Psychopharmacology
Individuals have various mental conditions, which affect their functions. While drugs help in reducing the effects of psychological problems, they have different undesirable effects. Despite the adverse effects of drugs, it is commendable to medicate them to patients to help in relieving their conditions.
Pharmacological actions of drugs have various possible side effects, which can affect an individual’s wellbeing. For instance, the use of antidepressants may result in side effects such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weight gain, sexual problems, and sleepiness (National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). On the other hand, while pharmacological actions of drugs are associated with various side effects, the use of non-pharmacological therapies has neither side effects nor cases of overdose. Non-pharmacological interventions are often preferred due to their lack of side effects (Berg-Weger, 2017). Moreover, non-pharmacological interventions are less costly compared to pharmacological approaches of treatment.
In particular, the use of drugs interferes with normal brain function. Drugs disrupt the manner in which neurons relay, accept, and process signals through transmitters (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Other drugs trigger neurons since their chemical composition imitates a naturally-occurring neurotransmitter. The process enables the drug to affix onto and animate neurons. While these medications assume the functions of chemicals of the brain, they do not animate neurons in a similar manner as a naturally-occurring neurotransmitter, resulting in the passage of abnormal messages (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Drugs such as amphetamine, which is used in treating depression and cocaine, can trigger the neurons to produce significant anomal levels of naturally-occurring neurotransmitters or inhibit the usual reprocessing of brain chemicals through interference with transporters (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Higher dosages increase the effect of drugs on brain function. Continuous use of drugs leads to tolerance, whereby the body requires a higher amount of a drug to cause the same effect (Maisto, Galizio, & Connors, 2018). An example of tolerance is when an individual requires a higher amount of an antidepressant to relieve the symptoms of depression.
While the use of drugs has various side effects and tolerance, it is appropriate to medicate these drugs to mental health patients. For instance, antidepressants are said to relieve the symptoms of depression in an estimated 50-70% of individuals who use them (Ponen, Lambie, & Marchl, 2019). These statistics justify the practice of prescribing antidepressant drugs to patients.
In conclusion, the medication of drugs calls for a proper understanding of their effects. This helps in monitoring and addressing their side effects. Mental health patients should be given drugs to enhance their functioning.