Medication Management

Medication management allows you to move past unwanted mental health symptoms and reconnect with yourself, finding improved, balanced mental health. At Gladwell LLC, a telehealth-based psychiatric and mental health practice in Renton, Washington, Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner Catherine Donnerstag, NP, manages medications and follows up with you to ensure your mental health benefits from taking them. Call the office or book online today to schedule a psychiatric evaluation or a medication checkup via telehealth. Telehealth services are available to patients in Maryland and Washington, with an on-site office opening in Seattle soon.

What is medication management? 

Medication management is a service that’s often necessary for people experiencing symptoms of mental illness. Various psychiatric medications serve several purposes, like increasing your attention or helping with mood regulation.

At Gladwell LLC, your provider carefully studies your medical history to determine the type of medication that may work best for you. There are numerous medicine classes, and specific options might be more effective for you than others.

Psychiatric medication will deliver its best results if you take it consistently and according to your provider’s instructions.

Which conditions can benefit from psychiatric medications? 

Not all people with a mental health diagnosis can benefit from taking medication. But plenty of drug types and options can treat various conditions. Many of them work by changing the chemistry in your brain in some way. Lifestyle changes can also help.

You might be prescribed medication as part of your treatment for:

• Mood disorders
• Anxiety 
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Schizophrenia spectrum

Your provider tells you when and how to take your medications when you get your prescription.

What happens during medication management follow-up visits? 

Your medication management telehealth visits usually last about 20-30 minutes. During these appointments, your provider checks in regarding medications you take to manage a disorder or condition. These appointments are separate from supportive therapy visits.

During your appointment, your provider checks your progress with treatment. She asks about your mental stability on the new medication, encouraging you to discuss the changes or side effects you’ve noticed since you started taking it.

Your answers to these questions prompt your provider to keep your drug and dosage the same, adjust the dosage, taper you off the medication, or start you on a new drug.

The purpose of medication checks is to ensure that you benefit from the prescribed drugs. Psychiatric medications can positively affect your thinking and mood, improving your overall health and quality of life.

For more information on medication management for general mental health, call Gladwell LLC or book your appointment online today, which is fast and convenient.