It’s all chemistry, and it is an exact science. Psychiatric medications only work for you at therapeutic doses. Your psychiatrist will work with you to determine what a therapeutic dose is for you.
Not everyone takes the same dose. Your body size, symptoms, and previous medication use all factor in to how much and which medications your psychiatrist is prescribing for you. What alleviates symptoms with minimal side effects for one person might cause unpleasant side effects for another person. Your meds are prescribed exactly for you.
Some medications only work within a certain dosage range. If you take less than the recommended dosage, the medication will not work effectively.
It’s important to take medications exactly as prescribed in order for them to work effectively. Skipping doses or “doubling up” can cause serious health problems, or render your medication ineffective. Always communicate with your psychiatrist if you experience problems with your medication.
Congratulations! You, your psychiatrist, and your therapist have worked together to develop a treatment plan. Now it’s time to take your meds.
Your prescription bottle tells you exactly how many pills to take, and how many times per day to take them. It might even tell you what time of day to take them.
If you have any questions about how much or when to take your meds, communicate with your psychiatrist.
Suddenly discontinuing medications can cause symptoms to return or withdrawal symptoms. That’s why it’s important not to run out of medication – stay on top of requesting refills. If this is hard for you, you and your psychiatrist can work together to establish a refill plan. You can also get the help of a care manager at all of Pesach Tikvah’s clinics.
Some people experience stomach upset when taking psychiatric medications, even when the bottle does not indicate to take with food. Try taking your meds with a meal or a substantial snack including carbohydrates and protein if you experience stomach upset. Tell your psychiatrist if stomach upset when taking meds is a consistent problem for you.
Finding the right medication and dosage sometimes takes time. The dose you are prescribed might need to be increased for you to feel results, or it might need to be decreased if you are experiencing unpleasant side effects. Only you and your psychiatrist can make these decisions -- together.
That’s why it's important to communicate with your psychiatrist and therapist. If you feel your medication is not working, don’t discontinue it without consulting with your team. Sometimes just a small increase or decrease in dosage will alleviate symptoms or decrease side effects. Drastic action, like suddenly stopping use, can cause serious health problems. Some medications require weaning off periods. Your doctor will be able to advise you. A small tweak in dose might be all you need.
Over time, your body can habituate to your medications and your symptoms might return. Talk to your psychiatrist if this happens. Making a small increase to your dose or adding another medication could be necessary.
Remember that therapy and medication work together. Continue therapy to support your medication regimen. Your therapist and psychiatrist work as a team at Pesach Tikvah.