Five things we track
Every follow-up visit in our Tryon Street office comes back to five questions. Your answers guide every decision about your medicine.
1. Symptoms
Are you sleeping better? Is the worry quieter, the mood lighter, the focus sharper? We repeat short scales like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 so you can see progress in numbers, not just feelings.
2. Side effects
Some side effects fade in the first weeks; others do not. Nausea, sleep changes, weight changes, sexual side effects, and feeling flat all matter. Tell us honestly. Many can be fixed by changing the dose, the timing, or the medicine.
3. Safety
Some medicines need lab work. Lithium needs blood levels and kidney and thyroid tests. Valproate needs liver tests. Certain antipsychotics call for periodic weigh-ins and blood sugar and cholesterol panels. Stimulants need blood pressure and pulse. ADHD stimulants are Schedule II, so each fill requires a new prescription, and your provider reviews North Carolina's Controlled Substances Reporting System first.
4. Interactions
We ask about every new prescription, supplement, and over-the-counter medicine. Some migraine drugs, pain relievers, antibiotics, and cold medicines interact with psychiatric medicines. Tell us when urgent care or another doctor prescribes something.
5. Life changes
A new job at a bank tower, a baby, a move to Lake Norman, a divorce, or a death in the family can all shift what you need. We adjust the plan as life changes.
Conditions we treat
Our providers prescribe for depression, generalized anxiety and panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, bipolar disorder, the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, PMDD, and insomnia that travels with them. Patients are 15 and older; teens come with a parent or guardian.
Travel and long hours
Many Charlotte professionals fly out of Charlotte Douglas every week. Keep medicine in your carry-on and bring extra for delays. Crossing time zones can shift dose timing; your provider can give you a simple plan.
Alcohol and networking
Client dinners and happy hours are part of many Charlotte jobs. Alcohol can blunt antidepressants, worsen anxiety and sleep, and add danger with sedating medicines. Your provider will talk about it openly.
Seasonal and life-cycle shifts
Some patients need a little more support in the darker months or during stressful seasons like tax season, year-end at a bank, or a big product launch. If your symptoms follow a pattern, your provider can plan ahead.
Medicine and the gym
Many Charlotte patients run the greenways or train for the Charlotte Marathon. Some medicines affect heart rate, heat tolerance, or weight. Tell your provider about your training so choices and timing fit, and drink plenty of water on hot, humid days.
Adjusting or stopping
If a medicine only partly helps, options include adjusting the dose, switching, or adding another. After several tries, GeneSight testing may help. If you want to stop, your provider will plan a slow taper.
Do not wait for your next visit if...
...dark thoughts about hurting yourself appear or get louder, you are suddenly sleeping very little and feel unstoppable, a rash shows up, you faint, or side effects are making work impossible. Call us. For a crisis, call or text 988 or dial 911.
Pregnancy and nursing
If you are planning a pregnancy, pregnant, or breastfeeding, tell your provider early. Some medicines are better choices at these times, and stopping suddenly can carry its own risks.
Teens and families
For patients 15 to 17, a parent is part of medication decisions. Your provider explains what each medicine does, what to watch for, and when to call.
Shift work at the hospitals and the airport
Nurses at Atrium and Novant, and crews at Charlotte Douglas, often rotate between days and nights. Medicine timing should follow your sleep, not the clock. Energizing medicines go after you wake, sedating ones before your main sleep, and your provider will plan around your rotation.
Getting started
New patients begin with a psychiatric evaluation. Transferring care? Bring your medicine list. Visit 128 S Tryon St. Become a patient without a referral.
Why Choose Queen City Psychiatry and Mental Health?
- Board-certified psychiatric providers serving the Charlotte metro and surrounding area
- Research-backed treatment protocols
- Full documentation for all evaluations
- Coordinated care with your other providers across the region