Medication Management

If you need medications to treat your mental health disorder, you also need medication management from HumuHealth Psychiatry: Olukemi Kuku, DNP, PMHNP. Dr. Kuku uses comprehensive medication management to protect your mental and physical health and ensure you get the best therapeutic results without side effects. If you need psychotropic medications, call the office in Fairfield or Pleasant Hill, California, or request an in-person or telepsychiatry appointment online today.

What is medication management?

Medication management refers to the services you receive for as long as you take psychiatric (psychotropic) medications. Your comprehensive care includes:

• Prescription medications
• Blood work and lab tests when needed
• Routine follow-up appointments
• Monitoring for side effects
• Evaluating symptom improvement

Psychotropic medications often do a great job relieving mental health symptoms, but as long as you take them, you need ongoing medication management.

How does medication management protect my health?

Medication management takes an individualized approach, protecting your mental and physical health by:

Prescribing the best medications

Finding the best psychotropic medication can take some trial and error. There are many different medicines to choose from, and each person metabolizes them differently. As a result, you may need to try more than one medication at varying doses before landing on the one that works for you. 

At each appointment, your provider learns if your symptoms are improving and determines whether they need to change the medication or dose.

Finding side effects early

When you have regular follow-up appointments, your provider can catch early signs of side effects and take steps to prevent serious health complications.

Overcoming roadblocks to taking medication

Your symptoms won’t improve if you don’t take your medication as prescribed. Unfortunately, you may encounter problems that make you stop taking your meds. For example, your medication may cause brain fog or disrupt your sleep. 

During medication management, your provider helps you find solutions to these problems so you can get the treatment you need.

What happens during medication management appointments?

During your initial appointment at HumuHealth Psychiatry: Olukemi Kuku, DNP, PMHNP, your provider reviews your medical history, learns about your symptoms and concerns, and completes a psychiatric evaluation. They may also run lab tests to rule out any physical problems that could cause your symptoms. 

After diagnosing your mental health disorder, they prescribe the best medication and talk with you about the signs of side effects. Then they send the prescription to your local pharmacy, where you pick it up at your convenience.

During follow-up appointments, your provider checks your blood pressure and weight, reviews your symptoms, evaluates your progress, and learns about any side effects. Then they decide whether to refill your prescription, change the dose, or prescribe a different medication.

To learn more about medication management, call HumuHealth Psychiatry: Olukemi Kuku, DNP, PMHNP, or request an appointment online today.