Medication Management

Medication management is an essential part of mental health care. Psychiatric meds help improve conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, and support mental and emotional well-being. Only a licensed psychiatrist can determine the right combination of medication to manage symptoms effectively. Dr. Zlatin Ivanov, a double-board psychiatrist based in NYC, provides individualized medication management to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes. Contact Online Psychiatrists today to schedule an in-person or online appointment.

What Is Medication Management?

Medication alone, or in tandem with talk therapy, plays a vital role in treating many mental health disorders. Finding the right medication to effectively manage the symptoms of disorders such as ADHD/ADD, depression , different types of phobias, and anxiety requires the expertise of a highly trained psychiatrist.

People don’t always react to psychiatric drug treatment the same way. What works for one person may not work for another. This variability makes medication management an essential part of psychiatric medical care and another reason to choose your psychiatrist with care.

At Online Psychiatrists, you’ll find a wide range of mental health services for those living in New York, New Jersey and Florida. These services include prescribing and managing psychiatric medications. Some types of medicine can be prescribed through telepsychiatry, while others may require in-person visits.

The initial medication and dosage prescribed are usually based on what has worked for others with similar symptoms. Your doctor can pinpoint the correct dosage after you take your medicine as prescribed. During your next visit, you have to provide feedback on how effective the prescribed drugs were in relieving your symptoms.

Your psychiatrist generally starts your medication at a low dose and gradually increases it to find the dosage that best relieves your symptoms. Your doctor may adjust the dosage or choose a different type of medication if the current prescription doesn’t seem to be helping. Changes in dosage or delivery may also be recommended if you aren’t taking the medication as prescribed.

Patient Experience

What Types of Psychiatric Disorders Require Medication Management?

Prescription psychiatric medication can’t cure mental illness, but it does relieve symptoms that may impact your day-to-day life. Combined with the best talk therapy techniques, drugs can prove very useful. Some of the most common psychiatric medicines include:

Anxiolytics

Anxiolytics or anti-anxiety medications can help reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders, such as nervousness, fear, and muscle tightness. The most commonly prescribed anxiolytics are benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Ativan) and antidepressants (Duloxetine, Escitalopram). Doctors usually prescribe benzodiazepines for the rapid alleviation of symptoms, while antidepressants are used for long-term anxiety management.

Depression Medication

Antidepressants regulate brain chemicals to improve mood, sleep, and other depression symptoms. The most common types of antidepressants include:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the amount of serotonin.
• Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) raise the amount of norepinephrine in the brain.
• Atypical antidepressants modulate different neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, melatonin, and norepinephrine.

ADHD Medication

ADHD medications are divided into two groups:

• Stimulants elevate the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, promoting improved focus, control, and attention.
• Non-stimulants increase norepinephrine levels in the brain and are usually prescribed for those who don’t respond well to stimulants.

Antipsychotic Medication

Antipsychotic medications are designed to treat conditions accompanied by psychosis - a loss of touch with reality. Psychosis-related disorders include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, schizoaffective disorder, and delusional disorder.

Mood Stabilizers

Mood stabilizers are a type of psychiatric medication used to treat symptoms of disorders accompanied by extreme mood swings, such as bipolar disorder.

On the other hand, you may be tempted to take a higher dose than prescribed. Self-medicating by increasing your dose because your symptoms don’t seem to be under control is a recipe for disaster. For the most effective results from your psychotherapy treatment, you must take your medication exactly as prescribed and communicate any changes to your doctor.

The best psychiatrist aims to find the most appropriate medication or combination of medications that relieve your symptoms with the least troubling side effects. If you do experience any issues with the medication, work with your doctor to resolve them. The ultimate goal of your treatment is to teach you new ways to cope with your feelings and find a constructive, positive approach to life that works for you.

Why Does Experience Matter in Medication Management?

A mental health disorder can affect your thinking, mood and behavior. Symptoms of mental illness that affect your ability to function in your daily activities may worsen if you don’t seek treatment. Working closely with a doctor who’s highly trained in the field of psychiatry is the best way to:

• Obtain an accurate diagnosis
• Receive the most effective prescription medicine
• Get the most out of your treatment

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If you need psychiatric medication management, contact Dr. Zlatin Ivanov. Widely regarded as one of the leading psychiatrists in NYC, he delivers safe and effective mental health care to achieve better outcomes. Contact Online Psychiatrists at (646) 713-0000 to book an online or in-person appointment. Dr. Ivanov’s office is located at 405 Lexington Ave, NY (The Chrysler Building).