How Can Medication Help With Mental Illness?
Medication may help when tackling various types of mental illness. This post delves into types of medication recommended for different mental illnesses and how to obtain them.
Depression
Those with moderate to severe depression may benefit from taking antidepressants. These typically come in pill form and are prescribed by a doctor. Different antidepressants work in different ways. The most commonly prescribed are SSRIs which affect mood by allowing serotonin to more freely pass messages between nerve cells.
Antidepressants do not work for everyone - some people report feeling emotionally numb when using them or may experience other side effects. It’s worth trying different brands and different types of antidepressant as some may work better than others. A few commonly prescribed SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Lustral), paroxetine (Seroxat), citalopram (Cipramil) and escitalopram (Cipralex).
Anxiety
Moderate to severe anxiety may also be treatable by taking medication. Antidepressants such as SSRIs are often effective against both depression and anxiety - if you suffer from both you’ll most likely be prescribed these by a doctor. However, there are various forms of medication that may be prescribed in other cases including sedatives like diazepam.
Many forms of herbal medication can actually be very effective at easing mild to moderate anxiety by reducing cortisol levels - these can be bought over the counter at any herbal pharmacy. Examples include valerian, ashwagandha, CBD, kava and chamomile.
Addiction
Addiction can be both a physical and mental disease. When it comes to severe substance disorders, medication may be prescribed as a way to help people manage withdrawal symptoms, preventing a relapse. Certain forms of medication can even be used to save someone’s life during an overdose and so are worth knowing about.
Naltrexone can be administered by pill or injection and is one of the most effective drugs for fighting withdrawal symptoms - it is most commonly used to fight withdrawal symptoms caused by opioid drugs like cocaine and heroin, however it can even be used to battle alcohol withdrawal. Naloxone is another drug that is sometimes confused with naltrexone, which can help to save someone’s life during an opioid overdose - this article by Mike Smeth explains more about this medication. Other types of medication may be recommended for other types of substance addiction.
Bipolar
Unlike depression and anxiety, bipolar disorder is typically not treated with antidepressants - in fact this medication can make things worse. Mood stabilizers such as lithium or valproic acid are more commonly prescribed. These can have side effects, however they are generally effective. You may be advised not to drink alcohol if you’re taking lithium.
Antipsychotic medications may be prescribed in some instances, sometimes alongside mood stabilizers like lithium or valproic acid. This post at Help Guide has more in depth information on these types of medication.
Schizophrenia
Medication can be one of the best ways to treat schizophrenia. Antipsychotic medications come in many forms including pills, liquids and injections. They are prescribed by a doctor.
Medication falls into two categories: ‘first generation’ and ‘second generation’ antipsychotics. Both can be very effective, however the former type of medication is known to have greaters side effects. Some doctors may avoid prescribing first generation antipsychotics for this reason, although there may be instances where they are the best remedy.
