Psychiatry Questions …Answered!

In these trying times, looking after our mental health is more important than ever. While therapy has become more accepted, some people still feel trepidation when it comes to medication, treatment and side effects. To help, we asked DR JACOB RAJESH from Promises Healthcare to provide an honest take on all of these things.

- Dinesh Ajith

What are some commonly used psychiatric medications?

Depression is a very common disorder, affecting between five to ten percent of people, so we use antidepressants quite often. The medications we’ve been using for the past 25 years are called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These newer generation drugs have much fewer side effects than those used in the past.

They do have some side effects though, the most common being gastric distress, nausea, headaches and insomnia. Some people also report sexual dysfunction and decreased libido. However, these side effects can be managed once the medication and dose is adjusted. SSRIs are usually more tolerated than older antidepressants.

Another group of drugs is the antipsychotics, which are used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. The second-generation antipsychotics have fewer side effects than older ones, along with fewer cognitive effects and extrapyramidal side effects such as causing tremors or stiffness. However, side effects such as weight gain, increased blood sugar and increased cholesterol can occur with some of these drugs; these side effects need to be screened for on a regular basis.

Is psychiatric medication an alternative to therapy? Or do they work hand in hand?

Medication and therapy usually work hand in hand. Being medication-compliant is another important part of the mental health recovery treatment as it helps bring stabilisation to the chemical and biological changes in the sufferer that cause the disorder.