Why is medication so important for mental health patients?

Sometimes therapy is just not enough. Sometimes patients are genetically low on a neurotransmitter such as serotonin, or norepinephrine or dopamine. The right medication can fix that and help the patient to feel better with medication in conjunction with their therapy.

Why your medications may not be working for you ?

Your medications may not be working for you for several reasons. First, you may not be on the right medications. There are not enough mental health providers to fill the gaps treating all of the mental health patients, so often primary care physicians help out with this dearth of providers and prescribe an antidepressant or an anxiolytic. It may not be the correct medicine for that patient based on their family history or their genetics. Second, the medication might not be at a dose that is therapeutic or high enough. Within the recommended daily doses, there is a lot of variability. If there is not proper follow-up, the patient might not get relief.

“I’ve seen many over-prescribed patients” and how I helped them?

Sometimes the diagnosis is not correct and a patient is put on the wrong medication. When that medication is not working and side effects occur, oftentimes the patient is given another medication to combat the side effects. This might be harming the patient and needs to be adjusted. A strong history and evaluation is always paramount when prescribing psychiatric medications. I have had several patients have fatty liver and large amounts of weight gain for being put on an antipsychotic medication, without any psychosis or truly defined mania. I have tapered these clients successfully and their liver function tests returned to normal.

My philosophy on prescribing medication?

My philosophy on prescribing medication is very simple. Not everyone needs medication, but those who do should have the right medication at the right dose, tailored to their specific genetics in order to be treated in the best and fastest way possible while avoiding as many side effects as possible. I am very scientific in my approach.