Medication Management: A Key to Sustained Recovery and Mental Health

Did you know, every 1 in 5 persons in the U.S. struggles with a mental health condition? In fact, more than half never get the care they need and deserve. Still, the fact remains that there are different types of treatment options available for lifelong recovery.

Medication is key to healing and mental health. While medication may not fully cure a mental health condition, it goes a long way in alleviating the pain and suffering. This is where medication becomes very important. Medication management involves prescribing, monitoring, and adjusting medication based on your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle factors.

Medication management is a crucial component of mental health treatment. While you may be familiar with your doctor prescribing medication for your physical health, in the field of mental health, psychiatrists and psychotherapists go beyond that. They not only prescribe medication as per your diagnosis and unique needs, but they also monitor how you respond to it and adjust the medication accordingly.

Moreover, you will be an active participant in your medication management plan. You will collaborate with your psychiatrist or psychotherapist to create a personalized plan that works for you. A cookie-cutter approach to medication can be detrimental, so you need to be open to your mental healthcare provider about your medical history, symptoms, pre-existing conditions, and any other prescription/non-prescription medication you may be on.

In your recovery, think of medication as a helper. It will reduce a wide range of symptoms and enable you to better manage your condition. While it cannot completely cure a condition, when combined with psychotherapy, it can deliver the best results and enhance your quality of life.

Medication management enables you toward recovery. Your mental healthcare provider will prescribe and monitor your medication for effectiveness and side effects. If the medication is beneficial for you with little to no side effects, you will move forward with your medicine management plan. Otherwise, your medication will be adjusted to maximize benefits and reduce side effects. Your mental healthcare provider might increase or decrease the dosage or change the medication entirely to best support your recovery.

In a nutshell, here is an overview of the role medication management plays in your recovery:

• Alleviates symptoms, pain, and suffering
• Reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• Keeps you on track to recovery
• Prevents relapse and enhances the chances of lifelong recovery
• Enhances quality of life
• Prevents unwanted/side effects and potentially dangerous drug interactions
• Supports you as you move closer to your goals.

If you are struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs) or mental health challenges, medicines are critical to your healing and recovery. Medicines are used in tandem with psychotherapy for the best outcomes. This is known as medication-assisted treatment or MAT. A crucial factor in MAT is that you adhere to the medicines prescribed by your psychiatrist or psychotherapist.

When you adhere to your medicine management plan, it reduces your symptoms, prevents relapse, and enhances your quality of life. For SUDs specifically, medication adherence plays a role in detoxification (detox) and in reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis, refer to the existence of substance use disorder with another mental health condition.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is used in the treatment of co-occurring disorders. Medication management becomes integral to lasting recovery for the following reasons:

It alleviates the symptoms, reduces cravings, and enables you to manage withdrawal symptoms effectively.

It lowers the risk of relapse, stabilizes the mind and body, and prevents self-destructive behaviors.

In some cases, it can make it easier to manage one disorder so the focus can shift to other pressing concerns.

It enhances the chances of lasting recovery, especially when provided in combination with psychotherapy. Therefore, regularly follow up with your mental healthcare provider for healing and lasting recovery.

By now, we can understand how important medication management is to your healing and recovery. However, it is not without its challenges. While challenges can vary from person to person, here are some of the most common challenges:

Prescribed Dosage:

You must adhere to the dosage as prescribed by your doctor. However, sometimes, this can become difficult, as certain medications carry the risk of misuse and dependence, while some others can lead to severe reactions.

Side effects:

Psychotropic medications, unfortunately, do come with side effects. This can throw the medicine management plan off course, as some people may stop taking certain medicines because of their unpleasant side effects.

Medication adjustments:

Medication is adjusted from time to time, both in dosage and frequency. However, it is not always easy to get accustomed to these adjustments, and sometimes, people may even forget about these adjustments.

Stigma:

Despite advancing times and increased awareness, stigma around mental health has not gone away. Even with psychotropic medication, managing stigma can become challenging.

While there are some challenges to effective medication management, they do not have to take away from its benefits. If you are experiencing any of these challenges, remember it is okay. At the same time, you can reach out to your psychiatrist or psychotherapist and tell them about your challenges. Together, you can find a way to overcome these challenges and find the best path forward.

The strategies for effective medication management can be very personal; whatever works for you. However, here are some of the strategies you can begin with:

Routine Development:

Medication must be integrated into your life like any other routine, such as brushing your teeth or bathing. Consistency is key; once it becomes a habit, it will fit seamlessly into your daily life.

Track Prescriptions:

It is common to have one too many prescriptions when you are undergoing treatment. The point is to preserve them in an orderly manner (for example, in a file) to stay on top of them and ensure you are following them to a tee.

Leverage Technology:

Technology is everywhere, so let us use it to our benefit. You can leverage apps like Pill Reminder and Med Tracker, sticky notes, or even set reminders for effective medicine management.

Collaborate With The Healthcare Team:

Collaborate and cooperate with your healthcare team. They are always there for you and are actively involved in your recovery. You can always speak to them to understand your medicine regime or even if you are facing difficulties.

Last but not least, the role of social support systems can never be overlooked or disregarded in effective medication management. Having loving family, friends, and peers makes it a lot easier.

A strong social support system can provide motivation, encouragement, and ensure that the person adheres to their medicine management plan to a tee. Family, friends, and peers can also help keep track of prescriptions and medication adjustments. In case the person experiences physical or behavioral changes, loved ones can draw attention to it so that the person gets the medical attention they need right away.

Therefore, if your loved one is in recovery, learn about the medicines they take and their medication management plan by being involved in their treatment. Support them and encourage them, as it goes a long way in lasting recovery.