Psychotropic Medication: Risks, Benefits, What You Need to Know

Diverse psychotropic medications for mental health treatment by tCaPC.

Psychotropic drugs are a broad category of medications used for the treatment of different types of mental health issues. Generally, psychotropic medications impact brain function, often causing changes in mood, behavior, and perception in the patient. Psychiatrists prescribe psychotropic medications primarily to help stabilize behavior in people with mental health issues. This is what everyone knows about psychotropic medications. There are a lot more people who do not know and that is the reason for this article. Read on to find out something you didn't know about psychotropic medication. There's no doubt in my mind it's a great life-saver. But what you are about to read might be a bit disconcerting. I've only just discovered how many people are truly ignorant about this and thought to share considering my experience working at a psychiatric clinic.

Recall the few times you visited a psychiatrist and their almost default response to managing your condition is prescribing a psychotropic medication.

The medication sure has its uses and benefits but how often have patients paused to weigh the benefits against side effects and possible complexities that may arise from the use of the medication?

As a medical professional, I cannot understate the importance of trust between a patient and their healthcare provider. However, I think that trust should be a response to how much both of them are open to each other about the extent of the condition and what treatments are available, and suitable for the patient to aid in quick recovery with no doubt about the practitioner’s concern for the patient's overall wellbeing. This article should shed some light on what your therapists know but may be unwilling to disclose.

The Uncertain Terrain of Psychiatric Medication

Psychiatry medication and a table clock, illustrating timely mental health management. Courtesy of The Counselling and Psychotherapy Collective (tCaPC).

In the field of psychiatry, prescriptions can seem the easiest route for the psychiatrist in dealing with mental health issues. Often the therapist is hardly sure whether a particular prescription will provide the much-needed relief the patient needs. So most of the time they are merely experimenting with the psychotropic medication in hopes that the outcome will be favorable. And the outcome is not always the best. This practice comes with a lot of uncertainties for the patient who is largely ignorant of the potential impact of the prescription on their body and mind. What's more worrisome is the administering of the same medication to vulnerable populations like the aged and children.

Talk Therapy: A Powerful Alternative

Exploring paths to healing and understanding at The Counselling and Psychotherapy Collective (tCaPC).

Talk therapy in my opinion remains a much better and powerful alternative to psychotropic medication. Available research shows that talk therapy is as much real and effective as a prescription for certain medical conditions. Unfortunately, many patients do not have this information. Talk therapy has fewer side effects when compared to medications, but not many people know when to choose between both methods of treatment. This is understandable seeing that patients are often not given the chance to choose between treatment options. As a medical professional I recommend that before you opt for psychotropic drugs, consider exploring talk therapy first, as a primary intervention, where it fails, drugs can be introduced. Drugs can be alternatives, not the only alternative. This cannot be said enough maybe because pharmaceutical companies have made us think that every health challenge can only be overcome with medication as though there are no other options available for improved psychiatric care.

Challenging the Pharma Narrative

I cannot in all honesty undermine the place of drugs in managing health care issues, yet, we must approach its use with more caution and ask as many questions as possible to understand how it interacts with our body if there are possible side effects and complications. Oftentimes we make the mistake of trying to substitute healthy lifestyle choices like giving great care to diet, sleep, exercise, etc with just taking drugs. How mistaken could anyone be?

Empowering conversations at The Counselling and Psychotherapy Collective (tCaPC) ignite a journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

Empowering Yourself as a Patient

My advice on this is that it's time patients began looking out for themselves. When next in therapy and you have the option of choosing between treatment options, don't make psychotropic medication your first choice of therapy. While the psychiatrist may not be ready to disclose a lot of things, it's still within your rights as the patient and recipient of the treatment to ask the right questions. Demand clarification on why a certain treatment option chosen by the psychiatrist is the right one for you, query its efficacy, and most importantly, the associated side effects. Always make an effort to understand the research behind the medication to be administered by the professional, this knowledge will help you make informed choices for the right care for your mental health.

Empower yourself with The Counselling and Psychotherapy Collective (tCaPC).

Conclusion

Psychotropic drugs are a broad range of interventions used for the treatment of many different types of mental health issues. Usually, they are prescribed when the psychiatrist considers them the most effective way to help stabilize behavior and mood in people with mental health issues. While they have proven effective over the years, the possibility of side effects is not entirely ruled out. Psychotropic medications among other things impact brain function, often causing changes in mood, behavior, and perception in the patient. There's no doubt that navigating mental health issues could be daunting, however, it's not a journey the patient embarks alone. With the love and support from family and friends, the patient is better motivated toward improved wellbeing. Drugs are not the only effective remedy for managing health issues, including mental health conditions. Talk therapy has proven as much effective, if not more. The patients must arm themselves with adequate knowledge of treatment options that are available for their condition and learn to advocate for their needs, ask the right questions, and collaborate with the health care provider for the best treatment plan possible suitable for improved well-being. Remember, health is wealth, and only you deserve to be in charge of your health. Giving up that power could potentially harm your overall well-being.