Plenty of people see prescribed medication as a valid option to help with mental illness, but others may view it as difficult for daily life. The decision to use psychiatric medication requires thorough consideration of whether the benefits outweigh the cons.
Most psychiatric medications work by altering brain chemistry and regulating the levels of specific neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. These medications are commonly prescribed to correct an
imbalance in the brain’s chemistry and alleviate the symptoms of mental illness. Although they are shown to remove symptoms that affect daily functions, various studies have revealed that there can be rare but severe side
effects from taking psychiatric medication.
Psychiatric medications have both pros and cons. Antidepressants can lead to symptoms including memory issues, attention difficulties, changes in thought process and even thoughts of suicide. However, they can also help reduce symptoms of depression, hopelessness, tiredness, or sleep disturbances.
”Some medications can become addictive, and some medications can be very hard to withdraw from,” said Mr. Whitcomb, a Los Alamitos High School Advanced Placement
Psychology teacher.
Chances of addiction are based on how prone an individual is, either from genetics or personal indulgence. Becoming addicted to psychiatric medications can have a negative effect.
Most psychiatric medications take up to 2-4 weeks to be absorbed by the body and to
feel the effects. Following the prolonged use of psychiatric medicine, withdrawal symptoms will likely occur.
Medications for psychological disorders prescribed to young
people between the ages of 3 and 24 were analyzed from the National Longitudinal Prescription database. Their studies proved that the average age at which psychiatric medicine was prescribed
fell between 13 and 18. The stress of school and teenage hormones play a role in teenage psychology; this leads many students to lean towards medication as a solution to their mental health...
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