Although some still shun medication, calling it unnatural and unnecessary, there is no denying that medication can be a lifesaver for some people when used properly and safely.
Talk About Prescriptions Month in October is doing just that: “promoting safe use and preventing abuse.”
The month was created in 1985 by the National Council on Patient Information and Education, according to W. Ray Bullman, the executive vice president of the organization.
“Our mission statement is to stimulate and improve communication to promote safe and appropriate medicine use to the public and health care professionals because that’s where that communication needs to occur,” Bullman said.
Each year has a slightly different focus with the same overall goals – this year’s focus is mainly on safe use and abuse prevention, and there are resources on the organization’s website devoted to prescription drug abuse on college campuses.
“We see the college campus as…it’s certainly an integral part of local communities and is an opportunity to reach for us a new subset or audience of people who use medicines,” Bullman said.
According to the website, “those of college-age have among the highest rates of prescription drug abuse. About one in four people aged 18 to 20 report using these medications non-medically at least once in their lives.”
The organization promotes the discussion of risk, respect and responsibility regarding medication.
Risk includes allowing someone to borrow medication when they haven’t been given a prescription, and side effects for that person are unknown.
The organization had a similar focus in 2007 or 2008 on being medicine smart.
“A key part of that is making sure to keep and maintaining a current medicine list as a means for initiating a discussion when a new medicine is either prescribed or recommended as part of the treatment management,” Bullman said.
Medication not only affects the body – it can be an important treatment for mental disorders and it can impact mental health.
“Medicines don’t work unless you take them,” Bullman said. “Oftentimes with medications for mental health conditions, there is that challenge of the fact that oftentimes those medicines take a certain amount of time…for any kind of a therapeutic effect to be recognized.”
When taking antidepressants, it can be dangerous to stop cold turkey because of additional side effects like changes in mood and behavior and physical problems, and then there is no possibility of alleviating any symptoms when medication is stopped.
Fortunately, there is always new research coming out to improve medications, and a recent study found that there is a faster antidepressant medication (which is used to treat mental disorders like depression) underway. Although this medication appeared to show relief of symptoms within the first three days, the way the medication interacts with the brain might be similar to an older antidepressant that had unwanted side effects.
Perhaps patients will have to choose between fast relief and unwanted side effects.
Another medication, ketamine, is being studied for depression in low doses. Although it can take effect within hours, the concern is that in higher doses it can cause hallucinations and euphoria.
Those are just two studies out of many on antidepressants, and there are other types of medication to treat mental disorders that are being researched, so patients just need to realize the possibilities for improvement in their conditions through this possible new medications. Patience is key, because medication takes time to develop, especially in regard to decreasing side effects and improving effectiveness.
In honor of Talk About Prescriptions Month, look up the latest medication research on some science news sites and share the knowledge with your friends and family. You never know who might benefit.
Also, if you know of someone struggling with a mental disorder and taking medication, talk to the person sometime about that experience and about new research and developments if the person is comfortable and willing to listen. Let people know that it’s okay they are taking medication and you accept that they are trying to help themselves and there is nothing wrong with that if they are doing it safely and properly. If they aren’t, encourage them to talk to a doctor about the proper way to use medication or what they can do to solve their problems instead of taking the wrong medication.
For more information about Talk About Prescriptions Month and some new research, look at the links below.
Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301111407.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060808091257.htm
http://www.talkaboutrx.org/index.jsp