There is no cure for schizophrenia, but people can and are able to have full and meaningful lives. The experience of schizophrenia is unique to each person, and as a result, each person’s experience is unique—what might work well for one person may not work so well for another.

It’s vital for people with schizophrenia and other serious mental illness to learn about their illnesses and to understand the components of a comprehensive and successful treatment plan so they can play an active role in managing their illness. Medication is a vital component of any successful treatment plan for a person living with a serious mental illness.

The use of medication helps a person manage the symptoms that would otherwise get in the way of their daily living. Once some of the symptoms are successfully managed through the use of medication, it is possible for a person living with serious mental illness to engage in other therapy and rehabilitation programs.

However, navigating and understanding what medications are available can be confusing, difficult, and scary. But you are not alone.

There are a variety of options available and it may take time to find the medication that works best for each individual. What may work for one person may not work for another. What may be working today could lose its effectiveness in the future. For this reason, it is essential to work with a psychiatrist or physician to ensure that a medication and its effectiveness and any side effects are being assessed regularly.

Talk to a psychiatrist or mental health worker about therapy and rehabilitation programs that may be suitable to augment the medication treatment.