Psychotropic medication is the front line intervention for many psychiatric disorders. Maybe this is not surprising when you consider that most treatment in America runs according to a western medical model. In 21st century medical school, doctors who pursue psychiatry are primarily trained in how to give out medicine. It wasn’t always that way. Fifty years ago, psychiatrists used to perform psychotherapy quite regularly. Now, it is quite rare to find one that does anything but prescribe pills.

Why Do We Feel Like Medication is the Only Answer?

In the United States, if you are ill, you take your medicine. We are programmed from a young age to take medication for all our ailments, so it is natural that we would seek the same for mental health issues. What is concerning, however, is just how many people are turning to pills. Approximately one in six Americans take a drug for psychiatric concerns. It is as if people have no other option.

Have we been brainwashed? Maybe. If you go see a medical doctor—which people do for most problems— they are likely going to try and give you a prescription. This is what they have been taught to do. Further, psychotropic medication is big business for doctors. They can make a lot more money by scheduling 15-minute appointments for medication management than taking 45 minutes to an hour to perform psychotherapy. Not to mention that the pharmaceutical companies are constantly lobbying doctors to give out their medications. I mean, who do you think is paying for those lunch spreads?

Yes, this is a cynical view of the state of mental health in the United States. Many doctors genuinely care about their patients and are not just looking to make a quick buck. A number of them truly believe that prescribing medication is the best way to alleviate psychiatric difficulties. But, the truth is that western civilized nations are biased toward the use of medication to address emotional problems.

The Pros and Cons of Taking Psychotropic Medication

So, we need to ask: Is taking medicine really the best option to address psychiatric issues? Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of taking psychotropic medication.

Pros

The following are the primary advantages of taking medication:

It’s Easy

There is nothing easier than popping a pill. No effort required. Anyone can do it. It is probably the biggest advantage of medication.

Time

We lead busy lives. The average psychotherapy session will take 45-60 minutes, not to mention travel time. Why take the time when you can ingest a pill in a few seconds?

It Works (Most of the Time)

Medication does not work everyone but it is usually more effective than taking a placebo. Most research, for example, finds that anti-depressant medication significantly reduces depressive symptoms for the majority of people who take it.

Pro and Con

There are certain aspects of medication that can be seen as both an advantage and a disadvantage.

Stigma

Whether you take medication or go to therapy, there is still a stigma associated with mental health treatment. The advantage of medication is that it is easier to hide than regularly attending a therapy session. However, you will still probably receive an adverse reaction if someone notices a bottle of psychiatric medication in your medicine cabinet.

Cost

Psychotropic medication is often covered by insurance so, in that case, it will not cost a lot of money. However, some medications (certain brand names) are not covered and may add up to be more than the cost of regular psychotherapy. In addition, if you take medication for many years the cost may end up being more than the therapy you only attended for a brief time.

Cons

The following are disadvantages of taking psychiatric medication:

Short-term Effectiveness

Medication only works while you take it. For a long-term benefit, you need to keep on taking it. Psychotherapy, in contrast, can provide skills and insight that you can utilize for a lifetime.

Contraindicated

There are certain psychiatric disorders for which medication may do more harm than good. For example, although anti-anxiety medication may work in the short-term, is it really helping you overcome your anxiety issues? Taking a pill can be considered a form of avoidance, which just prolongs anxiety problems. You wouldn’t recommend self-medicating with marijuana or alcohol, so why is it good to do it with a prescription?

Kids

Do you really want to have your child on medication? Their brains and bodies are still developing and many medications are so new that we don’t know the long-term consequences. I think most parents would agree that overcoming problems without medication is the best option, if possible.

Side Effects

Almost all psychotropic medication has side effects. Some are not very serious, such as dry mouth. Others, however, are much more severe. Is taking medication worth significant weight-gain, sleepless nights, or feelings of emptiness? When taking medication, it is always necessary to do a cost-benefit analysis.

Psychotropic Medication as a Secondary Option

You might deduce from the tone of this article that I am not the biggest fan of psychotropic medication. That is generally true. For mental health issues, I see medication as a band-aid that carries considerable risk. I believe that there are other interventions that have more significant long-term benefits without possible side effects. Lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy, exercising, and getting proper sleep can drastically improve mental health. In addition, psychotherapy provides safe long-term benefits that medication cannot match.

That being said, medication is the right choice for certain problems. It can be very difficult to manage certain disorders without it. For example, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia pretty much require it. For other problems, medication might also be very helpful, especially if other interventions have not been successful. So, this is not really an anti-medication post. It is more of a try other things first article. I mean, is there anything worthwhile in life that doesn’t take a little effort?