A client who is undergoing treatment may be prescribed medication for several different reasons. With psychiatric treatment, medication is often an additional tool to help clients feel better and progress towards better mental health. With addiction, some medications have been proven to help clients stay in recovery. Receiving treatment for addiction while taking medication is called Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
While you may be prescribed medication in treatment for various reasons, you may be wondering, “Is my medication working?”
Understanding Your Medication
It’s crucial to have an understanding of the side effects of your medication, proper dosages, the potentially dangerous drug interactions, and other things you might only learn from reading the bottle. At Alta Loma, medication education is just part of our treatment for helping clients continue taking their medication and receiving the best possible benefits from them.
5 Signs Your Medication Is Working
One concern that clients have when beginning a new medication is whether it’s actually working. Especially if you are skeptical about taking medications, you may be looking for an excuse to drop the medication and continue without it.
Before making a decision about discontinuing treatment, it’s always best to consult with your doctor and psychiatrist; however, you may run through this checklist to bring up in your next appointment with them. Five signs your medication is working include:
#1. Those receiving MAT will ideally experience fewer cravings and spend less time thinking about drugs or alcohol.
#2. You generally feel better, spend less time dwelling on negative thoughts, or are experiencing relief in your other mental and emotional symptoms.
#3. You have increased motivation, feel more able to participate in treatment, or are able to do things you haven’t been able to do in a long time.
#4. Making everyday decisions and fulfilling obligations seems easier. You don’t have to muster up impossible amounts of energy to do regular tasks.
#5. You are sleeping better than you have in a while. Sleep can be a fickle thing to try and attain, whether due to anxiety, depression, substance use, or other factors. Balancing out chemicals in the brain can work to put you closer to sleep equilibrium.
The Benefits of Medication in Treatment
Overall, the goal of medication in any treatment is to increase your quality of life. It’s not a miracle fix, but it will help you receive the benefits of therapy and make hard choices. If you’re experiencing positive changes in mood, physical pain, sleep, motivation, and symptoms, that’s an excellent sign that you’ve found a medication that works for you.
Medication-assisted treatment and mental health treatment, including medications, are meant to lessen symptom severity and increase treatment participation. At Alta Loma, we understand that the world of medications can be overwhelming, and you may be hesitant to get started. As part of our curriculum, we want to teach you how to manage your medication. Treatment at Alta Loma focuses on teaching you what you need to know to succeed outside of our facility, and medication may be a part of that. To learn more about our program, call (866) 457-3843.
