Psychiatric Medication Management: Your Guide to Better Mental Health

Taking medication to manage depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions isn’t always an easy task to do.
Remembering when to take your pills, managing side effects, and trying to keep a schedule in terms of your refills make it hard to do.

That’s what you have to know in order to stay compliant with your medication.

The Meaning of Medication Management

Being on medication involves taking the psychiatric medication as prescribed safely and consistently by, which is essential for senior mental health and overall well-being:

Taking the prescribed dose at the right time
Watching for any side effects
Not mixing it with other medicines or supplements
Letting your doctor know how you’re feeling

When you control your medications well, they are more effective; you feel better; it is as simple as that.

Why This Matters

You get better.

Antidepressants, mood stabilizers and anti-anxiety medicines work best when you take them every day. Missing doses means they can’t do their job.

You avoid relapses.

Abruptly stopping psychiatric medication can result in the recurrence of symptoms much worse than before. It can also lead to withdrawal symptoms.

You stay out of the hospital.

Most psychiatric crises happen when people stop taking their medicine or cannot afford to pay for the prescription.

What Really Gets in the Way

We understand that it might be difficult for a person to stick to their medications.

Some individuals take five or six different medications; it’s too many pills at a time
Nausea, w e ight gain, fatigue and sexual problems
One pill in the morning, another at lunch, two at bedtime adds to a complicated schedule
The cost factor can also be there; prescriptions add up fast
Just forgetting to take them
People often stop when symptoms improve and they don’t need medication anymore

Simple Ways to Stay on Track

Write everything down. Keep a list of all your medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Bring it to appointments. Update it when things change.
Get a pill organizer. The kind with compartments for each day of the week. Fill it once a week. You’ll know right away if you missed a dose.
Use your phone to set an alarm for when you need to take the medication. Choose various times that work with your schedule! Morning or evening. Before breakfast or dinner. Whichever you will actually remember.
Choose one time that will work well. If you have to take the medicine twice in a day, choose times that will fit in your schedule, i.e., morning and evening, or with breakfast and dinner, or whatever you’ll actually remember.
Don’t quit before talking to your doctor. Something may not work or the side effects are too much. Give us a call. There are usually other options. We can adjust your dose, switch your medications or add something to help with the side effects.
Ask about generics. They cost less and work the same. If money is tight, tell us. We can often find a more affordable option.
Mark your calendar for refills. Don’t wait until you’re out. Order refills a week early so you don’t run out.

What We Do at Medcanvas Psychiatry

We see patients both online and in person. During your visits, we:

Go over all your current medications
Check for side effects
Make changes when needed
Answer questions
Help you understand why you’re taking each medication

We assess what’s working for you. We tweak anything that’s not working or causing problems. That’s it.
Medication is not the whole answer to mental health, but it is a big part of getting better for many people. We talk about therapy, sleep, exercise, and other good things too.

Getting Help

If you have questions or concerns with your medications such as forgetting to take them, side effects or not knowing if they are working, then just let us know.
We want to give you a medicine plan that truly suits your lifestyle.

One to stick to. One that will make you feel better.
Contact Medcanvas Psychiatry to schedule an appointment! We can do telepsychiatry or you can come in. Whatever is more convenient for you.

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