but that is the whole point - to feel better! Research shows that most changes in personality that arise from medication are typically associated with reducing distressing symptoms. 

For example, if you are depressed, you may have fewer negative thoughts, which can change your outlook on life. The proper medication can alleviate the symptoms of illness that impair functioning.

We understand it can be scary to live a life without symptoms that have been with you for a long time. Don’t let the fear of the unknown hold you back from seeking the help you deserve. 

Also Read - Questions to Ask Your Psychiatrist

Taking psychiatric medication does not make you weak 

We often hear from people about how psychiatric medications create dependency, and how you need to ‘rely on a pill’ to lead a normal life. People who are misinformed often feel that if you work hard enough, you can will yourself out of it. Of course, it isn’t so easy. 

Psychiatric medication eases distressing symptoms so you can lead a better life; there is nothing wrong with that. Taking psychiatric medication is no more an indication of weakness than taking medication for any other physical ailment. 

Medication is not ‘the easy way out'

Psychiatric medication, by no means, is a miracle cure. Like any other medication, it takes time to work and gradually alleviates symptoms enough to improve functioning that’ll allow you to lead a better life. 

Medications can help you cope with symptoms of your mental health condition so that you can take the steps you need to make lasting changes to your lifestyle and environment. 

For this reason, a combination of therapy and psychiatric medication works best for most people - but your psychiatrist is the best person to guide you, based on your unique needs. 

Remember, medication won't catapult you to the finish line - it merely sets you up at the starting line.

Everyone reacts differently to medication 

Like many medications, psychiatric medication won’t have the same effect on different people. This is because no two bodies function in the same way. The key to successful medication management is patience and persistence. Just because someone you know had an unpleasant reaction to psychiatric medication, doesn’t mean you will too. 

It takes careful collaboration, consideration and the right combination of medicines. Sometimes, this can take a bit of time to achieve. You can ease the process by being open and honest with your psychiatrist about any side effects you notice, or if you find that you are not feeling better even after a long period. 

Bottom Line

Understanding what you’re getting into is essential when seeking mental healthcare, and we want you to be empowered to make well-informed decisions. Our therapists at Amaha work closely with our psychiatrists when needed to build an integrated care management plan to deliver the best outcomes for each client. 

Amaha psychiatrists come with decades of experience and rigorous training in diverse clinical settings for the entire spectrum of mental illnesses. Psychiatry at Amaha goes beyond just medication - we combine the biological, psychological, & social aspects of care to create a comprehensive treatment plan for each client. Think of medicines as an aid to your journey of recovery, as they can help in regulating many of the symptoms that you may be experiencing along with therapy. Book a session now.