When Your Psychiatric Medication Isn’t Working Well Enough

A careful review—not guesswork

If symptoms remain disruptive, side effects are difficult, or a medication that once helped no longer seems to be enough, the next step should be a careful review. Steven K. Elrod, MSN, PMHNP-BC, provides online psychiatric medication reviews for adults, teens, and children ages 6 and older in eight licensed states.

What a medication review checks

• Which symptoms improved, remained, returned, or worsened
• Whether treatment had enough time and was taken consistently
• Side effects, timing, dose, formulation, or medication interactions
• Changes in sleep, stress, substance use, physical health, or other prescriptions
• Whether the original diagnosis still fits the full pattern
• Whether psychotherapy, behavioral support, testing, laboratory work, another specialist, or a higher level of care is needed
• Your goals and the tradeoffs that matter most

Possible next steps

Possible next steps could include continuing the current plan, adjusting it, considering another option, obtaining records or testing, or recommending another type of care. No particular medication change is guaranteed.

Medication safety

Do not stop or rapidly reduce psychiatric medication on your own. Some medications can cause withdrawal effects, symptom recurrence, or other harm when changed abruptly. Contact the prescribing clinician for individualized instructions. For severe reactions, immediate danger, or suicidal thoughts, call 911, call or text 988, or go to the nearest emergency department.