Medications play an essential role in the overall stability and treatment of the disorders present. They allow the symptoms to get minimized and avoid any form of relapse to the psychiatric disorder. Drugs of this form help the individual minimize desire and maintain moderation from addictive elements.

To be able to get the most out of medication, patients must choose to actively understand the potential benefits and conditions that are incorporated with them. Additionally, they should take the medicines as per the prescribed amount by the psychiatrist, no more and no less.

Taking medicines does not make the individual an abuser of such drugs. Most people in the process of recovery from substance abuse may think it is wrong, but this form of medication only allows the hormonal imbalances to get more managed than the current state they are in.

The medicines assigned to the individual have been tested and developed according to the psychiatric disorders that require them. Operative medicines currently exist for quite a handful amount of major disorders such as Bipolar disorder, social anxiety disorder, and depression for the most common ones to even disorders as severe as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

Dynamic psychotherapies are also developed and tested to understand mental health disorders and they can be operated on without medicines for patients with minor or moderate disorders. Nevertheless, medication is quite an important treatment for individuals with severe and/or chronic mental illness symptoms.

As one chooses to discontinue their medication, it is important to get professional advice and a proper plan of action for the same, such as It will be essential for the patient to get the right support before discontinuing the medicines. For example, the psychiatrist who prescribed them, your close friends or family, or even other individuals who have had prior experience with the same situation.

 To be able to get off your medicines and concur a less chance of relapse, it is important to reduce the dosage slowly, rather than immediately.

All psychotropic medications come with their own set of side effects, with the most common manifestations or remnants being dependency, withdrawal, sedation, nausea, vomiting, changes in appetite, sleep cycle, sexual dysfunction, disturbances, hypertension, hormonal fluctuation, weight gain or loss, weakness, drowsiness, upset stomach, tremors, blurry vision, confusion, mind fog, etc.

Due to this fact, the foremost thing to be sure about is the class of drug given and the value it provides. The most common type of psychotropic medication includes:

  • Mood stabilizers: Such medications stabilize mood disturbances commonly seen in mania, depression, or bipolar disorders, where episodes of highs and lows of emotions are prominent.

  • Antidepressants are used in managing symptoms of depression, which is classified as a psychotic-neurotic disorder and is characterized by a drop in mood-energy activity and an increase in suicidal tendencies.

  • Antidepressants such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and others target serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

  • Anti-psychotics: Such medications are prescribed when one has lost touch with reality or is having delusions or hallucinations, most common in schizophrenia.

  • Anxiolytics are anxiety medications to manage anxiety symptoms such as uneasiness, dread, and tightness.

Important things to know, if you are under psychotropic medication:

As the drug exerts an effect on the chemical makeup of the nervous system, the body may alter its normal state of functioning, due to which increasing or decreasing the dosage should be done with careful consideration.

Medication is best effective when combined with therapy. Since drugs are used to help with physical symptoms, thoughts and emotions can be understood and dealt with more healthily and safely with the use of effective therapeutic techniques. Collaborating with a psychologist to be able to start working towards the root of the physical symptoms that usually lie with the thought process and unresolved emotions is the most advisable way to overcome mental health illness. With the different kinds of therapies, the psychologist would accommodate the best-suited one for the client, which can help substantially decrease the symptoms, resulting in an effective therapeutic process. When medication is not aligned with therapy, the possibility of the symptoms accelerating can be high. In many cases, the clients can develop a dependence on the medication, especially in cases of insomnia that can in return, trigger many different kinds of long-term health issues.

Psychiatric drugs are an integral part of the treatment of chronic mental health illness and help the client to manage their symptoms effectively, especially in cases where it is aligned with therapy. Use of medications for a designated period can drastically help the client manage themselves, whereas, prolonged use can further worsen the symptoms and can make the client prone to many fetal health problems. Therefore, the use of medication should be done wisely and under the strict discretion of psychiatrists.

Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.

About MindTribe.in.

MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.

About the Author.

Dr. Prerna Kohli, is an eminent psychologist, a published author, a four-time gold medalist, an awardee by the President of India for her contributions to Mental Health, and the founder of MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here www.drprernakohli.in

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.

Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.