Most people have taken some sort of medication to improve their physical health, whether it be to get rid of flu symptoms or to manage pain after a tough fall. In the same way, medication can also play an important role in supporting mental health.
Medication is often combined with psychotherapy as the first lines of treatment for most mental health conditions, such as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or borderline personality disorder. This approach can help reduce symptoms, support daily functioning and enhance your quality of life.
If you’re prescribed medication by your general practitioner or psychiatrist, it doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing from that point on. That’s OK. If you experience challenges sticking to your medication plan during your mental health journey, it’s important to discuss them with your providers and learn how to overcome them to get the best results possible.
Read on to learn what to expect from a typical medication plan and how to overcome particular barriers that might stem from it. We’ll also discuss the medication management that we provide at Guidelight Health as part of a personalized comprehensive treatment plan.
What to know about your medication plan
When you’re diagnosed with a mental health condition, you’ll likely discuss medication options with your general practitioner, therapist or psychiatrist.
Medication is most often recommended to people who have severe mental health symptoms that are impacting their daily functioning or aren’t improving through therapy alone. In research taken from 2020, more than 16% of adults in the U.S. who received treatment for their mental health took prescription medication.
Starting your medication plan requires collaboration with your providers to make sure you have all the information you need to take it safely and get the best results possible, including:
- Frequency and dosage of medication
- Potential side effects to be aware of
- Interactions to avoid (e.g., food or supplements)
- Average time frame for when to start expecting changes
Don’t shy away from asking questions or doing your own additional research if necessary.
If you start to experience challenges with your medication plan, you shouldn’t simply stop taking it, as that could lead to difficult side effects. You should regularly check in with your provider to discuss the progress you’re experiencing and any changes that might need to be made, such as adjusting the dosage.
3 potential barriers to adhering to your medication plan (and how to overcome them)
Despite the amount of research showing how effective medication can be in adjusting the brain chemistry that contributes to mental health challenges, it’s not always a seamless journey.
Learning about possible challenges that you may face while on your medication plan can give you a better understanding of how to manage them and when to talk to your provider. Here are three potential barriers to adhering to your medication plan:
Onset delay of effectiveness
When we’re not feeling well, we want to take something that makes us feel better instantly. However, with prescription medication for mental health conditions, results take time. The medicine needs a chance to gradually affect the brain’s neurons and structure before you notice a difference.
Every medication’s time frame for effectiveness is a bit different, but let’s take a look at antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs], serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs]). On average, it takes between four and eight weeks to start recognizing notable improvements in symptoms.
While it can be frustrating to wait for the medication to kick in, you can look forward to your improvement and use that anticipation as motivation to stay on your plan. You can also continue to use coping skills in your day-to-day life to reduce your symptoms as best as you can, such as breathing exercises and self-care.
Sometimes a medication may seem less effective over time, often due to changes in your condition, stress levels or other factors. If this happens, talk with your provider before making changes.
Adjusting your routine
If you’re not used to taking medication every day for a significant period of time, it’s not always easy to get into the habit of taking a prescription. But taking it every day is a staple of your medication plan.
While it may take time to build a habit, taking medication isn’t something that you can do on and off until you get used to it. Even though it only takes a minute to do, if you have a packed calendar, an inconsistent work schedule or an unstable living situation, you may find it challenging to work the medication into your routine on a regular basis.
If you’re having trouble adjusting your daily routine to incorporate medication, here are a few tips that may help:
- Set an alarm for when you need to take your medication.
- Put it near a morning task (e.g., next to your toothbrush).
- Make it visible (e.g., on the kitchen counter).
We recognize that nobody is perfect, and you might forget a dose every now and then. When it slips your mind, try to take your dose as soon as you remember. You can check with your provider or a pharmacist for guidance. Note that you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you go more than a day or two without taking a dose after being on the medication for a while.
Side effects
Prescription medications are intended to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms that are affecting your quality of life. But it’s important to remember that symptoms and side effects aren’t the same. While your prescription is designed to target your symptoms, the medication’s ingredients can also affect other parts of the body, which may lead to side effects.
The type of side effects can vary based on your specific medication, but they may include:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Sexual dysfunction
Some people only experience side effects as their body gets used to the medication, and then they’ll fade away with time. However, some side effects may become persistent, which isn’t always easy to deal with.
The key to overcoming side effects is to be open with your doctor every step of the way. They can make sure that the medication is still a safe option for you and recommend potential remedies to help soothe side effects. If you’re having severe or worsening side effects, changes to your medication plan may be necessary.
Guidelight can help you with medication adherence
A medication plan can play a significant role in your mental health journey. Even so, sticking to your plan can sometimes be easier said than done. By learning about the potential barriers and how you can overcome them, you can alleviate some of the uncertainty and frustration to focus on your progress.
It’s OK if you need additional support while trying to adhere to your medication plan. That’s why medication management is an essential aspect of all Guidelight programs.
As you go through treatment with us, we’ll work with your other providers to track your progress and determine if changes are necessary to your medication plan, such as dosage adjustments. We’ll also help you navigate potential challenges that come up along the way, such as routine changes.
Along with individual and group therapy sessions, medication management is part of our curriculum for our three mental health treatment programs, which are:
Everyone has a seat at Guidelight. Contact our team online, or call us today for more information about medication management or to schedule an initial evaluation. We provide treatment across the country — and we’re always expanding. See if we offer care in your state, either online or at one of our local clinics.