People living with mental illness are often left out of the loop when it comes to understanding how exactly medications work. This book will explain pharmacology in a simplified way to help you understand the effects, both positive and negative, of psych meds, and why these effects occur. It's everything you didn't realize you wanted to know about medications! The book begins with the essentials of pharmacology and moves on to cover all the major classes of psychiatric medications. You'll learn why one medication in a particular class might be a better fit for you than another. Are you having weight gain from your medication? You'll find out why, and what other medications might be less likely to have the same side effect. I've pulled together what I've learned in my training as a nurse and (former) pharmacist and years of clinical experience, added in my personal perspective from having taken many of these medications, and distilled it down to the essential elements you need to know to take charge of your own health and illness.

The Handbook of Psychiatric Drugs is a comprehensive, clear, concise and quick reference to psychiatric drug therapies, designed to guide the clinician on the selection and implementation of treatment for mental illness. Each chapter is organised by drug class and follows a standard format for ease of use. Concise sections on pharmacology and indications for use are followed by detailed information on drug selection, initiation and maintenance of treatment and withdrawal. Adverse effects, contraindications and drug interactions are also reviewed in detail, along with issues such as treatment resistance and treatment evaluation. A handy pocket-sized drug reference, the Handbook of Psychiatric Drugs makes it easy to keep up-to-date with new developments. It is an invaluable resource for all clinicians who use psychiatric drugs to treat medical and psychiatric illness, and an informative read for all those with an interest in the subject.

TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Both easy to use and highly informative, The Complete Guide to Psychiatric Drugs is an indispensable reference for both patients and professionals. Now in a revised and expanded edition, this up-to-date handbook supplies current information on the newest and most commonly used psychiatric drugs as well as the latest details regarding side effects, dosages, and precautions. Drawing upon his years of experience helping patients understand their illnesses and take charge of their treatments, top expert Dr. Edward Drummond covers vital topics that include: * Is medication for you? * What to discuss with your doctor before starting medication * Do psychiatric drugs pose extra risks for you? * How to start, monitor, and stop your medication * Psychiatric syndromes and their treatment The book also explores non-drug therapies such as dietary treatments, exercise, relaxation techniques, meditation, and self-hypnosis as well as information on how to combine drug, non-drug, and alternative therapies for maximum benefit. The Complete Guide to Psychiatric Drugs: Straight Talk for Best Results, Revised and Expanded Edition gives you the facts so you can get better, with straight talk on the best new treatments for: * Anxiety * Panic Attacks * Agoraphobia and Phobias * Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder * Generalized Anxiety Disorder * Posttraumatic Stress Disorder * Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder * Bipolar Disorder and Mood Swings * Depression * Asperger's Syndrome * Autism * Pervasive Developmental Disorder * Drug Dependence * Anorexia * Bulimia * Binge-Eating Disorder * Insomnia * Acute Psychosis * Schizophrenia * Schizoaffective Disorder * Delusional Disorder * Alzheimer's Disease

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1 General Principles. 2 Depression. 3 Bipolar Illness. 4 Anxiety Disorders. 5 Psychotic Disorders. 6 Miscellaneous Disorders. 7 non-Response and "Breakthrough Symptoms" Algorithms. 8 Case Examples. App. A- History and personal Data Questionnaire. App. B- Special Cautions When Taking MAO Inhibitors.

Prescribing Mental Health Medication is a text for practitioners who treat mental disorders with medication. It explains the entire process of medication assessment, management and follow up for general medical practitioners, mental health practitioners, students, residents, prescribing nurses and others perfecting this skill. Already used by providers and training institutions throughout the world, the newly revised second edition is completely updated and focuses on the following key issues: How to determine if medication is needed Proper dosing and how to start and stop medication When to change medication Dealing with difficult patients Specific mental health symptoms and appropriate medication Special populations including pregnant women, substance abusers, children and adolescents, and the elderly Monitoring medication with blood levels Management of medication side effects and avoidance of medication risk The misuse of medication Prescription of generic preparations Prescriptions via the Internet, telemedicine, and electronic medical records Organizing a prescriptive office and record-keeping Completely updated, this text includes information on all psychotropic medications in use in the United States and the United Kingdom. It incorporates clinical tips, sample dialogues for talking about medications to patients, and information specifically relevant in primary care settings.

More than 150,000 copies in print, 4th Edition GET THE FACTS. GET THE BEST TREATMENT. GET BETTER The Essential Guide to Psychiatric Drugs has become a classic and indispensable resource for the layperson and professional alike. Informative, accessible, and easy to use, this newly revised and updated resource presents comprehensive information on the latest drugs and research, covering most adult mental health problems. It also includes balanced information on controversial topics like the risk of suicide from antidepressants and the risk of obesity and diabetes from antipsychotics. This book will help people with psychiatric problems, as well as their concerned families and friends, to better understand when drug therapy should be considered, which drugs should be used, for how long, and what side effects are expected. Includes the latest information on: -Antidepressants -Antipsychotics -Side effects and withdrawal symptoms -Specific usage, dosage duration, and efficacy “This book…meets a critical need…for the millions of people for whom psychiatric drugs are so important.” -Herbert Pardes, past President of the American Psychiatric Association. Jack M. Gorman, M.D. has been involved in psychiatric research, teaching, and patient care for more than two decades. He has been Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Harvard Medical School, and lectures frequently throughout the country. He is the author of The Essential Guide to Mental Health.

"When a child is struggling with an emotional or behavioral problem, parents face many difficult decisions. Is medication the right choice? What about side effects? How long will medication be needed? In this authoritative guide, leading child psychiatrists Drs. Timothy Wilens and Paul Hammerness explain the nuts and bolts of psychiatric medications--from how they work and potential risks to their impact on a child's emotions, school performance, personality, and health. Extensively revised to include the latest information about medications and their uses, the fourth edition is even more accessible, and includes pullouts, bulleted lists, and "take home points" highlighting critical facts. In addition to parents, this is an ideal reference for teachers and other school professionals"--

Designed and organized to answer the most common questions that patients have about their psychiatric medications, What Your Patients Need to Know About Psychiatric Medications, Third Edition, emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility of information. From Valium and Ativan to Prozac and Adderall, more than 70 medications from all of the major classes are discussed under eight key sections: General Information, Dosing Information, Common Side Effects, Adverse Reactions and Precautions, Risk During Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding, Potential Drug Interactions, Overdose, and Treatment Summary. Updated to reflect new medications that have come into the marketplace, as well as changes to the dosing, format, and methods of prescription of existing medications, What Your Patients Need to Know About Psychiatric Medications, Third Edition, is a comprehensive resource for practitioners—whether, clinical psychiatrists, clinical social workers, or psychiatric nurses—to educate their patients, and a source of practical information for patients themselves, long after they have left the doctor’s office.

Now with DSM-5 Content! This pocket guide delivers quick access to need-to-know information on basic behavioral theories, key aspects of psychiatric and crisis interventions, mental status assessments and exams, mental health history and assessment tools, and so much more.