Mental Health Medications: What You Should Know
Important Takeaways
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Finding the Right Treatment Takes Time: If school or relationships are feeling overwhelming, mental health medications like antidepressants (like SSRIs) can help you cope, but finding the perfect match requires patience since they usually take a few weeks to fully kick in.
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Combining Medication and Therapy Works Best: Working with a doctor or psychiatrist to combine your prescription with talk therapy is the most effective way to manage severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, ADHD, or bipolar disorder.
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Track Side Effects and Stay Safe: It is completely normal to experience early side effects as your body adjusts, but you should always take your doses exactly as directed and never stop taking your medication suddenly without your healthcare provider’s guidance.
By Lauren Krouse
Taking medication is a common way to help manage mental health conditions. If you’re considering medication as a treatment option, you may have questions about how you’ll know if it’s working or worry about potential side effects.
You’re not alone in this process. Here’s what you need to know about mental health medications, so you can better understand your options and can work with a mental health professional to make informed decisions about your care.
When to Consider Medication
Medication may be a good idea if mental health challenges are impacting your ability to manage at school, at work, or in your relationships. It may also be helpful if other approaches, such as therapy and stress management techniques, haven’t provided enough relief. If you’re struggling with symptoms of a condition such as depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), medication could also be a beneficial part of an overall treatment plan.
The first step to determining whether medication is right for you is to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider, therapist, or psychiatrist. Therapists can help diagnose a mental health condition, talk to you about your treatment options, start working with you in sessions, and refer you to a psychiatrist for medication management if necessary. Primary care providers sometimes prescribe mental health medications. They may also refer you to a psychiatrist for more specialized support.
At your appointment, you’ll discuss your symptoms, how long you’ve experienced them, and how they’ve affected your daily life. From there, you will work with your provider to create a treatment plan that may involve medication.
Research and organizations like the American Psychological Association suggest that the combination of medication and therapy may offer the best results for people struggling with symptoms of depression and other mental health conditions, especially if your symptoms are severe. Be sure to review the risks and benefits of any medication with your provider.
Different Types of Mental Health Medications
Antidepressants
Medications commonly called “antidepressants” can treat symptoms of depression and a number of other conditions, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and OCD. These medications work by changing the way your brain interacts with chemicals, called neurotransmitters, that regulate your mood and behavior.
The most common antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known as SSRIs. They are often prescribed first because they are well-researched and tend to cause fewer side effects than older medications like tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Other categories of commonly prescribed antidepressants are serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs).
SSRI drugs can take four to six weeks to cause noticeable changes in your symptoms. Common side effects of antidepressants are nausea (which typically goes away within a few days) and sexual side effects, including a decreased interest in sex or a harder time having orgasms. Treatment for these antidepressant side effects is available.
It’s also important to be careful not to drink too much while on an SSRI medication because they can increase the effects of alcohol, making you feel much more intoxicated than you would without them.
Anti-Anxiety Medications
Many antidepressants, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, can also be used to treat anxiety. You can take these long-term without becoming dependent on them (i.e., addicted).
There are also anti-anxiety medications that help ease anxiety and panic symptoms in the moment. The most common type is benzodiazepines (sometimes referred to as “benzos”). Benzodiazepines work by increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA, which helps you feel calm.
Benzodiazepines are fast-acting and provide quick relief from severe anxiety, but they are typically prescribed for short-term or occasional use (once a month, a few times a year) to prevent tolerance and dependence. Taking them more frequently may actually make anxiety worse because your body can get used to them and begin to need more to feel the same effects.
Mood Stabilizers
Mood stabilizers are used to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder, such as depression and mania. More research is needed to fully understand how mood stabilizers work, but scientists believe they may help balance neurotransmitters in the brain. While it’s common to take mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder, they can be prescribed for other conditions, such as personality disorders.
Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics are prescribed to treat psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and speaking, that may be part of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, or severe depression. They can also sometimes be used to increase the effectiveness of antidepressants.
Antipsychotic medications work by changing the amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine in certain areas of the brain.
When you are taking antipsychotic medication, your health care provider will work with you to slowly adjust your dosage, balancing effectiveness against potential side effects, such as weight gain, stiff movements, or feelings of restlessness. You’ll also regularly monitor your glucose and cholesterol levels, as antipsychotics may cause these to increase.
