The use of medication to assist with mental health has become more common in the last decade. Drugs like Xanax are now recognizable, going as far as being used in popular song lyrics. These medications fall under the umbrella of Psychopharmacology, which is a branch of psychology that focuses specifically on learning about medications that can assist in the mental healing process.
The brain, however, is a very complex thing, and so too are the conditions that arise within it. Because of this, more than one medication can be prescribed to tackle a singular mental illness in order to best treat its symptoms. This is where medication management can be helpful on your road to recovery.
At SUN Behavioral Health Houston, we offer medication management services to help ensure your medications and treatment are working the way they should. Medication management helps document and track your medications, their intentions, and how successful they are at treating the symptoms they’re prescribed for.
A study from 2019 shows that over 300 million prescriptions were filled in Texas alone. Medication assists many people on a daily basis to help them go about their day. Whether it's helping someone with diabetes or managing chronic pain, medication has been shown to be very helpful when utilized properly.
Just as medication can assist people with many physical ailments, medication has been used to help those with mental illness as well. Using medication to assist in your mental health journey can be very important for some. The symptoms of certain illnesses, such as PTSD or depression, can be debilitating at times. Medication can be used to help manage those symptoms so you are able to move past them and focus on your healing journey instead.
For each medication in your life, the time you’ll be on it will vary. Some medications, like those that help with chronic illnesses such as allergies or arthritis, have prescriptions that last years or even most of your lifetime. These are considered to be long-term medications.
There are also medications that are taken as needed. These are medications that help alleviate symptoms quickly as they arise. This includes medications such as those that assist with panic attacks, or epi-pens that can be used to stop a severe allergic reaction.
Finally, there are short-term medications. These can range from steroids to help a person recover from an illness, or medications to assist with withdrawal symptoms from other substance use. If you have any questions about your specific medications, make sure you talk to your doctor.
Medication management is an important service offered at SUN Behavioral Houston. Being informed and educated about the medications you’re being prescribed can ensure that the medication is actually working as intended.
Proper medication management starts by sitting down with a healthcare professional and going through any current medications you have to figure out what they should be doing for you and if they’re being used correctly.
With proper medication management, you should be able to answer the following questions:
With good medication management, you should feel confident in knowing what’s going into your body and how it’s helping you.
Medication misuse covers a large variety of grievances, both big and small. Not all instances of medication misuse are intentional, but it’s important to know what can count as medication misuse so you know what to look out for in your own medication use, or that of a loved one.
Here’s a short list of things that constitute medication misuse:
Medication management’s goal is to help alleviate any guesswork. At SUN Behavioral, our certified team will work to help make sure you walk away with a comprehensive understanding of your medications and how they’re supposed to be used in order to best help you. It also provides a source of accountability
During this process, one of our goals is to help you learn how to prioritize your own health. Certain medication misuse can lead to serious or fatal consequences. Being well-equipped with this information can help you make informed decisions regarding your health, or it can help you assist a loved one with their own medication management.
Here at SUN Behavioral Houston, we want to ensure that you and your loved ones can have a well-informed understanding of your health and healing journey. We believe that being educated about the tools and processes that help you along that journey can help achieve the best outcome.
If you have questions about the medications you’re taking or want to make sure that your medications are working to the best of their ability, reach out to us today to get a consultation. You can call us at 713-796-2273 or go online to schedule a no-cost telehealth consultation now!
When you take medication, you want it to work properly. Medication management can help assess and track your medication, its effectiveness, and if there are any detrimental side effects. It also ensures that any other medication you take won’t counteract your current medications. The goal is to make sure you’re receiving the best care possible.
Having those who care about you help in the process of healing is always beneficial. They can help assist in matters of accountability and motivation. Having a second person who can help notice things that you might not notice in regards to side effects and how well your medication is working can be beneficial.
Having those who care about you help in the process of healing is always beneficial. They can help assist in matters of accountability and motivation. Having a second person who can help notice things that you might not notice in regards to side effects and how well your medication is working can be beneficial.
The capable team at SUN Houston has been serving our community for years. Reach out to begin your journey to recovery.