If you have been diagnosed with a psychological disorder, be aware that medications are available that can likely treat your illness. Psychotherapeutic medication is, in fact, becoming an ever-more important element in the treatment of mental illness, and numerous medications exist to treat a wide range of disorders.

Psychotherapeutic medications may make other types of treatment more effective. For example, if someone is too depressed to talk, psychotherapy may not be an effective treatment tool. But medication might improve symptoms to the point that the patient can respond in therapy. For many people, psychotherapy combined with medication is an effective treatment

Note: Use of psychotherapeutic medication should ALWAYS be supervised by a doctor. 

Relief from Symptoms

Often, medications can help people function who would otherwise be incapacitated by their illness. Psychotherapeutic medications do not cure mental illness, but can often treat it by controlling symptoms. But medication won’t necessarily relieve all symptoms; results of a medication range from little or no relief of symptoms to complete relief. How a medication affects an individual depends on a variety of factors having to do with the individual and the disorder being treated.

The length of time a person will spend on a psychotherapeutic medication varies from person to person. For some psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety, the episode might be treated early enough that medication will not have to be prescribed again. People with chronic conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or recurrent or chronic depression and anxiety may have to take medication indefinitely. 

Psychotherapeutic medications do not affect everyone in the same way. A certain medication might help some people more than others. A medication might produce side effects in one individual but not in another. The way in which the medication affects an individual depends on factors such as age, weight, gender, diet, body chemistry, or psychical illness.

Questions for Your Doctor

When a doctor prescribes a psychotherapeutic medication for you, you should make sure you have some important information. Be sure you understand how much of the medication you are supposed to take and when and how to take it. Try to get as complete a picture as possible of the way in which the medication will likely affect you. Ask when you will next need to see a doctor (preferably the same doctor who prescribed the meds for you) and, if possible, set up an appointment then. Make sure that you have a way of contacting your doctor in the interim to ask questions and report side effects.

Some basic questions to ask your doctor:

• What is the name of the medication, and what is it supposed to do?
• How and when do I take it, and when do I stop taking it?
• What foods, drinks, or other medications should I avoid while taking the prescribed medication?
• Should it be taken with food or on an empty stomach?
• Is it safe to drink alcohol while on this medication?
• What are the side effects, and what should I do if they occur?
• What results can I likely expect from the medication?
• How long will the medication take to work?
• Is a Patient Package Insert for the medication available?

  This is also a good time to ask about anything that has been worrying you. For example, many people worry that psychotherapeutic medications will change their personalities. Take the time with your doctor to get questions like this resolved in a way that satisfies you.

  Source: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) brochure, “Medications”