If you have a mental health disorder, your doctor might prescribe medications to ease your symptoms. However, the road to finding the best medication treatment program for your mental condition is often challenging. Other than the many confusing options available, medications vary in the time they take to be effective. Before deciding on the ideal medication regimen in GA, your doctor considers many factors, as the Atlanta Center for Mental Health reveals here.
Finding the Best Medication Regimen
There is always the possibility of severe side effects and failure of the drug to produce desired results. But the success rate of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is encouraging because most people battling mental conditions respond well to medication. How does your doctor decide what drugs to give you?
Your Symptoms
Some medication serves several purposes, and they can treat various symptoms. For instance, a mental disorder can make you lose appetite, causing you to lose weight. In such a situation, your physician might prescribe an antidepressant that also encourages weight gain. On the other hand, if you are battling anxiety and severe insomnia, your doctor can decide to put you on a drug that treats anxiety and makes you sleepy. For the best results, doctors often advise you to take such medications right before going to bed.
Side Effects of the Medication Treatment Program
If you have been on MAT before, you might know the particular drug that produced the most severe side effects. Give vital information to your physician to avoid a repeat of the same. A medication treatment program that uses drugs that produce intolerable side effects is often not the right one for you. It will be challenging to continue using such medication without help from a mental health treatment center.
Other Drugs You Might Be Taking
Most medications that help treat mental disorders interact with steroids and antibiotics. Inform your doctor about other medicines you are currently using, including supplements, over-the-counter painkillers, and vitamins.
Other Diseases You Have
Some drugs treat more than one illness. Studies reveal that there is a correlation between your physical health and mental well-being. Medical research has led to the production of medicines that treat common co-occurring conditions. For instance, a doctor can put a client with depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on bupropion. This kind of drug can treat all these conditions simultaneously.
Incidence of Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
Most of the things a mother consumes, including food, alcohol, and medication, passes on to the baby through the umbilical cord or during breastfeeding. As such, if you are battling a condition like depression, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe harmful antidepressants. If you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or planning to get pregnant, inform your doctor. Together, you and the professionals from a residential mental health treatment program will design a medication treatment program that will not harm your baby.
Cost of the Medication
Your health is of the utmost importance. Therefore, a high cost should not deter you from accessing the best medical care, especially if you can afford it. However, some insurance plans may not cover certain drugs for mental disorders. The total cost of the treatment can affect the decision of your physician.
Other Kinds of Therapy Programs
Mental health medications work well when a doctor combines them with other therapy options, such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Trauma therapy program
- Family therapy program
- PTSD treatment program
- Bipolar treatment program
Finding a rehab facility that can design a customized treatment program that combines MAT and talk therapy can be invaluable.
Start Your Medication Regimen in GA, at Atlanta Center for Mental Health
If you or your loved ones need help selecting an ideal treatment program for your mental condition, reach out to the Atlanta Center for Mental Health for professional advice. Our therapists will first assess your situation before recommending a medication treatment program. Contact Atlanta Center for Mental Health at 833.625.0458 for more details.
