Questions to ask when selecting medication.
Given the availability of a large and diverse number of medications for the treatment of various mental disorders, how should a clinician decide which medication(s) to try for any particular patient? This article explores eight questions that should be considered when selecting medication for a patient. Medication selection should be individually tailored by the answers to these questions, which take into account factors such as the diagnosis and associated symptoms, the expected efficacy/tolerability profile, medical and psychiatric comorbidity, concurrent drug use, past treatment history, family history, patient/family preferences, and cost considerations.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. HowlandRH@upmc.edu
Robert H
RH
Howland
D015897:Comorbidity; D016527:Drug Costs; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs