What to Expect from Psych Meds

This Med or That?

I notice people posting in forums wanting feedback from others on the effectiveness of certain psychiatric medications. However, it should be well known that with psych meds, the effects and success of the dosages vary significantly from person to person. It’s by no means “one size fits all.”

Depending on biochemical markers and the makeup of a person’s brain, everyone withstands different results. No two medications or dosages of the same medicine will give you the same results. Person to person, the reactions to medicine will differ.

Types of Psychotropics (Psych Meds)

Antidepressants are helpful for those with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder and also mood disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They treat the depression.

Antipsychotics are suitable and often prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and variations of bipolar disorder (cyclothymic disorder). They treat psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Mood stabilizers can be prescribed for bipolar disorder and some are also known as anticonvulsants.

Benzodiazepines have been prescribed for mood control in bipolar disorder. They are controlled medication like Xanax, Valium, Ativan and Klonopin and are getting phased out. With opioid and addictive medications becoming an epidemic, they are less prescribed. People become easily addicted to those.

Talk To Your Doctor

Always consult your psychiatrist for information on recommendations for medication. You can most definitely research the medication, then when you start out on one, track everything you can, such as:

• moods
• symptoms controlled/diminished
• side effects (weight gain, hours of sleep, heart rate increase/decrease, salivation, ringing in the ears, etc.)

Finding the right combination of psychiatric medications is trial and error.

If after a few months you aren’t happy because the costs outweigh the benefits, consult with your doctor and see if they will allow you to try something else. Changing medications faster than a few months cannot let your brain adjust to the medication as well. You may not reach its full intended effect if switched too quickly.

Remember to never stop a psych med cold turkey. You can be at risk for a psychotic break that way, or other dangerous and unwanted effects.

Drug-Gene Testing

You could also take a drug-gene test, also known as pharma-co-genetic testing, and some medications may be shown to be more effective for certain gene types. You can find more information on that in this article at the Mayo Clinic site.