PsychopharmacologyNew York, NY

Benefits of Medication to treat Mental Health Issues

With psychopharmacology, we can study how medications treat mental health disorders and illnesses. We can help determine the benefits, side effects and overall impact prescription medication can have on the mental and physical condition of patients. At Hope TMS and Neuropsychiatric Center, we take the patient’s medical history and current condition into account before recommending a specific medication.

We can help patients find the treatment that will provide symptom relief and guide them through the treatment process.

Medication to treat mental health issues is only truly effective when it is in conjunction with other methods. Medication alone will not be enough to treat mental illness. While it can help with symptom relief and the treatment itself, there are potential side effects to consider. Thus, we take the time to measure the necessary dosage in patients and can make changes to the patient’s needs.

We take multiple factors into account when we prescribe medication for a patient’s mental health. The factors we consider include:

• The side-effects the medication has on the body
• The possibility of how the medication interacts with other medications
• How long the effects of the medication last in the body
• Effects of protein binding interfering with the medication reaching the body

By reviewing these four factors and past research conducted on them, we can find a possible medication for patients.

Finding a Medication that Helps You

The goal of any treatment at Hope TMS and Neuropsychiatric Center is to customize it to meet the patient’s needs. The type of condition will also be a factor in the type of medication we choose. Since some patients may continue to take the medication for years following the initial appointment, we may change the dosage over time. We strive to help We treat a variety of mental health conditions and physical issues including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Treatment resistant depression
• Smoking addiction
• OCD
• Adult ADHD
• PTSD
• Chronic pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Restless leg syndrome
• Insomnia

When considering medication, we use psychopharmacology to consider the following.

The side-effects the Medication has on the Body

With such a large variety of medication for mental health treatment including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, stimulants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics to name a few, there are a plethora of potential side effects. When we prescribe a medication, we will take the time to go over the side effects with the patient. While there may be some side effects, there will also be benefits to the medication.

In many cases, the side effects can be minimized once we find the proper dosage for the patient. If there is a medication with more risk than benefit, we will consider other options. In some cases, the patient may find the side effects make things more difficult and request a different medication. We will go over possible options.

How the Medication interacts with other Medications

If a patient is already on another medication, then we need to know what it is, no matter how minor it may seem. This is why we conduct a psychiatric evaluation and review the patient’s medical history. Taking multiple medications can cause negative reactions that are even worse than the symptoms.

In other cases, mixing medications can even cause seizures and heart issues. However, we can find medications that will not interfere with each other and help the patient.

The length of time the Effects of the Medication Last

We will also measure the effects of the medication and how long they last for the patient to know when to take the medication. Some medication may require taking it twice a day, others only once a day. The dosage will also play a role since certain medications may be stronger than others.

The effects of Protein Binding preventing the Medication from Working

Protein binding is a process in which the medication cannot dissolve properly and reach the specific area of the body it needs to. Certain medications may not reach the brain as quickly as other types. Medication bound to plasma protein is not free to act properly and breach what some call the brain-blood barrier.

We can take this factor into account before we customize the patient’s treatment and prescribe medication. Call us to schedule an appointment and learn more today.