Medication therapy management, or MTM, is a process that helps you understand your prescription medications and the effects they have on your body. The goal of MTM is to give you the most effective prescriptions while minimizing any negative side effects. This service has helped many people manage chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. But does Tacoma, Washington, medication therapy management work for recovery from substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions?
To learn more about how medication therapy management benefits people in recovery, reach out to Bayview Recovery. We offer MTM as part of our addiction treatment programs to help you achieve the best outcome possible. Call us today at 855.478.3650 to schedule an assessment and get started on your road to recovery.
What Happens in Medication Therapy Management for Recovery?
Medication therapy management is a service provided by pharmacists. Some pharmacists work together with treatment providers at mental health and addiction treatment facilities to provide MTM services. If medication therapy management is part of your treatment program, you will meet with a pharmacist to:
- Review your medical history and medications
- Determine if any potential problems may arise from taking certain prescriptions
- Receive recommendations that can help you avoid unnecessary side effects or interactions with other medications
- Learn how to manage chronic co-occurring conditions
As part of medication therapy management, your assigned pharmacist may also help you find prescriptions that are covered by your health insurance to keep your medication more affordable.
Does Medication Therapy Management Actually Work?
Medication therapy management works by providing you with the support you need to take your medications more consistently and address any adverse effects caused by your prescriptions or interactions with other medications. MTM addresses some of the main reasons that people don’t stick to their prescribed medication regimen:
- The medication is too expensive
- It’s challenging to remember to take one’s medication regularly
- The medication produces uncomfortable side effects
- The medication interacts negatively with another medication needed
- It’s difficult to get refills on time
In a medication therapy management program, the pharmacist provides support and helps keep you accountable for taking your medication as prescribed. They address any obstacles to following your doctor’s orders so that you are more likely to take your medication exactly as you should. This helps produce the best treatment outcome with minimal side effects.
Medication Therapy Management Benefits
Some of the benefits of receiving medication therapy management while in recovery are:
Education
With MTM, you have access to a dedicated pharmacist who takes the time to sit down with you and explain the necessity for your prescriptions, how to take them properly, and what to do if you experience negative side effects.
Awareness
If you don’t understand why you need to take certain medications, you’re less likely to follow your doctor’s recommendations. Your pharmacist will let you know how your medication can support your health and well-being. They can also help you take your medication safely by informing you of possible interactions of your medication with other prescriptions, drugs, or alcohol.
Safety
Having a pharmacist closely monitor your medications during recovery can help reduce the risk of adverse drug events (ADEs). These occur when you experience negative side effects from your prescription medications, such as vomiting or diarrhea. Your pharmacist can spot potential interactions and recommend different medications that are less likely to result in ADEs.
Bayview Recovery: Medication Therapy Management for Recovery
Medication therapy management is becoming more commonplace since it helps people take better control of their health. The added support of MTM as part of mental health and addiction treatment programs can help you achieve the recovery success you deserve. Call Bayview Recovery at 855.478.3650 to learn more about our medication therapy management program and enroll in treatment.