Patient Prescribing Information
Anti-Anxiety Medications, Sleep Medications, and Opioids
If you are seeking care for anxiety, insomnia, or opioid addiction (including treatment with Suboxone), please carefully review our guidelines to understand our evaluation and prescribing policies. For information on ADHD prescribing guidelines, please refer to the ADHD Prescribing Guidelines.
Pre-Evaluation Checklist
Please answer the following questions to determine if our guidelines apply to you:
- Have you been diagnosed with, or do you believe you have an anxiety or panic disorder? Yes / No
- Have you been diagnosed with a sleep disorder, or do you suffer from insomnia? Yes / No
- Have you been diagnosed with opioid addiction, or are you currently on Suboxone? Yes / No
If you answered “Yes” to any of the questions above, please review the following Grace Mental Wellness LLC Guidelines on prescribing controlled substances.
Our General Approach to Care
At Grace Mental Wellness LLC, our priority is to understand your unique needs and establish a strong working relationship with you. Here’s how we proceed with your care:
Comprehensive Evaluation
We will review your psychiatric and medical history, examine your medical records, conduct a full psychiatric evaluation, and, when appropriate, administer diagnostic testing.
Lab Work and Coordination
We may require tests, such as an initial or follow-up urine drug screen. We may also coordinate with your primary care physician to ensure that it is medically safe to prescribe the appropriate medications.
Treatment Plan
We will begin by offering behavioral interventions or psychotherapy if indicated. Medication will only be prescribed when necessary, and we will work closely with you to monitor your progress.
Anxiety Disorders, Panic, and Anti-Anxiety Medications
Benzodiazepines (e.g., Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax)
If you are seeking benzodiazepines for anxiety treatment, please note that we recommend prescribing them for a maximum of 6 weeks. Our primary treatment recommendations are psychotherapy and/or antidepressants (such as SSRIs, TCAs, or MAOIs) if necessary.
Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use
If you have been using benzodiazepines for an extended period and are seeking treatment, we may initially continue your current medication. However, our goal will be to gradually reduce your dosage and transition your treatment to antidepressants and/or psychotherapy.
Insomnia and Sleep Disorders
General Insomnia
For general insomnia (without a formal sleep disorder), we first focus on sleep hygiene education. If sleep medications are necessary, we may prescribe non-addictive antidepressants like Trazodone, Doxepin, or Mirtazapine.
Short-Term Use of Sleep Medications
If medications like Ambien, other Z-drugs, or Orexins are needed, we typically prescribe them on a short-term basis, not exceeding 6 weeks.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
CBT-I is considered the best long-term treatment for insomnia, and we may recommend it as part of your ongoing treatment plan.
Opioids, Suboxone, and Methadone
We are not authorized to prescribe opioids or Suboxone. These interventions should be managed by an addiction specialist, and we can coordinate your care with your treatment provider.
