What Is Medication Management?

The main reason individuals take  psychiatric medication is to improve quality of life.  Psychiatric medication management is the process of working with a psychiatric provider to ensure that your psychiatric medications are effective and safe. This may include changing doses, switching medications, or adding new drugs.

 

During a Psychiatric Medication Management appointment, your provider will ask about your symptoms, how your medications are working, and any side effects you may be experiencing. They will then make recommendations about changes to your mental health medication list.

They may prescribe a “trial and error” period where you will try different psychiatric drugs at different doses to see what works best for you, as every person’s experience with mental illness and medication is unique.  Aside from knowing what medications should be taken and in what dosage, there are several factors a patient might not understand about his or her prescribed meds, including reactions to other medications, side effects, and other problems that can affect recovery. Your healthcare provider will thoroughly address these issues, which they can do with a medication management plan.

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It is essential to have regular Psychiatric Medication Management appointments, as mental health conditions can change over time. Medications that were once effective may become less so or may cause new side effects.

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If you have any questions or concerns about your medication, bring them up at your next Psychiatric Medication Management appointment.

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