Many mental health consumers as well as concerned family and friends seek information to help them better understand the benefits of prescribed medications, potential side effects, and to help them in talking with their doctor about such matters.

NMHA encourages consumers to talk with their doctor regarding any medication-related questions or concerns and to inform him/her about all the medications being taken so that negative drug interactions can be avoided. NMHA has developed written materials “Treatment Options for Recovery” (pdf)and “Antipsychotic Medication Checklist” (pdf) both of which include general information about medications and lists of questions to help with such discussions.

In addition to talking with their doctor, many consumers and their family members want to consult other information sources. To talk with a knowledgeable professional, you can consult the following resources:

• Your local pharmacist is a valuable resource to answer medication-related questions. Pharmacies are required to provide written information about prescriptions they are dispensing.
• Pharmaceutical companies have staff that can respond to questions from the general public. To find pharmaceutical company medical information telephone numbers, click here.
• In addition, many states have Drug Information Centers operated by area hospitals. To find out if there is a Drug Information Center in your area, please contact the NMHA Resource Center by calling 800-969-6642 or by e-mailing our help desk.

For written information, you can consult the following resources:

• Anxiety Disorders Association of America
• Attention Deficit Disorder Association
• Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
• Obsessive Compulsive Foundation
• National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus
• WebMDHealth