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Psychiatric medications make a dramatic difference for many people with mental health disorders, helping them overcome their symptoms and restore their mental wellness. Natalie Chigozie, MSW, LCSW, and the team at IOP Mental Health in Cary, North Carolina, offer comprehensive medication management under the supervision of board-certified psychiatrist Waheed Bajwa, MD, of Cary Behavioral Health. If you struggle with mental health symptoms, don’t wait to get the help that will make a difference in your life. Call the office or book a medication management appointment online today.
Medication Management Q & A
What is medication management?
Medication management refers to prescribing psychiatric medications. However, it means much more than handing you a prescription and hoping your symptoms improve.
As a comprehensive mental health service, medication management includes routine follow-up appointments to monitor your progress, asses any side effects, and ensure you achieve the best possible results.
How does medication management support optimal health?
If you have a tension headache, you can take nearly any over-the-counter pain reliever and get relief. But psychiatric medications aren’t that straightforward. There are many variables that affect your treatment.
There are numerous medications for each mental health condition. For example, there are more than 20 FDA-approved antidepressants, and even though they have the same goal, each one works differently inside your body.
And then there’s the variable of your unique metabolism. Each person’s metabolism is different. Your metabolism may reduce the effectiveness of some medications, but not others.
Your physician begins by prescribing the medication that seems like the best fit for you, but if you don’t get results, they change the dose or switch to a different medicine.
For as long as you take psychiatric medications, you need routine follow-up appointments to be sure you get the best results.
Who can benefit from medication management?
Psychiatric medications can significantly relieve the symptoms of mental health conditions, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
In most cases, your provider recommends combining medication management with therapy.
What happens during a medication management appointment?
Your IOP Mental Health provider completes a thorough assessment during your first medication management appointment. They review your medical and mental health history, learn about your symptoms, and diagnose the cause of your symptoms.
They discuss the potential medicines that may improve your symptoms, explaining how they work and the risks and benefits. If you decide you want medication, they send the prescription directly to your pharmacy.
During your follow-up appointments, your provider discusses your symptoms, assesses your progress, and asks about any side effects or concerns you might have. They may refill the prescription or adjust your medication, depending on your progress and overall health.
Call IOP Mental Health to learn more about medication management or request an appointment online today.