When an adolescent is suffering from a mental health disorder, the effects are far-reaching and can impact all areas of daily functioning. adolescents suffering from mental health disorders such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD, or trauma often demonstrate behavioral issues. When your adolescent’s symptoms become significantly disruptive, it is common for doctors or psychiatrists to prescribe medications. Managing medication for mental health treatment with your adolescent can be challenging.
At Beyond Healthcare, our expert team of adolescent and family therapists understands the fears parents and adolescents can have surrounding the use of medications for mental health issues. We spend the time you need to understand all of the pros and cons of different medications and help you make the best decision for your adolescent and family. Call 833.698.0453 to discover how we can help your adolescent and family with medication management and more.
Understanding Medication Management
One of the most important things to understand about childhood mental health disorders is that medications are not always needed. Unfortunately, some doctors and psychiatrists will immediately recommend medications as a “quick fix” to manage your adolescent’s mental health or behavioral symptoms.
At Beyond Healthcare, we know there is no such thing as a “quick fix,” and we provide parents with all of the information they need to make an informed decision about whether or not their adolescent needs medications. Our team of experts in the field has a thorough knowledge of the benefits and potential risks of medication for mental health with adolescents, and we will walk you through every step.
Medication management involves:
- Initial evaluation of the adolescent’s needs
- Review of the adolescent’s medical history
- Evaluation of other medications and potential interactions
- Ongoing monitoring of effectiveness
- Adjusting dosages as needed
- Education about all prescribed medications
- Support in ensuring that medications are taken as prescribed
The Beyond Healthcare team recognizes parents’ concerns surrounding their adolescent’s medications. We work with you to closely monitor how your adolescent responds to medications and make modifications when necessary.
The Importance of Medication Management for Adolescents
When your adolescent is diagnosed with a mental health disorder, they may likely have been prescribed medications to help manage their symptoms. Medications are often prescribed for adolescents and teens who suffer from conditions including:
- ADHD
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar disorder
- PTSD
As a parent, you may struggle with getting your adolescent to take medications as prescribed for several reasons. Unfortunately, some medications have side effects, including changes in appetite, headaches, stomachaches, insomnia, jitteriness, or lethargy.
A medication management program can help your adolescent understand the need for their medications and discover ways to manage potential side effects. Additionally, they will learn how their medications help them manage the challenges of daily life. Through medication management, your adolescent can also discover that improving life skills and effective coping mechanisms might help reduce their reliance on medications for mental health.
Questions to Ask About Medication for Mental Health Treatment
Many people are afraid to question medical professionals. At Beyond Healthcare, we encourage you to ask questions so that you are thoroughly knowledgeable about your adolescent’s diagnosis and course of treatment. Regarding medication, having answers to these questions can help you feel informed about your decisions:
- How will this medication help my adolescent?
- How soon will the medication begin to work?
- Is this medication addictive?
- What are the potential side effects of this medication?
- How will you monitor my adolescent’s progress on this medication?
- How long will my adolescent need to use this medication?
Having your adolescent be involved in the conversation about potential medications is often crucial to them being on board with taking prescribed medications. Particularly with older adolescents and teens, allowing them to have a voice in the process fosters their engagement.
Learn More About Medication Management by Calling Beyond Healthcare
At Beyond Healthcare, we know that mental health disorders are only one part of effective treatment. If we determine that your adolescent can benefit from medication as part of their mental health treatment, we will work with them and your family to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. Call us at 833.698.0453 to learn more about medication management.
