About Medication Management

Medication Management & Addiction Services

Help Navigating Challenges

IHC Associates offers Psychiatric Evaluation, Psychiatric Medication Management and Addiction Management services. We are not a psychiatric clinic that focuses solely on medication. We provide a suite of comprehensive services. We are here to assist you if you are interested in psychiatric medications or addiction management. Click here to schedule.

Many psychiatric and addiction disorders benefit from a two-pronged approach for successful treatment: medication combined with therapy or counseling. Counseling is not required for Medication management services, but it is strongly encouraged. Medication management is a vital part of this equation, as not all medicines will be received or tolerated by patients in the same way. Our provider can prescribe medication to help with anything from ADHD to Anxiety to Depression.

A big part of what Psychiatric Medicine providers do is provide psychiatric medication management and assessment. It can seem pretty scary, especially if you’ve never taken such medications before or have taken them before but experienced unpleasant side effects. That’s why monitoring medications, their side effects, and their possible interactions with other medicines is critical.

There can certainly be a lot of unknowns; however, understanding how a Psychiatric Medicine provider can help you and genuinely knowing what medication management means is vital to feeling comfortable and at ease with the recommended treatment plan.

Mental well-being is connected to our overall physical health. Stress and trauma can leave us feeling anxious, hopeless, and overwhelmed. When these feelings go untreated for long periods, significant psychological and physical illnesses can result. In addition, associated behaviors can become addictive and destructive.

That’s why it’s equally important to have regular physicals and checkups from your primary care physician. The other part of the equation is getting regular mental health checkups.

 

What to Expect

When you first see your psychiatric practitioner, they will perform a first checkup called an assessment, which will include an overview of your symptoms and a collection of your medical history. A determination will then be made about whether or not the medication is a practical choice for treating your particular mental health disorder.

Based on this assessment, the doctor will then diagnose and develop a treatment plan with your specific needs in mind. If it is decided to move forward with this choice, various medications, possible side effects, and proper dosages will be discussed. The decision is ultimately up to the patient.

Initially, the medication will be prescribed for a trial period to observe and monitor its effectiveness. This trial period is where the “medication management” part of psychiatric care comes into play. If the treatment meets the patient’s goals, the patient will be recommended to keep moving forward. However, different medications affect brain chemistry differently, so not everyone will respond well to a particular prescription.

If the patient experiences disturbing side effects, a different medication may be prescribed along with other changes. Sometimes it can take work with your provider to find the right cure.

In addition to medication, IHC Associates offers other forms of treatment such as counseling, life management skills, and behavioral therapies to help. Your psychiatric provider will carefully monitor these components to ensure the best blend for the patient’s mental health.

It’s important to note that not all patients and or psychiatric problems require medicine. However, there are many instances where prescription medicines are the best way to relieve symptoms for the patient. Medication can be a practical part of the treatment of many mental illnesses, such as:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Panic
  • Sleep problems
  • ADHD

Contact Us Today

If you are experiencing mental health issues and wish to discuss whether mediation is a good choice, please get in touch with us today for help. Medication management visits require an hour for the first visit and 30 minutes for later visits. During your appointment, your psychiatric provider will review your medication’s benefits and side effects and adjust as needed. Counseling and psychotherapy may also be recommended depending on your specific issue.