Written in Collaboration with Shari Allen Perry, PharmD, BCPP
As a psychologist, I have often found that my patients’ medication prescribers have not taken a lot of time with them to discuss their medications. When I ask my patients questions about their prescriptions that are outside of my scope of practice, they often do not know the answer. While, of course, it’s not necessary to become an expert in your medication and its properties, there are some really important things to know about potential negative side effects, interactions with other medications (and drugs/alcohol), and how the medication best metabolizes in your system.
I’ve found that rather than the primary care provider (PCP) or psychiatrist, often pharmacists are the most knowledgeable about the medications. While pharmacists are considered the most accessible health care professionals, unfortunately not everyone has access to a pharmacist with specialty in mental health.
Introducing Dr. Shari Allen Perry! Dr. Allen is a board certified psychiatric pharmacist. She’s completed two years of residency at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, specializing in psychotropic medications. After finishing residency, she began a career in academia, teaching future pharmacists how to treat mental health disorders. Dr. Allen gets to work with Veterans every day at her clinic, helping them to understand their mental health medications and managing the ups and downs that may come with their use. She’s passionate about mental health public education and has been running her social media account, MentalectPharmD, for 2 years now.
When learning about your mental health medications, there are 5 basic factors you should know about each one:
What is it for?
Some mental health medications are used for more than one reason/indication. It is important to know what you are using it for.
When will it work?
It takes time for some mental health medications to take effect. Knowing what to expect is helpful.
What are the side effects?
People may often stop their medications because of the side effects; however, they can often be managed.
How long will the medication be taken?
Some mental health medications are used long-term and some short-term.
What happens if it does not work?
Unfortunately, not all mental health medications are effective for everyone. Knowing an alternative plan or option can be helpful.
In addition to the basic questions, there is additional information you may want to know about your mental health medications. Together we have created a checklist of questions that you should have answered about your mental health medication. Of course, we cannot provide the answers, as they would be different for each medication. We encourage you to make sure you know these answers from your prescriber, pharmacist, or trusted sources.
Mental Health Medications Checklist
Which time of day is best to take my medication?
Do I need to take my medication with food? Why?
What would happen if I missed a day of my medication? How serious are the consequences?
If I’m not sure if I took my medication today, would it be better to skip it or double up?
Are there any other medications or supplements that should not be taken with my medication?
Is it a problem to drink alcohol, use tobacco, or use drugs with my medication? Is there a “dosage” of the other drug that is safe?
Does my medication have potential for addiction or misuse?
Does my medication have potential for a fatal overdose?
Is there anything else I need to avoid while I’m taking my medication?
Is there anything that can enhance the effectiveness of my medication?
What would be signs of an “emergency” problem from my medication?
We hope this helps you to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of your mental health medication!
Are there any questions you’d like added to the checklist? Comment below!
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