Medication Management & Tapering
Safe and evidence-based medication management with a goal of minimizing the role of medications in your mental health journey.
Psychiatric medication management is essential to mental health treatment for many people. Mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, physician assistants, and psychiatric nurse practitioners, play a crucial role in prescribing and monitoring medication for patients with mental health conditions.
Our Experienced Team
Nushama’s senior psychiatrist, Dr Phillip Romero, and his team of advanced practitioners have specialized education and training in mental health treatments. Our philosophy is that people were not put on this planet to suffer and there are a myriad of treatment modalities available to help people navigate the human experience.
Sometimes a little medicine goes a long way. Sometimes it is important and needed. We do feel that on occasion, the additional side effects of certain medications outweigh the benefits that they provide.
Once the diagnosis has been made through careful evaluation, then it can be decided if medication is needed – and in what amounts over what period.
Nushama’s senior psychiatrist, Dr Phillip Romero, and his team of advanced practitioners have specialized education and training in mental health treatments. Our philosophy is that people were not put on this planet to suffer and there are a myriad of treatment modalities available to help people navigate the human experience. Sometimes a little medicine goes a long way.
Sometimes it is important and needed. We do feel that on occasion, the additional side effects of certain medications outweigh the benefits that they provide.
Once the diagnosis has been made through careful evaluation, then it can be decided if medication is needed – and in what amounts over what period.
Medication Tapering
Nushama also recognizes that many people have been on a number of medications for a period of years and there is a desire, for one reason or another, to taper off or reduce the amount of medication they are currently taking. We are here to hold your hand, help craft a responsible and safe medication tapering program.
Your Nushama care team strives to identify the ideal type of medication(s) and dose necessary to meet your needs while minimizing undesirable side effects.
Types of Psychiatric Medications
There are several categories and types of psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytics. Here is a brief overview of each:
- Antidepressants treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Examples include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) and tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline and imipramine.
- Antipsychotics treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Examples include first-generation antipsychotics like haloperidol (Haldol) and second-generation antipsychotics like risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa).
- Anxiolytics treat anxiety disorders and include benzodiazepines like lorazepam (Ativan) and clonazepam (Klonopin).
Your Nushama care team strives to identify the ideal type of medication(s) and dose necessary to meet your needs while minimizing undesirable side effects.
Mental Health Medication Side Effects and Monitoring
Like all medications, psychiatric medications can have potential side effects. Discussing these with your Nushama mental health professional and reporting any adverse effects you experience is essential. Regular follow-up appointments with your Nushama provider are crucial in monitoring the effectiveness of your medication and any potential side effects.
Most patients start with bi-weekly appointments and then move to monthly visits after two to three. After 3-6 months of monthly visits, some patients progress to visits every other month. You and your clinician will tailor a care protocol that meets your unique needs.
$400 for an initial one-hour consultation
$225 for a 30-minute follow-up
$125 for a 15-minute follow-up
Medication management at Nushama is not currently covered by insurance but we will furnish you with a superbill in case your health plan has out-of-network benefits.
