A topic that comes up frequently in counseling is that of psychotropic medications. These are medications that are used to treat a mental health disorder. This is an umbrella term that covers a wide variety of medications for a wide variety of disorders, and many of them work in vastly different ways. I should note before we get further into this blog that I am not a doctor. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and I am not qualified to prescribe or make recommendations about types or doses of medications. A core message that I want to communicate is the importance of having open conversations with your doctor if you or someone in your care are currently taking or have interest in a psychotropic medication. My interest in writing about this topic is related to the unease and concerns that clients typically bring to me about these medications.
First of all, people generally want to know if these medications are safe. My answer is that all available psychotropic medications that you can obtain through a prescription have had to undergo years of testing before they can be approved for use. There are side effects to these medications, just like any other prescribed medication, but that does not mean that they are always common. Typically if a side effect is common it will be something that is relatively mild, and in many cases the side effects might only be temporary. For instance, many will report initial sleepiness with depression medications, or a lack of appetite with stimulant medications for the treatment of ADHD. Yes, some side effects can be unpleasant or even dangerous. This is why self-monitoring is so important when starting a new medicine. If you experience anything alarming when starting a new med, make sure to contact your doctor immediately and let them know about your concerns. When obtaining an initial prescription for a new medicine, ask your doctor right away what you should do if you encounter a potential problem. Continuing to self-monitor is important, even after taking medicine for a while so that you know that you are continuing to get the relief you are seeking without side effects.
Next, many people have a story or anecdote about someone they know that took a medicine with bad results. These stories usually aren’t very helpful because there is still a lot left unknown. There is no way to know if the other person took the medication consistently or as prescribed. Sometimes people mix psychotropic medication use with alcohol or recreational drugs, which can alter or reduce the intended effects of the prescribed meds. There is also the issue of people just being different. What works for one person, may negatively impact someone else. Oftentimes doctors have to make adjustments in the type or dose of a medication in the beginning or if the body adjusts to the med. If someone has a reaction to one type of medication, there is usually something different that can be tried in place of it. In other words, one medicine may not work correctly on you, but another type may be exactly what you need. While we’re on the topic of other people, I want to make sure to say that you should NEVER take medications that are prescribed to someone else. It doesn’t matter if they have the same diagnosis as you, and it doesn’t matter if the prescription looks the same as yours. Their doctor prescribed what was best suited to fit that person, and it may not be the right fit for you. Don’t do this, not even to check and see if you like it.
It is typically not recommended that someone stop a psychotropic medicine on their own, either. If someone decides that they don’t like something about a medicine, or if they have been on it for a while and feel ready to try going off of it, they should still consult their doctor. Many meds require a gradual tapering down before discontinuing. Stopping a medicine all at once can potentially lead to a crash or negative side effects (in some cases). The responsible thing for your own health is just to have an open talk with your doctor if you feel like a prescription isn’t a good fit or if you feel it may no longer be necessary to continue.
What about alternatives? Again, I would encourage you to speak with your doctor about any type of alternative to traditional medication because many of these fall into the territory of being unregulated. In Illinois, recreational marijuana as well as medical marijuana are both legal. I’ve had many people tell me that they prefer weed because it is natural. I’m not going to argue against the use, but it isn’t like marijuana is free from side effects, either. Over time there are negative effects on the brain and memory to consider, so again, (and I know I’m becoming a broken record here) speak to your doctor openly about marijuana use or any other type of “natural” alternative, especially if it is being taken for self-medicating purposes.
If medications still make you uneasy and you suspect or know that you are dealing with a mental health condition, counseling is another avenue of treatment. Counseling can help uncover the “why” of many conditions, and also lead to more permanent relief in many situations. Counseling and meds are often used together, but this isn’t always necessary. Another “natural” form of relief is what I call the “Big 3.” These are diet, exercise, and sleep. I go into much further detail about these in a previous blog series on alleviating the symptoms of depression. In short, research tells us that eating the right foods, getting exercise and movement, and having an appropriate amount of sleep are the top three things that anyone can do for their own mental health. If you are struggling, I encourage you to reach out to your doctor and/or a counselor to get the support that you need. There are a lot of methods of treatment, but they all start with making that first step.