What is medication management and who should consider it?

Medications play a critical role in the treatment of various mental health issues. The right medication can reduce or eliminate symptoms and significantly improve a patient’s quality of life.

However, mental health professionals are keenly aware that the efficacy of medications vary from patient to patient. Although it may seem random, trained professionals know how to account for various factors, including medical history and medication plan.

Medication management is a level of outpatient treatment that involves the initial evaluation of the patient’s need for psychotropic medications, the provision of a prescription, and ongoing medical monitoring related to the patient’s use of the psychotropic medication by a qualified physician/prescriber. Medication management includes monitoring, reconciling medications, and ensuring patients get the desired outcomes. It requires a thorough review of prescribed drugs and their possible side effects to create treatment plans and monitor their safety and efficacy.

Patients who struggle with understanding their regimen’s effects

Aside from knowing what medications should be taken and in what dosage, there are several factors a patient might not understand about his or her prescribed meds, including reactions to other medications, side effects, and other problems that can affect recovery. In many instances, a healthcare provider must thoroughly address these issues, which they can do with a medication management plan.

Patients need to understand their medicines’ purpose, safety, and effectiveness, as well as potential risks from mixing meds with food or supplements. Understanding why they need to take certain drugs and in specific ways can also encourage them to take a more active role in managing their meds and their overall mental health.

Patients who aren’t experiencing the desired outcomes

Some patients experience health complications despite taking the right medications in the right doses. But in many cases, incorrect dosage and simple neglect are what renders psychiatric therapy ineffective.

Managing a patient’s therapy and medication plan in tandem can fix this. Tracking a person’s meds intake not only ensures a patient takes meds consistently but also reduces complications arising from habitually misusing medication.

Meridian Psychiatric Partners LLC’s Downtown Chicago offices are staffed with certified mental health professionals who can formulate an effective medication therapy management plan for you or your loved one. Send us your questions or set an appointment today.