Considerations When Taking Mental Health Medication
Take as Directed
Your mental health medication will be most effective when you take it as directed by your provider. That might mean taking it at certain times, with or without food, or gradually increasing your dose. Do your best to follow these directions. If you’re having trouble remembering to take your medication, try setting reminders on your phone or leaving visual reminders. For example, you might store your medication in your bathroom cabinet and leave a sticky note on the mirror reminding you to take it.
If you no longer want to take your medication, contact your provider to ensure you taper down the dose if needed to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Combine Medications and Other Substances Safely
Different mental health medications can be taken together to increase their effectiveness or treat a group of symptoms. It’s essential to combine medications only under your provider’s care. Be sure to let them know about everything you’re taking, including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, drugs like marijuana or cocaine, and vitamins and supplements. Sharing this information is crucial to prevent potentially harmful drug interactions and ensure your treatment plan is safe and effective.
Keep Track of Side Effects
It is normal to experience some side effects when first starting a medication. Your provider should give you an idea of expected side effects and how long they may last. If you begin having unexpected side effects, or normal side effects are lasting longer than they should, keep a log of this information and contact your provider.
How Can You Tell If a Medication Is Working?
It can take days, weeks, or months for antidepressants and other medications to be fully effective. Your provider will tell you what to expect when you start medication and how long it will take to notice a difference in your symptoms.
When enough time has passed, you can ask yourself some questions to determine if the medication is helping you:
- Is it easier for me to manage stress than it was before I started taking this medication?
- Are my symptoms less frequent and less intense?
- Is it easier to keep up with daily tasks and responsibilities?
- How am I sleeping?
- How are my energy levels?
- What are my relationships and social interactions like?
You may need to try multiple medications before you find the right one for you. Consider tracking your symptoms and progress in a journal to assist you in conversations with your provider so that you can work together to determine if your medication is a good fit.
How Long Should You Stay on Mental Health Medication?
Many people wonder if starting mental health medication means you have to take it forever. The short answer is: It depends on your situation.
Some mental health conditions, like bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders, are best treated with long-term medication management. In other situations, medication may help you cope during a challenging time, such as a depressive episode, and eventually become something you no longer need.
As your life changes, your symptoms and your medication needs can change too. You might need to increase or lower your dosage, add another medication, switch to an alternative, or taper off medication with your provider’s guidance.
Never stop medication abruptly without asking your provider if it’s safe, as stopping some medications can cause uncomfortable, and sometimes even life-threatening, withdrawal symptoms. Always consult with your health care provider before making any changes, even if that means contacting them between appointments.
Moving Forward
Deciding to take mental health medication can be many things: brave, smart, practical, essential, normal. While it can take time to find the right treatment for you, the journey is worth it. Medication can be a part of a comprehensive mental health care plan that allows you to live a healthy, fulfilling life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if mental health medication is right for me?
If mental health challenges are making it tough to handle school, work, or your relationships, or if habits like stress management and therapy aren’t giving you enough relief, medication might be a helpful tool. The best first step is to talk openly about your symptoms with a trusted primary care provider, therapist, or psychiatrist to see what options fit your life.
What are the most common types of mental health medications for teens?
Doctors frequently prescribe antidepressants like SSRIs to treat depression and anxiety, as well as fast-acting anti-anxiety medications for short-term panic relief. Depending on your specific symptoms, healthcare providers might also discuss mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder or antipsychotics to help balance brain chemicals like dopamine.
How long does it take for antidepressants and other mental health meds to work?
It is completely normal not to feel a difference right away, as everyday antidepressants like SSRIs typically take four to six weeks to noticeably improve your symptoms. Other treatments might work faster or slower, so keeping a daily symptom journal can help you and your doctor track your energy, sleep, and stress levels over time.
What should I do if I experience side effects from my medication?
Experiencing mild, early side effects like nausea is very common when starting a new prescription, and your doctor will tell you exactly what to look out for. If your side effects don’t go away or feel unexpected, write them down and contact your healthcare provider instead of changing your dose on your own.
Is it safe to stop taking my mental health medication if I feel better?
You should never stop taking your medication abruptly because doing so can cause highly uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms. If you want to change or stop your treatment, always work with your doctor first so they can help you safely and gradually taper off your dose.
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