Psych Meds Made Simple: How & Why They Do What They Do

This is a great book! It discusses in detail how psych drugs work and what they do. If you've ever wondered how the experience of taking Zoloft varies from that of taking Prozac (even though they're both SSRIs), or if you've ever needed to know which different classes of drugs help with sedation (there's more than one!), then this book is for you. But this book goes into a lot more than that. It reads as a great primer for anyone who wants to understand psychopharmacology, written by someone who's been there both personally and professionally. I'd recommend this book for anyone who's thinking of taking psych meds, and also for anyone who's bad at science and needs a primer. (I wanted to take psychopharmacology in college, but the class was full. I wound up taking science for liberal arts, which was really easy; but the truth is, I'm terrible at science. This book helped explain the basics to me.) A lot of the stuff in here that I learned is stuff that you'd think a doctor would tell you, but you can't count on having a thorough doctor these days. For example, the book taught me that Geodon isn't absorbed right without a meal. I took Geodon for over six years without ever having been told that! Knowledge is power!! The author describes scientific concepts in a broad sense so you can get the gist of what's happening in your brain regarding neurotransmitters (whether or not you're taking drugs). She has a blog which I enjoy reading every day. I like her gentle approach to the issue of taking meds while pregnant. Again, knowledge is power. The book is straightforward and educational.

The goal of the book is very clear as follows: The goal of this book is to demystify psychiatric medications and give people living with mental illness, as well as those who support us, the knowledge to make the best possible decisions when it comes to medication. With the above in mind, I read the book as the project manager I am. I recall with some loathing truth be told, when I spent nearly 2 years taking medications including psychiatric ones, without ever trying to acquire any knowledge which could help me make the best possible decisions for myself. Had I known will always be the last in class because we hardly even think of them when starting a lesson. Well, with psychiatric medications, you seriously don’t want take your health or those you care for, for granted. Mental illness (I live with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), is for real and yet, you are not an invalid who can’t decide for themselves unless totally sedated or so psychotic enough to care any more. Ashley’s book is focused on the most common types of psychiatric medications: antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti psychotics, anti anxiety medications, and stimulants, and yet she is adamant in asserting that: “The notion that medications produce some artificial form of wellness is simply absurd. What I gather from reading the book all through therefore is that, she did all the research including using her own self as a case study, to give her readers and the mental illness community at large, a good base of knowledgeable material to get and keep the conversation going. Recovery from a mental illness is possible if the right combination of medications and holistic treatment protocol are found. Trust me I know it may be hard, it is even daunting reading about the different side effects of the several of the medications. I learned so much, and I honestly marvel at the depth of the research into technical and not cool products such as medications. I learned for example that it is better to take a cocktail of medications at reduced dosage, than only one at a high dose whose side effects may be devastating. I was also thrilled to learn about the relationship between inflammation and depression, and so much in the book kept getting me highlight wow. I could now understand some about the side effects I experienced, as well as those my brother who lived with bipolar disorder did. The book is not boring to read especially because she uses words we can easily understand, and above all her own story as a case study. I appreciate her authenticity and vulnerability, and support her overall aim of fighting stigma surrounding mental illness and psychiatric medications. I follow her blog Mental Health at Home, and will recommend both her book and blog to everyone. Thank you so much Ashley my heroine for writing such a long over due book. In my country, there is still such a pervasive culture of the doctor knows best, and the patient is just supposed to take them medication. Now, some patients and carers can start asking real questions while requesting for medication adjustments and re-adjustments.

Interesting book, easy to read, I plan to read through the whole. So far the book has a lot of useful information.

Ashley is a former pharmacist and currently works as a mental health nurse. I admire that she writes from a professional perspective and from a personal stance, as she lives with mental illness. What did I gain from this book? “The goal of this book is to demystify psychiatric medications and give people living with mental illness, as well as those who support us, the knowledge to make the best decisions when it comes to medication.” Ashley achieved this goal. The book itself was very user-friendly. I’m a therapist and I can see myself referring to this book as I work with clients who are receiving medication management. I wish I would’ve had this book when I was in college and had to take the dreaded biopsychology course. Ashley goes into depth but she does so with an understanding that the average reader won’t convert the information to immediate memory. Other textbooks don’t empathize that the technical concepts of the topic matter can be overwhelming and intimidating. I love an author that considers the feelings of their audience. Insights gained I love how Ashley uses this book as a platform to fight the stigma surrounding mental health medication. She also reminds readers that medication alone won’t cure mental illness; rather, it requires a multi-disciplinary approach that involves body, mind, and social influences. “One thing remains true: psychiatric meds don’t change who you are. You are not somehow less than yourself just because you take a medication, nor are you somehow less real or genuine.” Conclusion I recommend this reference guide to anyone who takes psychotropic medication, has a loved one who does, or who works in the mental health field (counselors, social workers, healthcare providers, etc.)

Great book. She gets to the point and it’s a quick great read

There is considerable value in this book. But it is hardly more than a booklet, and though the psych meds part is interesting, it does not go into depth at all. Not worth more than $5.95. You can reproduce most of the information from the Internet. Still, it's a good idea and a good try.

I’m a licensed mental health clinician and I wanted to brush up on my psych med knowledge. What set this book apart from the “psychopharmacology made ridiculously simple” book I also purchased (and first read in grad school) was that this is written in more layman’s terms. I now better understand what each medication class does. The out of the box treatments were interesting, too! The basic neuroanatomy and neurochemistry at the beginning was very basic review, but I imagine this would be helpful for a patient/client reading this book. It was a quick read with a lot of great info - worth the money and the few hours it took to read it.

I have read through many books on psychiatric medications, including academic books so thick with thousands of pages that you can barely pick up. I liked the author's honest take on the risks and benefits of Rx based on data and her experience as a nurse and as a patient. Sometimes, the same information on a textbook is so technical it is hard to relate. You read the same topic on this book and then it clicks because she uses conversational language. I think the author can be a great teacher if she isn't already. Thank you for making this book! :)

In a world where people have such a negative attitude towards medication this book is incredibly refreshing and gives a very realistic approach to meditation and mental health.

A must have for all mental health nurses ,nurses or prescribers, easy to read and understand Expressed from authors experience too which is very effective Price increased a week after purchase but still good value Easy to carry around for a quick delve into when commuting.

Good book! I like it how near the end of the book the author talks about her experience dealing with major depression and what medications she has been on in the past and currently on. You got to admire her honesty!. Unlike GP's or other type of doctors who make you feel like you are out of your mind and negatively judge you when you want to try a medication, and they themselves are probably on a cocktail of antidepressants and antixyolitics. Thank you for writing this very honest book

As far as I am concerned, this is a must-have source of information for anyone who takes psychiatric medication. By allowing us to understand the basics of how our medications work, nurse and former pharmacist Ashley L Peterson empowers us to be involved in our own mental health care. A light book that slips easily into my purse, this is the perfect companion for all my medication management appointments.

The author is very knowledgeable, and most importantly, the information is delivered in an amenable and engaging way. I find it very useful for my personal and professional life.