Many psychiatric disorders will require a two-pronged approach for successful treatment: medication combined with therapy or counseling. An APRN can prescribe medication to help with anything from ADHD to anxiety to depression. Medication management is a vital part of this equation, as not all medications will be received or tolerated by patients in the same way.

That’s why monitoring medications, their side effects, and their possible interactions with other medications is critical. A big part of what psychiatrists do is provide psychiatric medication management and assessment.

What to Expect from our Prescriber’s

When you first see Dr. Spencer, she will perform an initial checkup called an assessment, which will include an overview of your symptoms and collection of your medical history. A determination will then be made about whether or not the medication is a viable option for treating your particular mental health disorder.

Based on this assessment, she will then make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan designed with your specific needs in mind. The decision is ultimately up to the patient. If it is decided to move forward with this option, various medications, possible side effects, and proper dosages will be discussed.

It’s important to note that not all patients and not all psychiatric problems require medicine. However, there are many instances where prescription medicines are the best way to relieve symptoms for the patient.

Medication can be an effective part of the treatment of many mental illnesses such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Panic
• Sleep problems
• ADHD
• Schizophrenia