Medications.
Managed.
Treatment for mental illness involves medication, therapy or some combination of both. Medications are an excellent tool to help address issues in the brain that affect mood. However, mental health issues can be dynamic and complicated, particularly if they have been neglected, and finding the best treatment can take a bit of time and finesse.
Many psychiatric medications take several weeks to reach their optimal effect, and not all patients responds to medications in the same way. That's why medication management is a central part of mental health care.
Together with our patients, bonmente's providers explore medication options, side effects, and potential interactions before beginning any medication regimen. They then closely monitor patients' moods and physical health to ensure treatment goals are being met and patients are tolerating the medications well. Some medications require lab tests, others require monitor vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate, and others may need to be switched altogether in the case of pregnancy. As your life, body, and mood changes, your medications may also need to be modified. That's medication management.
If you can't make your own serotonin,
store-bought is fine.
- Georgia Hardstark
Medications. Some of our best friends.
Medications have saved the lives of millions of people living with mental illness. There are several classes of medications to treat a range of mental health issues, and each has a different way it works. Because every brain is different, the only way to know which medication will work best is to start conservatively, evaluate frequently, and adjust accordingly. Not all mental health issues require medications, but the most common – anxiety, depression, ADHD, panic disorders, OCD, sleep disorders, and bipolar disorder – rely on medications as the best way to manage symptoms.
anti-depressants:
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
anti-anxiety/anti-panic medications:
- including Lexapro (escitalopram), Zoloft (sertraline), Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), and BuSpar (buspirone)
stimulants:
- including Adderall (amphetamine-dexamphetamin), Vivance (lisdexamphetamine), Wellbutrin (buproprion), Ritalin (methylphenidate), and Straterra (atomoxetine)
mood stabilizers:
- including Lithium, Depakote (valproic acid), Lamictal (lamotrigine), Tegretol (carbamazephine), Trileptal (oxcarbazepine)
anti-psychotics:
- Typical antipsychotics
- Atypical antipsychotics
Want to learn more?
You got it.
Unsure if your anxiety qualifies as panic? Is this distraction you feel ADHD or could it be depression? Get a better understanding of mental health conditions and treatments available at bonmente.
