Why Everyone Is Different with Different Psych Meds

There is no cookie-cutter formula for what psych meds will do for you. You can’t ask other people what meds work for them and expect the same results for yourself.

Generally, each person’s response to the dosage (amount) and kind of medication varies to different degrees.

When you want to know the effectiveness of a certain psych med, that won’t be possible to find out until you’ve consulted with your psychiatrist, they prescribe it, you take it for a while and then observe the results.

Why Going to Other Patients Isn’t Productive

Commonly, people in bipolar disorder support groups on social media will ask other members of the group what they like or don’t like about a specific medication. I find that pointless. Yes, you can find many people will have common side effects and responses, good and bad, but that will never predict what the medication will do for you exactly.

Your specific brain chemical makeup will respond in its own way.

Unfortunately, it’s a trial and error process to find out. And sometimes insurance doesn’t cover certain types. Depending on your insurance you may have to pay out of pocket for a particular type of medication. Co-pays are common too.

Doctor, Doctor

Always, always consult with a psychiatrist (they are the prescribing doctors – psychologists aren’t). If anything, try what they start you with for a good two months. It can take time for your mind and body to adjust to the medicine and it to take effect.

If the side effects are too much, impair your functioning and the risks outweigh the benefits, talk to them again about changing the dosage, and try another dosage. If after the next change of dosage you adjust to still isn’t working and the risks and challenges outweigh the benefits and success – then ask about changing the kind of medication.

So I don’t recommend asking a group of thousands of others what medications they’re on and how they like them or how successful they are.

To see any changes, talk to your psychiatrist about changing the dosage/amount first, then the medication – one at a time. You may be prescribed a mood stabilizer without anti-depressants, or you may be prescribed multiple mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotics in a combination.

To note: Generic prescriptions may have a different outcome than formulary/brand name prescriptions of the same medicine. They sometimes have a slightly different composition to their biochemistry and can possibly cause different results. Rare, but possible.

Again, it is wise to change the medicines one at a time. If your doctor suggests otherwise, I would caution against that. If you change multiple at once, how would you know which is causing what side effects or changes in your chemical makeup? Be smart about it.

For me, it took years (9-10) to discover the best concoction of anti-depressant and mood stabilizer that helps me function without side effects or any residual symptoms of my bipolar disorder.

Best to you on your journey to the best “cocktail” for your mood disorder. I pray you give yourself the grace and patience it takes to find the best combination possible for YOU. For another post from me on what to expect from psych meds, follow this link.

Stay bold, brave, and real.

Katie