Medications
This is the general term for the drugs that are prescribed by a doctor or a prescriber to treat the symptoms of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
What is medication?
These are the unwanted or unpleasant effects that some medications may cause.
What are side effects?
This is the person who is authorized to prescribe medications for mental health and substance use disorders.
Who is a prescriber?
These are the positive outcomes that medications can help achieve
easing symptoms, preventing relapse, or improving quality of life.
This is the name of the program that helps people with mental health and substance use problems to cope with their symptoms and achieve their personal recovery goals
What is E-IMR?
These are the two types of names that medications often have: one based on their chemical structure and one given by the manufacturer.
What are generic and brand names?
These are the two types of side effects that medications may have: one that occurs right away and one that develops over time.
What are acute and chronic side effects?
This is the best way to communicate your needs and concerns to your prescriber about your medications.
What is asking questions?
These are some of the benefits of taking antipsychotics, such as reducing these symptoms of psychosis or mania.
What are hearing voices, seeing or feeling things that aren’t there, paranoia, worrisome thoughts, thinking problems, decreased need for sleep, feeling “high” for no reason, irritability, unrealistic or “grandiose” plans or beliefs about oneself, racing thoughts or rapid speech, increased goal-directed behavior, or involvement in activities with high risk of negative consequences?
This is a tool that explains how biological factors and stress influence the development and relapse of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
What is the Stress-Vulnerability Model?
These are some of the ways to learn about your medications
What are reading your pill bottle or talking to a pharmacist?
These are some of the tips on how to cope with or reduce side effects, such as monitoring and reporting them, following these instructions from your prescriber, using these reminders to take your medication on time, seeking this kind of support from others, or challenging these negative beliefs about yourself or your medication.
What are monitoring and reporting side effects, following the prescriber’s instructions, using medication reminders, seeking social support, or challenging negative beliefs?
This is an example of a question you can ask your prescriber to understand how your medication works.
What is how does this medication work? Or what is what are the benefits and risks of this medication? Or what is how long will I need to take this medication? Or what is how will I know if this medication is working? Or what is what are the possible side effects of this medication? Or what is how can I cope with or reduce the side effects?
These are some of the benefits of taking antipsychotics
What are brain chemistry, brain functioning, mood, cognition, behavior, and physical health?
This is an example of a skill you can learn through E-IMR to pursue your personal recovery goals and improve your quality of life.
What is building social support? Or what is using medication effectively? Or what is drug and alcohol use? Or what is reducing relapses? Or what is coping with stress? Or what is coping with problems and persistent symptoms? Or what is getting your needs met by the mental health system? Or what is pursuing meaningful activities?
These are some of the ways to take medications, such as swallowing them, getting a shot, or holding them under your tongue.
What are oral, injection, or sublingual?)
These are some of the common side effects of antipsychotics
What are weight gain, fatigue, or tardive dyskinesia?
This is an example of a statement you can use to express your preferences or concerns to your prescriber about your medication.
What is I am feeling better/worse since taking this medication? Or what is I am having trouble taking this medication as prescribed? Or what is I would like to change or stop taking this medication? Or what is I am worried about the side effects or interactions of this medication? Or what is I have some questions or doubts about this medication?
These are some of the factors that can affect how medications work in your body
What are drug interactions, metabolism, or genetics?
This is the name of the module that covers the topic of the role of medications in the recovery process.
What is using medications effectively?
These are the five general classes of medications for mental health and substance use disorders.
What are mood stabilizing medications, antipsychotic medications, antidepressant medications, anti-anxiety medications, and substance use disorder medications?
These are some of the ways to identify and report side effects
What are using a side effect rating scale, filling out a side effect monitoring form, or calling a medication helpline?
These are some of the skills you can use to prepare for and participate in your appointments with your prescriber
What are making a list of questions, taking notes, asking for clarification, negotiating options, or requesting changes?
These are some of the things you can do to get the best results from your medication
What are following the prescriber’s directions, using medication reminders, seeking peer support, or combining medication with social support, coping skills, recovery skills, or therapy?
This is the name of the tool that helps you keep track of your progress and outcomes in your recovery journey
What is a goal tracking sheet?