Psychiatric medication management — starting a medication, adjusting one, or reviewing what you are already taking.
Medication is offered where it is clinically indicated. It is not the answer to everything and it is not a requirement of being treated here, but for many of the conditions we see it is the intervention with the best evidence behind it.
This is not the same as medication-assisted treatment. Medication management here means psychiatric medication — for depression, anxiety, and the other conditions we treat. Medication for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine, is covered on the Medication-Assisted Treatment page. Many people receive both.
What medication management includes
- Evaluation for whether psychiatric medication is appropriate for you at all
- Starting a medication, and continuing one you are already on where that remains appropriate
- Dose adjustments
- Monitoring whether it is working, and how you have responded
- Monitoring side effects
- Medication reconciliation — making sure the list of what you take is actually correct
- Checking for interactions between your medications
- Education about what you are taking and why
- Reviewing how you are getting on with taking it as prescribed
- Coordination with your pharmacy and your other providers, where you have authorized it
How decisions get made
Every medication decision is individual, and is made by an appropriately licensed prescribing provider based on your diagnosis, your symptoms, your medical history, what else you are taking, how you have responded so far, the risks, the benefits — and your own preferences.
That last one is not a courtesy. If you have had a bad experience with a particular medication, or you do not want to take something, say so. It changes the recommendation.
If you are already taking something
Bring the bottles, or a photograph of them, or a list — whatever you have. We will reconcile it against the record, check for interactions, and continue what is working rather than starting you over from nothing. Changing prescriber should not mean losing a medication that suits you.
Follow-up
Follow-up appointments are scheduled according to clinical need, and review your symptoms, how the medication is working, side effects, how you are managing to take it, any safety concerns, whether day-to-day functioning has improved, and progress against the goals in your treatment plan.
Appointments become more frequent when something changes — a new medication, a dose change, a period of instability or raised risk — and less frequent as things settle. Follow-up can be in person or by telehealth.
Getting started
Medication management follows an assessment and psychiatric evaluation — we do not prescribe without one. Call (859) 303-5794, walk in Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, or request a callback.