Home » Medication Management – Compliance & Adherence Advice

Depression has a negative impact on the lives of millions of American each year. But, a properly administered medication management program can provide noticeable benefits for people struggling with these types of mental health conditions.

From PTSD and insomnia to schizophrenia and anxiety, a properly administered medication management program can produce positive results and relief from these behavioral health conditions.

For many mental health conditions, properly prescribed medications are helpful. Correctly administered medication can reduce or eliminate mental health symptoms. A fact that can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life.

Yet, experienced psychiatrists understand that the effectiveness of medications varies from patient to patient. Skilled mental health professionals will know how to account for various factors such as the patient’s medical history and medication plan.

Sometimes, people will self-medicate with drugs and other substances in order to control the symptoms of a mental health condition. This is a dangerous activity to engage in, and can actually make things worse by creating a cycle of addiction. This occurs due to the fact that overtime, self-medicating behavior can easily spiral into drug or substance abuse type behavior.

Proper medication management is a critical aspect of successful outpatient treatment programs. These programs include medical monitoring, reconciling medications as well as ensuring that patients achieve beneficial outcomes from their treatments. Patients need to understand any possible side effects and have a mental health professional monitor the program’s safety and efficacy.

Medication Adherence:

At times, patients may not fully understand the side effects or consequences of misusing their medications. Yet, it is imperative that people know what and when specific drugs need to be taken as well as what dosage. They should even know what foods or supplements may interact with the prescribed drug treatment regimen. When patients understand why their medication was prescribed, it is easier for them to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the treatment program.

By understanding these things, people can use the prescribed medications in specific ways that encourage them to take a more active role in managing their meds and their overall mental health. In fact, positive outcomes are often achieved when medications and treatments like CBT are combined.

If medication usage advice is not followed, patients may experience health complications or find that their psychiatric therapy is ineffective. Lack of adherence to a medication treatment may not be on purpose. Sometimes, patients accidentally use the incorrect dosage or simply forget.

Some patients will experience health complications despite properly taking their medication(s). This is why a trained mental health professional is essential. They can properly monitor a patient’s medication intake and adjust the treatment when needed.

Having patients adhere to prescribed therapies and treatments is crucial for a successful outcome. Patient medication non-adherence is a major healthcare problem across the nation. However, a quality patient education program will improve compliance.

Having a compliance program that includes compliance aids, proper motivation and general support has shown to increase medication adherence. Health care professionals should identify practically possible strategies to improve medication adherence within the limits of their practice. The goal is to achieve a positive therapeutic outcome for the patient.

Medication Tips:

Here is some helpful advice for safely using medication. These tips should become second nature whenever using prescription drugs. The five tips are as follows:

  1. Maintain an up-to-date list of all the medications being taken.
  2. This list should include prescription and nonprescription drugs as well as any supplements.
  3. Organize all medications, keep them in their original labeled containers, and save the attached information sheets.
  4. Try to use the same pharmacy for all prescriptions and verify when picking up the prescription, it is the one that was ordered by the doctor.
  5. The only person who should take the medication is the one it was prescribed by the doctor.

In the end, patients should ask their mental health provider questions about medications. Open and honest dialogue is one of the first lines of defense for proper medication management.

About Emerald Psychiatry & TMS Center:

Well-structured and professionally guided medication management plans are one of the specialties at Emerald Psychiatry & TMS Center. Their psychiatry practice strives to meet the needs and concerns of their patients. By forming a trusting partnership with their patients, Emerald Psychiatry generates a comprehensive treatment plan that is customized to an individual’s needs.

Emerald Psychiatry & TMS Center is proud to provide behavioral and mental health services throughout central Ohio. For more information about treatments and services, contact them.

Follow Emerald Psychiatry & TMS Center on Twitter & Facebook:

#EmeraldPsychiatry  #ColumbusTMS  #DublinTMS  #WestervilleTMS #OhioPsychiarty  #TMS  #MentalHealth  #DepressionTreatments  #ColumbusDepressionTreatment

Medication Adherence, Medication Management, Mental Health Conditions

Contributor:  ABCS RCM