Medication
Just like with any illness, medication can be a huge help. However, be aware that just because you are getting medication and may feel stable, you should not stop going to wherever you’re seeking help!
Sometimes people don’t like to hear the words, “you need meds.” However, there’s nothing wrong with taking medication and you shouldn’t feed the stigma towards it. In some cases, medication may be your best option. If your mental health is preventing you from getting through the day, meds may provide the support necessary to go to work or school and do well. Don’t stress about it! If you are interested, we are here to offer some simple tricks to getting the best results from your meds!
When you don’t have the answer, ask someone. Your doctor/psychiatrist, therapist/social worker, and people on CTSupportGroup.org will be there too!
“My meds don’t make me happy. I take my meds to feel well, well enough to do the work of recovery. Being happy is up to me.”
“It has happened to me where I’m like “ok, I’m stopping, I feel good, I don’t need my medication” and then that’s why I hit rock bottom again, and I’m like “oh damn, I’m here again! What am I doing?”
What type of medication would help me?
There is no blood test to find out what medication will work for you; it’s trial and error between you and your doctor. There are anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, and other drugs for panic, anxiety, obsession, ADHD, etc.. Sometimes what works is a combo of several drugs. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right stuff and you may experience side effects, but don’t lose hope! Be patient, recovery is a process.
If you have an addiction, there are certain meds that can help with withdrawals. And remember if you are living with mental illness and a history of addiction, there are non-addictive medications you can take!
“Half of my struggle is my behavior and my thought processes, but the chemical piece is fixed. It’s just so incredible to think that taking this little pill makes me feel like myself.”
What questions should I ask?
Before you even walk into the doctor’s office you may write a list of questions that you want to ask your doctor. You could scribble a few questions down on a piece of paper and tuck it into your wallet or purse. Some questions that may come up includes:
- What is the name of the medicine?
- Why am I taking this medicine?
- How long before you expect to see results?
- What about side effects? Are there ways to minimize these side effects?
- When and how often should I take the medicine? As needed, or on a schedule?
- Can I break my medication in half?
- How long will I have to take it?
Ask More Questions!
- Are there any foods that I should not eat?
- Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
- Is this medication addicting?
- Is it OK to eat or drink food before or after I take the medicine?
- If I forget to take it, what should I do?
- What should I do if I feel I want to stop taking this medicine? Is it safe to just stop?
- What should I do if I miss a dose of this medication?
There are so many more questions you could think of, but you want to make sure that you get the best results. You must be your own advocate so that you can get the best results you need to spend time learning about your medication.
Who can prescribe meds?
You need to work with a doctor to figure out your medication. A psychiatrist, some general practice doctors, and psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (known as psychiatric APRNs in CT) can prescribe psychiatric medications. A psychologist cannot.
Even if you don’t have insurance, there are programs where you can find a doctor to help you.
To search for a doctor, facility, and/or clinic in CT, click here!
Again, you must have an honest and open communication with your doc! No one can help you 100% if you are not being completely honest about how your meds are working.
If the medications are not giving you unexpected results, tell your doctor. If you are having any side effects, tell your doctor. If you keep forgetting to take your meds, tell your doctor! Even if you don’t want to take your meds anymore and want to try something else… the doctor needs to know!
How do I avoid mistakes, keep a schedule, & prevent complications?
It’s easy to forget where, when, and how many meds you must take. The routine can seem overwhelming, which can make it difficult to keep track of it all. Don’t stress it! We have a ton of tips to help you stay organized!
Avoid common mistakes
- Finish all of the medication, even if you start to feel better.
- Keep taking the medication, even if you don’t notice an improvement in your symptoms right away.
- Contact your health care team if you start to feel worse while taking a medication or notice new symptoms.
- Make sure you always are honest with your doctor and keep the convo open with them!
Stay on Schedule
- Read the entire medication label on the container to make sure you take the right dose.
- Take your pills at the scheduled time and day
- Ask family members or friends to remind you and also, if you’re comfortable, make sure someone you trust knows about the medications you are on
- Use a chart, pill calendar, or your phone’s calendar reminders to set a schedule and track when you take your medication.
Avoid drug complications
- Fill all of your prescriptions at the same pharmacy. That way, your pharmacist can keep a complete list of the medications you take and alert you to possible drug complications
- Ask your pharmacist to use easy-to-read, color-coded labels to make taking your medication easier
Remember…
If your medication needs you to have a full stomach, make sure you eat! Depending on the meds, an empty stomach might turn into an upset stomach when not following this instruction.
A Couple of Extra Helpful Hints for Organization:
“I fill my pill box every Sunday and then I am set for the week. It makes everything so easy as I take what is in the individual box for the day and then I’m all set. I felt like a grandma at first, but this little box has made my life so much more manageable.” Ann.
- Set an Alarm on Your Phone
- Get a pill box organizer
There are also plenty of FREE apps that can help you with your medication. Just type in “medication” in your search bar of whichever app store you use and chose which one fits best for you. A lot of them have reminders which save the trouble of doing it on your phone yourself.
Am I taking my meds properly?
Medication can be extremely helpful, BUT it can only do its job if you are taking it as prescribed. So if you are either taking more than prescribed AND/OR missing doses or not consistently taking it, you might fall under a description below:
- Taking more to numb out? In times like this it’s important to check your intentions and reasons why we are taking more. Addiction to prescription drugs is real! Recovery from it is real too!
- Being medicine compliant means that you take your medication. But it is really common to be hesitant and have a hard time accepting that we need a help with the assistance of a pill. This doesn’t mean that you are weak; it means that you might need medicine that assists you with whatever you might be having a hard time with, along with other supports.
“I had a hard time with prescription drugs because I was abusing them. I just felt like nothing was helping, so I took matters into my own hands. I know today though that the meds I take can only help me if I take it like I’m supposed to. My way never worked.” Jane