Psychotropics: Should You Be On Them And Are They Effective?

Everyone copes with mental illness differently. You might work alongside a therapist, get prescription medication from a doctor, or rely on several different tactics to manage your symptoms. 

If you’ve never been prescribed medication before, you may not know what to expect. You might also wonder which situations and conditions can benefit from medication. Here, we’ll be exploring the usefulness and effectiveness of psychotropics. Deciding whether or not they’re right for you is something you can discuss in more detail with your medical provider.  

Are psychotropics right for me?

The term psychotropics refers to all drugs that can have an effect on the mind. While this does include certain illegal drugs, psychotropics prescribed by a doctor can be useful for certain individuals and specific conditions. 

Should you be on one of these medications? The answer depends on what type of condition you live with, its severity, and what other treatments are available to you. Talking to your medical provider can give you more insight into whether they might be right for you.

Do psychotropics work?

How effective are psychotropics? As mentioned, it depends on the type of mental illness, its severity, and why the drug is being prescribed. For instance, some people, including some in the mental health community, believe that psychotropics like antidepressants are overprescribed. They argue that for mild and moderate depression, psychotropic medications have little effect in comparison with other treatments.

In other cases, medicine is an integral component of treatment that helps a person lead a stable life. For those with major depression and other serious conditions, they can be a lifesaver. Often, mental illnesses can be managed more effectively with a combination of treatments. Medication is not the only way to combat mental illness; it is only one of several tools in the toolbox.

Psychiatric medications can also be used as an important stop-gap treatment. When a person first seeks treatment, medication may be prescribed alongside another avenue of treatment, as part of a two-pronged plan of attack, to alleviate the worst of the symptoms more quickly than therapy or other psychological treatments alone. How much and how long a person will be on medication is between them and their doctor.

Many psychiatric medications take weeks to build up enough in a person's system to exhibit a noticeable effect. Sometimes, therapy is more effective in the long run. However, it all comes back to the facts of the individual case. Only a competent ot all mental health professionals have the understanding or ability to give advice on medication types or doctor can make the safest recommendations. Always speak with a medical provider before deciding to start a new medication, no matter what kind it is.

Types of psychotropics

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), psychotropics are categorized into a few main categories. These include 

• Anti-anxiety medications
• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Mood stabilizers
• Stimulants 

For the most part, these categories are self-explanatory. Anti-anxiety medications are used to treat anxiety disorders; antipsychotics are primarily used to treat psychosis symptoms that manifest in people living with schizophrenia or mania related to bipolar disorder. However, the use of these medications does sometimes overlap.

Reasons not to take psychotropics

Individuals can have many different reasons why they don’t want to or cannot physically take psychotropic drugs. 

To start, side effects could be a serious concern. While not everyone who takes psychotropic medication experiences negative side effects, some do. Side effects can be relatively harmless, or they can be extreme and life-threatening. The more serious side effects of certain medications include hallucinations or an increase in suicidal thoughts. When a person is experiencing severe side effects, their doctor may recommend that they discontinue taking the medication that causing them.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text 988 to talk to someone over SMS. Support is available 24/7.

Another common reason people stop taking medication for mental illness or avoid going on medication is that people with mental illness often don't realize or find it difficult to accept that they do have a mental illness. This is so common, in fact, that there is a term to describe it; according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), anosognosia refers to instances where a person is "unaware of their mental health condition." Anosognosia occurs particularly frequently in individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. It is difficult to accept treatment if you're not convinced there is something that needs to be treated.

People might also worry about what the medication will do to them in a more general or personal sense. They may not know how to separate the mental illness from themselves, and they worry that by taking psychotropics they'll lose part of themselves that makes them who they are. 

All of these factors can be valid reasons why someone might steer clear of medication.

Addressing concerns about psychotropics

If your main concern is unwanted side effects, this should be discussed with your doctor. It’s difficult to get the correct prescription immediately, as everyone reacts to medication differently. Therefore, your doctor may recommend other medications that can be prescribed to you, or your dosage can be changed. Genetic testing can also help doctors decide what medications will be more effective based on the person's genetic disposition.

However, under no circumstances should you stop taking a medication without medical guidance. Aside from the potential return of the underlying condition, stopping a medication too suddenly can induce unpleasant and even harmful physical symptoms. 

Anosognosia should be approached with sensitivity by a professional. You may feel that a loved one is in need of treatment and want to seek help for them, but unless a person is a danger to themselves or others, an adult will not normally be forced to seek treatment involuntarily, whether that treatment includes psychotropic medication or not. Consider gently encouraging them to seek help on their own by highlighting the fact that you do not need to be mentally ill to attend therapy, and that therapy can be helpful to anyone.

Those worried about medication altering their personality should be encouraged to understand that they are a person apart from their mental illness. The purpose of medication is to suppress the aspects of their mental illness that make it difficult for them to live a full life. Essentially, medication can help them become more of themselves.

Who should prescribe psychotropics

A primary care doctor can prescribe psychotropic medication. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners or Psychiatric Physician Assistants can also prescribe them. 

The decision to go on psychotropic medication is one you will have to make with a trusted psychiatrist. Mental Health or Behavioral Health practitioners can also provide the same services. All medications have associated side effects, some more severe than others. Dosages also differ. If you discuss your doubts with your doctor, they can assuage them, address them, or help you find another way.

Online therapy with BetterHelp

Living with a mental health condition can make it more difficult to live life to the fullest. While prescribed medication may be one option to consider, you may also consider participating in online therapy through BetterHelp or another medium. The treatment provided on BetterHelp does not and cannot include the prescription of drugs. However, online therapy can be an effective supplement alongside medication prescribed by another doctor or even utilized on its own.

Certain mental health disorders can make it hard to get out of bed, drive a car, or even leave your home at all. With online therapy from BetterHelp, you can get sessions from the comfort of your home. If you’ve recently been prescribed medication, you may not know what to expect. Having a therapist you can message throughout the day as doubts, concerns, or questions arise can make your healing journey feel safer.

Efficacy of online therapy

Online therapy can be beneficial to those experiencing a mental health condition whether they’re on medication or not. One study showed how internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy was just as effective as face-to-face CBT. In this study, those with depression and anxiety disorders found that their symptoms became more manageable while participating in the online program.