Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy
Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy
Thoughtful, personalised medication management
For some conditions, medication is the most effective treatment available; for others, it is one component alongside therapy and lifestyle change. The question is rarely “medicine or no medicine” but rather “what is the right approach for you, at this point in your life?”
Our approach to psychiatric pharmacotherapy is conservative, evidence-based, and collaborative. We do not prescribe lightly, we do not prescribe permanently when shorter courses will do, and we work hard to find the right medication and dose for each individual rather than defaulting to a standard prescription.
What pharmacotherapy can help
Medication has the strongest evidence base for, among others:
- Moderate-to-severe depression
- Anxiety disorders (generalised anxiety, panic, OCD, social anxiety)
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Sleep difficulties resistant to behavioural approaches
- Certain situational responses — for example, short-term medication during a crisis or bereavement
Our approach
- Thorough initial review. Before any prescription, we take a full clinical history, review any past medication trials, look at current medications and physical health, and discuss what you hope for and what you’re worried about.
- Informed consent. We explain how a proposed medication is expected to work, the realistic timeline to see benefit, the common side effects, and what to do if anything concerning happens.
- Conservative dosing. We typically start low and increase gradually, watching for both response and side effects.
- Regular follow-up. Early follow-up (often within 2–4 weeks) lets us catch side effects early and adjust the plan. Stable patients move to less frequent reviews.
- Honest deprescribing. When medication has done its job, we work with you to taper safely. Many people are surprised to discover that staying on medication forever is rarely necessary.
Practical details
Initial consultation: 30–60 minutes
Follow-up appointments: 20–30 minutes, weeks to months apart depending on stability
Prescriptions: Written for the appropriate duration; refills are issued at follow-up rather than indefinitely.
Mode: Initial consultation is preferred in person; follow-ups can often be online.
Coordination of care: Where helpful, we communicate (with your consent) with your general practitioner, therapist, or other specialists.
Will medication change who I am?
This is one of the most common — and important — questions. The honest answer is that effective psychiatric medication does not change who you are; it removes some of the symptoms that have been making it hard to be yourself. Many patients describe the experience as “feeling more like me again” rather than feeling different. We monitor this carefully and discuss it openly throughout treatment.