Mais Samhoury Center
Dr Raghad Shnaigat is a psychiatrist and addiction-treatment specialist with the Jordanian Board in psychiatry. She practises at Mais Samhoury Center in Abdoun,…
Treatments
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Drug Therapy for Psychological Conditions Doctors in Jordan
العلاج النفسي الدوائي
Pharmacological treatment in psychiatry means using prescribed medicines that act on brain neurotransmitters to reduce the severity of a specific mental health condition, as part of a plan set by a qualified clinician after a clear diagnosis — not on the basis of a vague description of distress. Starting medication is not a routine decision. It depends on the type and severity of the condition, its effect on work, sleep and relationships, coexisting physical illnesses, everything else you are taking, and your previous experience with treatment if any. Suitability is determined by clinical assessment and a full medication review, which is why you should never take something that was prescribed for a relative or friend because their symptoms sounded like yours. Clinicians usually begin with the lowest effective amount and adjust it gradually according to response and tolerability. Many mood and anxiety medicines reach their full effect over weeks rather than days, and mild side effects may appear before any improvement during the first week and then settle. This is exactly the stage at which many people stop, assuming the treatment is not working. When a person improves, treatment is not stopped the next day. A continuation phase of several months usually follows to reduce the risk of relapse, after which discontinuation is planned gradually and under medical supervision. Stopping abruptly can cause unpleasant physical and mood symptoms, or a return of the original condition. Medication also has clear limits. It does not solve financial hardship, a harmful relationship or genuine loss, it does not change your personality, and it does not replace psychotherapy — the two are not competitors, and combining them is often better than either alone. One damaging myth deserves correcting: antidepressants are not narcotics and do not cause addiction in the everyday sense. Stopping them suddenly can cause discontinuation symptoms, which is a different matter from addiction; it is the fast-acting sedative class that is prescribed only for short, limited periods because of the risk of dependence.
1 specialists
Procedure steps
- 1
Diagnosis and ruling out physical causes
Before any prescription, a diagnosis is established through clinical interview and a timeline of symptoms, with questions about sleep, weight, energy, alcohol and stimulants. Blood tests may be requested to exclude physical causes such as thyroid disorder, anaemia or vitamin deficiency, since these can mimic psychiatric symptoms.
- 2
Shared decision and explaining the options
The clinician explains the available options — including psychotherapy alone — what each can realistically achieve, common side effects and when they usually settle, and the likely duration of treatment. Questions about pregnancy, breastfeeding, driving, work and fasting are raised before starting rather than afterwards.
- 3
Initiation and gradual titration
Treatment usually starts at the lowest effective amount and is increased gradually when needed to limit side effects. Timing and method of use are agreed, and you are asked to keep a simple record of changes in sleep, appetite, mood and energy to discuss at follow-up.
- 4
Close follow-up and plan adjustment
Appointments are close together in the early weeks to assess response, side effects and safety. If there is not enough improvement after a reasonable period, the plan is reviewed: adjusting the amount, switching to another option, adding psychotherapy, or revisiting the diagnosis itself.
- 5
Continuation, then planned discontinuation
After improvement, a continuation phase of several months consolidates the result, followed by an agreed gradual reduction while watching for early signs of return. Abrupt stopping or skipping doses without a plan is the most common cause of setbacks and of the false impression that treatment failed.
Before the procedure
Come to the appointment with a written list of everything you take: prescribed medicines, anything you buy yourself, plus supplements, herbal products and slimming preparations, since many of them interact with psychiatric medication. Tell the clinician about physical conditions — especially heart, liver, kidney, thyroid and epilepsy — about pregnancy, plans to conceive or breastfeeding, about any previous drug allergy, about alcohol or substance use, and about your own or a family member's experience with similar treatment and how it went. Write down your symptoms, when they began and how they affect work, sleep and relationships, and note your questions about duration, side effects, driving and fasting. Bring previous reports and laboratory results if available, and do not stop any current medication on your own beforehand.
After the procedure
Follow the plan exactly as agreed, keep a brief daily note of what you observe, never raise or lower the amount yourself, and never share your medication with anyone. Avoid alcohol, and ask your clinician before taking anything new prescribed by another doctor or bought over the counter. **Seek help immediately for a widespread rash, swelling of the face or lips, breathing difficulty, fever with muscle rigidity and confusion, a fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, yellowing of the eyes, new confusion or involuntary movements, or a rapid surge in activity and racing thoughts with little need for sleep.** **If thoughts of harming yourself or of suicide arise — particularly in the first weeks after starting or changing treatment — get urgent help straight away: call emergency services, go to the nearest emergency department, or tell someone you trust right now. Do not wait for your next appointment.** Do not stop medication abruptly once you feel better; discontinuation should follow a gradual medical plan. Medication and psychotherapy are not rivals, and combining them is often better than either on its own.
Expected duration
The first appointment usually takes 30 to 60 minutes, with shorter reviews every two to four weeks at the start; most mood and anxiety medicines show their effect gradually over two to six weeks.
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