Side Effects of Psychiatric Medications: Prevention, Assessment, and Management (Simple and Practical)

Side effects are not a side issue! Adverse effects or side effects are of the greatest importance because they cause considerable suffering and are the leading cause of nonadherence to medications. That is why side effects can be called "The Other Side of Suffering" or "The Other Half of Psychopharmacology." More attention needs to be paid to preventing side effects, developing strategies to systematically assess these side effects, and for managing them. This book focuses on some of the commonest side effects of psychiatric medications and is jam-packed with highly clinically useful, practical information to help deal with them.

The numerous practical strategies described will be useful to both the beginner and to the experienced clinician. The book will appeal to psychiatrists, other physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, etc.

Table of Contents

Part 1. General Principles

1.What’s the big deal?

Adverse effects are even more important than you think

2.Knowledge is power

Effective strategies for educating patients about potential adverse effects

3.Sensitive to medications

Four things to assess in these patients and eleven strategies for management



Part 2. Specific adverse effects

1.Nausea

Thirteen basic and advanced strategies

2.Dry Mouth

Twenty-two strategies for identification, prevention, and treatment

3.Orthostatic hypotension/dizziness

Risk factors, assessment procedure, and eleven strategies for management

4.Excessive sweating

Unique clinical features, basic strategies, and two antidotes

5.Tremors

How to examine and how to treat

6.Akathisia

Specific assessment and rating procedure. Eight strategies for management

7.Sexual dysfunction

Eight strategies for management