Psychiatric Medications: Truth or Myth
"Only the crazy or weak take medications to escape their problems"
MYTH!
If you went to the doctor for being sick, and the doctor prescribed you antibiotics to treat your infection you wouldn't say "only the weak take medications". Psychological disorders are just like physical disorders. They fit diagnostic criteria, have a biological basis and can be treated with pharmacological interventions.
This class of medication treats depression, but also anxiety, insomnia, and pain. They typically require 4-8 weeks to reach full therapeutic benefit. The common side effects of are upset stomach, headache, and sexual dysfunction, but generally these improve with time.
What are antidepressants?
The most common types are SSRI &SNRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors &serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as citalopram, paroxetine and fluoxetine) Tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline and doxepin) and less commonly used MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as isocarboxazid, phenelzine)
This medication is for pain, and is our first line of treatment for headache, fever, or discomfort.
What is acetaminophen/ Tylenol?
These items can be cognitively engaging and can unexpectedly induce emotions (stress, excitement) preventing you from winding down. The bright light also disrupts a normal sleep wake schedule by conflicting with natures daily light-dark cycle.
What is Stop pre-sleep electronic use!
30 minutes before bed don't answer emails, peruse social media, or watch TV/ Movies. Do boring activities pre-sleep to slow down your cognitive processes. Ideas: listen to radio show or podcast in a language you don't understand, read an uninteresting document
When you're feeling tense, heart rate increases, and your thoughts start to race; you can do this?
What is take slow, deep breaths?
Taking slow, deep breaths is known to decrease heart rate, slow racing thoughts, and increase oxygenation.
"I can stop taking my medications once I start feeling better"
MYTH!
People with diabetes do take medication every day to keep their blood sugars normal, and people with high blood pressure do the same to keep everything in control. The variety of psychiatric disorders follow a similar pattern. Some disorders are more short term, for example adjustment disorders or first episode depression. Treatment with medication may last for 6-12 months but other disorders are more chronic. For example, recurrent depression, bipolar disorder, or chronic anxiety. Treatment may be much longer-term, possibly even years in order to maintain happy, healthy functioning.
This class of medication helps with symptoms of anxiety and include benzodiazepines. (a class of sedative-hypnotic drugs). Common side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, difficulty urinating, and irregular heartbeat to name a few.
What are anxiolytics/ anti-anxiety medications?
Medications such as benzodiazepines (clonazepam, alprazolam, and lorazepam) are effective in relieving anxiety and take effect more quickly than antidepressant medications often prescribed for anxiety. However, there is a potential for dependence and tolerance if they are taken over a long period of time and may need higher doses to get the same effect. It is important to note that some antidepressant medications are also used to treat anxiety. Buspirone is an anxiolytic medication prescribed to treat anxiety but requires 3-4 weeks to reach full therapeutic effect.
This medication is generally used for acid indigestion, gas or heartburn.
What is Mylanta?
Doing this around the same time every day promotes a regular sleep schedule. In turn your body learns when it is time. Even if it means on the weekends, your sleep will be better in the long term.
What is Keep a fixed bedtime and wake-up time.
Regular naps can help after sleep deprivation but may deter nighttime sleep. If you really feel the need to nap, do it before 3pm and keep it under an hour.
Your brain needs this to thrive, most adults need 7 or more a night?
What is sleep?
Going to bed and waking up at a similar time daily helps create healthy sleeping habits.
"I will become an emotionless zombie if I take psychiatric medications."
MYTH!
Taking psychiatric medications will not turn someone into a mindless, emotionless zombie, nor will they cause their personality to change or turn them into someone they are not. If changes like this were to happen, they would be seen as an undesirable side effect that would prompt a change in medication. The goal of medication is to improve problem symptoms not create new ones!
This class of medications increase one's alertness and attention and are frequently used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Possible side effects include loss of appetite, headache, motor or verbal tics and personality changes such as appearing emotionless.
What are stimulants?
Stimulants are generally effective and produce a calming effect when used appropriately. There is a potential for abuse related to high feelings. Examples include lisdexamfetamine(Vyvanse), dextroamphetamine-amphetamine(Adderall), and methylphenidate(Ritalin). Additionally, stimulants may be associated with growth restriction and sleep disturbance; thus, both should be monitored.
This medication is in the same class as a Benadryl, but don't be fooled! We are offering it for different reasons. It reduces activity in the central nervous system. General uses are anxiety, nausea and vomiting, pruritus, sedation. Common side effects can include drowsiness, headache, dry mouth.
What is hydroxyzine (Atarax)?
Falling asleep is harder if you are worrying or thinking about emotional things. Set aside a few minutes before bed to do this instead!
What is make a worry list
List everything you want to remember tomorrow, including worries themselves. You can worry about them tomorrow just not right now!
Avoiding these two kinds of things aid in not increasing anxiety?
What are alcohol and drugs?
Although they may feel like a temporary relief, alcohol and recreational drugs are known to increase anxiety and negative thoughts as they effect serotonin and other chemicals in your body/brain.
MYTH!
Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Psychiatric medications are neurochemicals. Their effects on the central nervous system happen at the cellular level, and these changes take time for their efforts to be seen and felt. As an example, I commonly tell patients that it takes two to four weeks before the effects of most antidepressants or antianxiety medications are seen. This means that both patience and persistence in taking the medication are necessary to get a desired outcome.
This class of medication is used to treat psychosis and schizophrenia with symptoms of delusions, hallucinations and disorganized behavior. Also treats negative symptoms like deficits in emotional, cognitive or social experiences. Individual medication side effects may change depending on the drug of choice, however abnormal movements can occur with the use of these medications and should be reported.
What are antipsychotics?
Common examples of these medications are haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone.
This medication is an antidepressant but is used to help you sleep at lower doses. Common side effects can include drowsiness, swelling, blurred vision, stuffy nose.
What is Trazodone?
If you cant sleep after 20+ minutes, do this...
What is get up and try again!
Actively trying to fall asleep can just frustrate you, preventing sleep. Get up and read something boring, sit and mentally list category items, don't do anything too interesting. Once you're sleepy, go to bed and try to sleep.
Research revealed an association between higher levels of anxiety and this kind of diet?
What is unhealthy (high fat/ refined sugars) diet?
The study below shows the correlation between unhealthy eating (high in fats and refined sugars) to an increase in anxiety and even depression.
Diet and Anxiety: A Scoping Review - PMC (nih.gov)
"If I take those medications, I will get addicted to them"
MYTH!
While it is true there are a small number of medications used by psychiatrists that do have a potential for addiction, psychiatrists are very careful when prescribing them and monitor them very closely. The overwhelming majority of psychiatric medications used today are not dependence making drugs. After all physicians want to improve problems for patients not make them worse!
These medications are used to treat bipolar disorder, and at times, depression, schizoaffective disorder, and disorders of impulse control. Differing medications come with differing side effects.
What are Mood Stabilizers?
Common examples are lithium, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, valproic acid
This medication is antipsychotic medication that can be used to assist with symptoms of agitation. This can include disturbing hallucinations, paranoia, or loss of emotional control. Common side effects include drowsiness and for this reason is offered only when necessary.
These substances activate neurobiological systems and metabolization that maintain wakefulness. Avoid them 4-6 hours before bed.
What is avoid caffeine and alcohol?
Alcohol requires metabolization and this physiological arousal can fragment sleep, despite seeming to induce sleepiness initially.
What is the top coping skill for anxiety?
DAILY DOUBLE !!!! What is mindfulness based cognitive therapy? (MBCT such as yoga/ relaxation/ meditation techniques)