Psychiatrists in Seattle, WA
Jibran Ahmed
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, PMHNP
Verified Verified
Seattle, WA 98125
I'm passionate about the importance of people having easy access to mental healthcare. Before joining the healthcare field, I taught in low-income and underserved communities. Seeing the impact that a lack of mental healthcare had in these areas drove me to return to school and begin a career focused on providing that much-needed care. In my eyes, treatment can significantly increase the quality of life both mentally as well as physically.
I'm passionate about the importance of people having easy access to mental healthcare. Before joining the healthcare field, I taught in low-income and underserved communities. Seeing the impact that a lack of mental healthcare had in these areas drove me to return to school and begin a career focused on providing that much-needed care. In my eyes, treatment can significantly increase the quality of life both mentally as well as physically.
Charles Maddix
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, APRN, MSN, PMHNP
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Seattle, WA 98101
Meet Charles – a board-certified Family Psychiatric NP and a devoted former Navy Corpsman. With 20+ potent years of medical experience, Charles is an alumnus of Saint Louis University holding a Master’s in Nursing. He has championed different branches of medical sciences, including Oncology, ICU, and community mental health. Charles has marked his expertise in treating individuals across all ages, from 5 to adults. Applying a holistic approach, he addresses a diversity of mental health issues, including mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, trauma, and more.
Meet Charles – a board-certified Family Psychiatric NP and a devoted former Navy Corpsman. With 20+ potent years of medical experience, Charles is an alumnus of Saint Louis University holding a Master’s in Nursing. He has championed different branches of medical sciences, including Oncology, ICU, and community mental health. Charles has marked his expertise in treating individuals across all ages, from 5 to adults. Applying a holistic approach, he addresses a diversity of mental health issues, including mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, trauma, and more.
See more therapy options for Seattle
Medication Management Psychiatrists
What are the most effective ways to manage medications?
One of the most effective ways a patient can manage their medications is to keep a list of each drug and dosage they take. Such a list can be helpful in keeping to their schedule and can also be something they bring to their psychiatrist or other physician so that the healthcare provider has a clear picture of what they’re taking and in what quantity. Using a pill organizer can be useful for memory and organization. Patients should discuss their medications and their effects at every appointment.
What are the risks if medications are not managed properly?
A suboptimal approach to medication management can lead to potentially harmful health outcomes. Most psychiatric drugs have side effects, and if a patient is not aware of them, they may seek additional medical help or over the counter or prescription drugs to treat the side effects, which may have its own side effects, a process called “prescription cascade.” Another risk to disorganization is that a psychiatrist without full knowledge of a patient’s regimen could prescribe a medication that should not be mixed with a patient’s existing drugs.
What’s the best way to encourage someone to get help managing their medications?
It’s helpful to express concern and love for the person while framing medication management as a tool for improving their life and avoiding dangerous side effects. Offering specific examples of an individual’s failure to properly manage their medication regimen should be done with compassion and with empathy. It may be useful to break management down into parts, and there are several apps that can be used to organize which drugs are ingested, when they need to be refilled, and how they should be stored.
Are there natural treatments that can replace medications?
While there are many medications that can be vital to mental health, there are some natural lifestyle changes that can help reduce the need for drugs. Regular exercise, good sleep habits, a healthy diet, and therapy can all go a long way in symptom relief. Psychiatric medications typically treat symptoms but do not necessarily treat the cause of the condition. Many clinicians consider medications an adjunct to treatment rather than a treatment in and of itself.