Medication

Medication is used to treat symptoms, not specific disorders. The different classes of medicines used by psychiatrists and other physicians are antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety medications. Sometimes the way a medication is classified can be a little misleading. For instance, many of the antipsychotic medications treat symptoms other than psychosis, and in recent years, medications that were developed to treat seizure disorders have been found to be effective mood stabilizers. In addition, medications are often used in combinations to treat the variety of symptoms a person has.

As with any medication, it is important to have good communication with the prescribing physician. The patient and family need to know about the benefits and risks of a particular medication, and possible side effects. With good communication, physicians can help manage side effects by adjusting dosages, prescribing additional medications to counteract the unwanted effects, or changing medications. With medications, it is important to weigh the benefits of the medications against the sometimes unpleasant side effects.