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What is Medication Management Psychiatry, and is it Effective?

Psychiatry medication management is effective and critical in treating mental health disorders. Controlling symptoms can improve quality of life and allow concentration on other therapies. An element of outpatient treatment; psychiatry medication management monitors the effectiveness of medications to ensure desired outcomes. Every patient has a different need and a different efficacy when prescribed medication. The psychiatrist monitors side effects, dosage, and ongoing treatment options. 

What Does Medication Management Mean Exactly?

Psychiatry medication management plays a vital role in treating those with mental illness. Therapists typically do not prescribe medication; psychiatrists provide medication management and assessment. Understanding the importance of the treatment team working together to maintain the best outcome for the patient’s treatment is crucial to recovery. Medication management involves recording the patient’s well-being while receiving treatment, side effects, and adjustment of dosages when necessary. 

Ensuring the patient understands the purpose of prescribed medication, the safety factors involved, and potential risks from mixing with certain foods or supplements. In addition, the timeline for taking the meds is explained at great length to be sure the effectiveness is constant. Complications can occur, and dosages are corrected. Psychiatry medication management assures the medication is providing the desired effects.

What is Medication Management Psychiatry?

Initial visits with a psychiatrist involve the assessment, medical history, and a list of symptoms. Then, the psychiatrist studies the evaluation to determine a diagnosis. Psychiatry medication management begins with a trial of medication to manage symptoms. Therefore, it is vital to receive a complete description of the side effects and the expected course of the program. 

Observation and monitoring of the effects produced by the trial medication continue through to the next meeting. Then, with the patient’s input, the psychiatry medical management agent makes a determination on continuing the same drug or making a change. Again, the goal is to find the correct medication for the individual. Each drug affects brain chemistry in different ways.  

Medication can affect the ability to sleep and cause irritability, nausea, and other symptoms never experienced before. Therefore, trial and error must occur until finding the correct medication. During the medication review, the progress of therapy notes lifestyle changes, and additional questions and concerns of the patient are addressed. Therefore, psychiatry medication management is vital for coordinating the entire treatment plan.

How Does Medication Management Benefit Mental Health?

Psychiatry medication management benefits mental health from the initial prescription ordered to manage the uncomfortable symptoms of mental illness. However, beginning therapy and educating the patient with disruptive symptoms is challenging. Therefore, treatment plans are twofold – medication management and the treatment plan prescribed. Therapists see the patient often in the beginning to monitor behavioral aspects of their mental illness. 

A solid treatment plan involving individual therapy, group therapy, and lifestyle skills classes can treat the entire person. Psychiatry medication management is only a single factor in treating a person experiencing mental illness and possibly a co-occurring substance use disorder. Psychiatrists monitor the side effects of the medication prescribed, which can take several weeks to stabilize.

There is a variety of psychiatric drugs prescribed through psychiatry medication management.

Each available medicine treats a different mental health disorder. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety medications, and psychotic medications for the determined diagnosis will treat the affected symptoms. Finally, for continued efficacy, a review of medication effectiveness is needed. 

Medications used for the treatment of mental illness can include:

  • Antidepressants: are prescribed for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil are antidepressants.  
  • Mood stabilizers: are primarily prescribed for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Lithium, Depakote, and Tegretol are mood stabilizers.
  • Anti-Anxiety Medications: are primarily prescribed for the treatment of anxiety. Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan are anti-anxiety medications. 
  • Psychotic Medications: are primarily prescribed for the treatment of psychosis. Thorazine, Haldol, and Risperdal are psychotic medications.  

How To Find a Medication Management Psychiatrist

Psychiatry medication management comes after assessment and evaluation by a psychiatrist. Contact your primary care physician if you are searching for this service and believe you may require medication for a mental illness. Your primary care physician can examine you to eliminate any physical disease, then refer you to a reputable psychiatrist who can assess and treat you. Of course, if you do not have a primary care physician, The Retreat of Atlanta has professionals who can speak to your concerns and perform an assessment. 

New technology is available in some psychiatry medication management programs. Telehealth appointments are valuable when life circumstances interrupt the face-to-face appointment schedule. The effectiveness is proven to be practical with the availability of telehealth services during the Covid19 period, and the significance is proven valuable. Medication effectiveness remains when taken on schedule for the best results. It can be hazardous to discontinue drug usage suddenly.

Begin Medication Management Psychiatry in Georgia

Is medication part of your treatment plan? The Retreat of Atlanta offers advice from professionals who understand your concerns and needs about medication. We specialize in psychiatry medication management and welcome your call for help. Contact us to receive an evaluation and find relief. The Retreat of Atlanta understands your needs. Let us help you begin a medication management program. 

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