Understanding medication for mental health

Doctors commonly offer medication to treat some mental health problems. You might feel scared or overwhelmed by this, but certain drugs can improve your symptoms over time. It's important to understand what medication is before considering taking it.

You're not alone, and our information is here to help you. We're here to explain what psychiatric medication for mental health is all about.

I quickly realised that taking medication would give me the boost I needed to get myself out of this seemingly dark and bottomless hole.

What is psychiatric medication?

The general term for drugs that treat mental health problems is psychiatric medication. You might also hear them called ‘psych meds’, ‘psychiatric drugs’ or ‘medication for mental health’.

Psychiatric medication includes all drugs which doctors can prescribe to:

• Treat different types of mental health problems
• Reduce the symptoms of mental health problems
• Stop mental health problems and symptoms returning, which you might hear called ‘relapse’

Whether or not a doctor offers medication usually depends on:

• Your diagnosis
• Your symptoms
• How severely your mental health problem affects you

Medication is not the only option. There are lots of other treatments to help with symptoms, which your doctor might offer instead of medication. Or they might prescribe it at the same time as another treatment, like therapy or counselling.

My reluctance to take any medication stemmed from the thought that it was like admitting something was wrong and accepting that I couldn't help myself.

Who can prescribe psychiatric medication?

In most cases, either your GP or a psychiatrist will prescribe psychiatric medication. But some nurses and pharmacists can also do this.

Who prescribes your medication might depend on:

• The type of medication you need
• How long you've been taking it already
• How long your prescription will need to last

For example, you might get your first prescription from a psychiatrist while a mental health team monitors your progress. But once you get used to the medication, your GP might arrange for you to get repeat prescriptions.

You might also be able to order repeat prescriptions online through the NHS. For more information, visit the NHS website.

I began taking my medication, and the dosage was increased after 2 weeks and then again after a month. During this time, the GP kept checking in to see how I was getting on, if I felt like my meds were working, and if there was anything else he could do. Since then, things have improved massively.

What types of psychiatric medication are there?

There are 4 main types of psychiatric medication which doctors might prescribe. These are:

• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Lithium and mood stabilisers
• Sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers

Find out more about why you might take each type:

After, some hesitation I decided to seek advice from my doctor who advised me to start taking antidepressants. I was also prescribed a beta blocker to take as and when my anxiety peaked.

Forms of psychiatric medication

When your doctor prescribes a type of medication for mental health, it could come in any of these forms:

• Tablets or capsules. These are a very common form of medication. You can take these with some water. Your prescription will tell you how many to take and how often.
• Liquids. You might get a bottle of medicine to take orally, which you'll need to dose yourself. Usually you get a spoon or can use the bottle cap to measure the dose.
• Depot injections. These long-acting injections usually contain antipsychotic medication. Normally a healthcare professional in a community setting will give you a depot injection. You'll never have to manage or administer these to yourself. We have more information about depot injections.
• Other forms. Depending on your treatment type and needs, some medication could come in alternate forms. For example a sticky plaster you keep on your skin, known as a transdermal patch. Or a spray that goes up your nose, called a nasal spray.

They put me on an antidepressant to help with my anxiety and panic attacks, and while the side effects were uncomfortable, they eventually balanced out.

Why do some medications have several names?

Some medications have a few different names, even though they're exactly the same. This is because every drug has at least 2 possible names:

• Generic name. This is the medical name which describes the active chemical in the drug. For example, ibuprofen is the generic name for a type of painkiller.
• Trade or brand name. This is a name chosen by companies which manufacture the drug. Any type of drug can have various trade names. For example, Nurofen and Brufen are both brand names for ibuprofen.

It's useful to find out the generic and trade names for the psychiatric medication your doctor offers. Different doctors or pharmacists might talk about the same medication using different names.

How long can I take medication for?

How long you can take medication depends on what mental health problems you experience, and how severely they affect your life:

• For some mental health problems, you might take medication for a short, specified time. For example, to help with an episode of psychosis or to manage insomnia.
• For other problems, you might take medication over a long period. For example, if your mental health problem keeps coming back, or symptoms are likely to return when you stop taking medication. This might be the case in diagnoses of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Your GP or psychiatrist should regularly review your medication and dose with you – even if you've taken it for a long time.

I think medication along with good counselling and other support can be good to get a person up and running, but for me, I believe I was taking medication for too long when it wasn't right for me.

Will I need to pay for medication?

To get prescription medication for mental health, you might need to pay depending on your income and where you live:

• In Wales, prescriptions are free for everyone.
• In England, you generally need to pay for prescriptions, but can get them for free in some cases.

NHS England has a tool to check if you're entitled to free prescriptions or other treatment costs. To use this tool, visit the NHS website.

I was in a Catch 22. I want to work, but I can't afford medication when I'm working. Then if I'm signed off, I can afford medication but I'm not working, which doesn't help my mental health.

Can I buy psychiatric medication online?

You can buy psychiatric medication from a registered online pharmacy if:

• You already have a valid prescription, such as from your GP or psychiatrist
• The prescription is made out specifically under your name

Buying medication online without a valid prescription can be very dangerous. If you buy from an unregistered pharmacy or an online shop that doesn't ask for a valid prescription, there are some serious risks:

• The drug might not have been manufactured properly or hygienically.
• The batch might be contaminated or unsafe for the public.
• You might get drugs that have the right active ingredient, but not the right dose.
• You might get drugs that contain a different substance to what you tried to buy. Or might not contain any of the substance you need.

Each pharmacy has a unique registration number, which should appear in the logo. You can use the number to check the pharmacy exists in the register on the GPC website.

Over time I started to feel more confident to talk about my condition and medication. And as I started to talk about it to friends and colleagues, I discovered that many of them were also taking antidepressants, which was a comfort to me.