What do I need to know about medications, and are they worth it?
Many people who are struggling with issues such as anxiety, depression, other mental illness, or withdrawal from addiction are helped by medication. There are many types of medication, and you may find that you need more than one to help with your symptoms.
Of course, most medications have side effects. If your doctor recommends meds, you can do your own research to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. Expect to go through a period of trial-and-error to find what works for you.
Once you find a medication that works, take it consistently, as prescribed.
“Half of my struggle is my behavior and my thought processes, the chemical piece is fixed. It’s just so incredible to think that taking this little pill makes me feel like myself.”
How long until it works?
How long it takes for a medication to work depends on what you’ve been prescribed. You may feel the effects of ADHD meds and some anti-anxiety drugs within hours or a day. Anti-depressants may take a couple of weeks and you may not see the full effect for 5-6 weeks.
If nothing seems to be changing after 6 weeks or so, tell your doctor so you can try something else or adjust the dosage. And of course, if things are getting worse… tell your doctor!
How will I know it’s working?
It really depends on the symptoms you’re struggling with. If it’s working, your symptoms should lessen—if you’re sleeping better, are not having racing or intrusive thoughts, are no longer hearing voices or seeing things, or are not feeling as anxious—that may be because of your medication.
“I felt tired, hopeless, and depressed all the time. I didn’t want to get out of bed and I didn’t want to go outside. About two weeks after I started taking meds, I started sleeping better, I had an appetite again, and I wasn’t having racing thoughts.”
How bad are the side effects?
The side effects are different depending on what medication(s) you’re taking and also on your own personal body chemistry. Ask your doctor what to expect, read the label, do your homework!
One side effect of some meds, including anti-depressants, is that they may actually increase thoughts of suicide. If that happens, TELL SOMEONE right away!
You may be thinking, “Why would I bother taking medication, if it could make me feel worse than before?” Psychiatric medication isn’t an exact science, but in many cases it does work. And if you and the people on your team–your parents, close friends, doctor, therapist, and others–monitor your reaction to the medication, the necessary changes can be made right away. The key is to report any problems to your prescriber immediately and for them be responsive.
Is it normal for my psychiatrist to change my medications?
If you tell your psychiatrist that you are still experiencing the same symptoms, your psychiatrist will probably suggest changing your medications or changing the dosage. You may also need to change your meds if they stop working for you, which can happen after a while.
Even when you are happy with how your meds are working, your psychiatrist may still suggest switching you to a newer medication that has better results or fewer side effects. Your therapist or other clinician can also make suggestions for you to share with your prescriber, but remember: you are the one who has the final say in what medications you take.
“The medications I was on were changing every 3 minutes. My psychiatrist prescribed this, that, that, this. The hospital prescribed this, that, that, this. Overall, I’m glad I tried everything or else I wouldn’t have find the right one. I’m glad I was willing to switch.”
Will I need to be on meds forever?
Psychiatric meds and methadone or other meds prescribed for addiction don’t “cure” you of your symptoms or your illness. They make you feel better while you’re taking them. BUT, you may not need to be on meds “forever” in order to stay well. Some people find that once they’ve gotten stabilized, learned new coping skills, strengthened their support network, and maintained emotional wellness for a while—usually a few years—they feel able to handle their issues without meds.
“I’ve been doing really well—I’ve gotten a lot stronger and a lot better at taking care of myself over the last seven years. So a few months ago I talked to my psychiatrist about going off my meds, and he was very supportive. We came up with a plan to let me taper off my meds one by one. Now I’m almost done with my last medication, but I’m still going to keep seeing him every month for a while in case I have any problems.”