Managing side-effects to the optimum: valuing a client's experience

Despite the recent emergence of psychosocial interventions and other forms of practical treatments, antipsychotic medication remains the cornerstone of treatment for schizophrenia, as it is recognized to be effective in reducing relapse rates. Nevertheless, the side-effects of psychotropic medication make adherence to treatment regimens difficult for many clients and, until recently, little has been done by mental health nurses to consistently monitor or manage these symptoms. This report describes how the integration of knowledge and clinical skills in psychopharmacology optimized one client's concordance with medication. It reports on 'John's' treatment experience with medication and addresses the role that mental health nurses can play in appraising pharmaceutical effects, and assessing and working with side-effects, using a medication-management multidisciplinary team approach.