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MEDICATION:  WHEN IS IT NEEDED?

Dennis B. Kottler, MD

Westlake Village, CA

Appointments:   818-991-8376 

Email:   doc@psychiatrix.com

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Please see also: Medications Commonly Prescribed

The decision to use medication is best left to a qualified physician.

Some of the factors to consider include:

• Is the disorder generally responsive to available medications
• Has medication helped this person in the past
• Are there other effective treatments which might render medication unnecessary
• How distressing is the condition and to what extent does it cause functional impairment
• What is the person's attitude about medication treatment and what are the expectations

In choosing a particular medication consider:

• Risk vs. Expected Benefit 
• Past Response
• Tolerability/Desirability of Side Effects

Note:  Side Effects are not always undesirable.  Undesirable Side Effects are more properly called Adverse Effects.   For example, some antidepressant medications have sedation as a frequent Side Effect.  This Side Effect may be beneficial to someone who has difficulty falling asleep.  In this case, the medication would be taken before bedtime, rather, than, say, in the morning.  

In general, a Side Effect can be defined as an effect of medication which is in addition to the Primary Effect for which the medication is intended.  An Adverse Effect, is, by definition, an undesirable effect.   Not everyone, of course, experiences the same Side Effects and Adverse Effects from a given medication.  

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Appointments:   818-991-8376 

Email:   doc@psychiatrix.com