Psychiatric Care · Medication Management · Pharmacogenomic Testing

Medication Management

Published: August 1, 2026 Reviewed by: Erin Brosamer, PA-C, CAQ-Psych

The right medication can make an enormous difference in managing a psychiatric condition. PNS psychiatrists and advanced practice providers offer expert, personalized medication management grounded in evidence and informed by your unique history, biology, and goals.

Medication can play an important role in treating medical conditions like depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, and other mental health concerns. At PNS, treatment is tailored to the individual, with providers working closely with patients to monitor progress, manage side effects, and make thoughtful adjustments as needs evolve.

What is medication management?

Medication management is the process of evaluating, prescribing, monitoring, and adjusting psychiatric medications as part of a comprehensive mental health treatment plan.

For many patients, medication can help reduce symptoms, improve daily functioning, and create greater emotional stability. But effective treatment is rarely as simple as writing a prescription. Every person responds differently, and finding the right approach often requires ongoing collaboration between patient and provider.

At PNS, medication management appointments focus on understanding the full picture: symptoms, treatment history, lifestyle factors, side effects, and long-term goals. Providers work with patients to create a plan that feels effective, sustainable, and individualized.

Medication management may be used on its own or alongside psychotherapy and other treatment approaches.

Antidepressants

Including SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, mirtazapine, TCAs, and MAOIs

Mood Stabilizers

Including lithium, valproate, and lamotrigine

ADHD Medications

Including stimulant and non-stimulant treatment options

Alcohol Cessation

Including naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram

Anxiety Medications

Including fast-acting anxiolytics, beta-blockers, and buspirone

Cognitive Support

Including ACE Inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists

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How It Works

A personalized, ongoing treatment process

Medication management typically begins with a psychiatric evaluation, where your provider gathers information about your symptoms, medical history, previous treatments, and overall mental health goals. From there, treatment may include:

  • Medication recommendations or adjustments
  • Ongoing symptom monitoring
  • Managing side effects
  • Evaluating effectiveness over time
  • Coordination with other care when appropriate

Who qualifies?

Medication management may be appropriate for individuals experiencing symptoms that interfere with daily life, emotional well-being, relationships, work, or school.

If you are an established patient transferring from another provider, we will coordinate transfer of your medication records and any previous psychiatric evaluations.

Medication is not the right approach for everyone, and treatment recommendations are always based on a patient’s individual needs, preferences, and clinical history.

Initial Appointment

Initial visits are generally longer and focused on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.

Routine Visits

Follow-ups are shorter and designed to monitor progress, discuss changes in symptoms, and make adjustments if needed.

Telehealth Options

Telehealth follow-up is available for established patients at eligible locations.

Pharmacogenomic testing

PNS offers pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing, a DNA-based test that analyzes how your genes influence the way your body metabolizes common psychiatric medications.

PGx testing is a simple saliva swab designed administered by your practitioner to help guide selection when standard approaches have fallen short or when avoiding trial-and-error matters.

Results return within a few days and can inform medication selection by identifying which drugs are more likely to be effective or to cause side effects for you specifically.

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Our Locations

PNS locations offering
medication management

Medication management services are available across multiple PNS locations throughout Southern California.

  • Costa Mesa Costa Mesa

    Costa Mesa

    3151 Airway Avenue, Suite G-1
    Costa Mesa, CA 92626

    Phone: (714) 545-5550
    Fax: (714) 708-2588

    Treatments offered at this location

    Areas served

    • Costa Mesa
    • Newport Beach
    • Newport Coast
    • Santa Ana
    • Irvine
    • Fountain Valley
  • Huntington Beach Huntington Beach

    Huntington Beach

    19671 Beach Boulevard, Suite 215
    Huntington Beach, CA 92648

    Phone: (714) 545-5550
    Fax: (714) 916-0000

    Treatments offered at this location

    Areas served

    • Huntington Beach
    • Seal Beach
    • La Palma
    • Stanton
    • Cypress
    • Los Alamitos
    • Rossmoor
    • Orange County
  • Orange - La Veta Orange - La Veta building

    Orange – La Veta

    302 West La Veta Avenue, Suite 202
    Orange, CA 92866

    Phone: (714) 545-5550
    Fax: (714) 202-5555

    Treatments offered at this location

    Areas served

    • Orange
    • Fullerton
    • Yorba Linda
    • Placentia
    • Anaheim Hills
    • Tustin
    • Brea
    • Villa Park
  • Orange - Providence Orange - Providence building

    Orange – Providence

    1310 West Stewart Dr, Suite 306
    Orange, CA 92868

    Phone: (714) 545-5550
    Fax: (714) 363-3761

    Treatments offered at this location

    Areas served

    • Orange
    • Fullerton
    • Yorba Linda
    • Placentia
    • Anaheim Hills
    • Tustin
    • Brea
    • Villa Park
  • Santa Ana / Tustin Santa Ana / Tustin

    Santa Ana / Tustin

    999 N. Tustin Ave., Suite 216
    Santa Ana, CA 92705

    Phone: (714) 545-5550
    Fax: (714) 545-5550

    Treatments offered at this location

    Areas served

    • Santa Ana
    • Tustin
    • Irvine
    • Anaheim Hills
    • Fullerton
    • Orange
    • Westminster
    • Garden Grove
    • Costa Mesa
    • Fountain Valley
  • Mission Viejo Mission Viejo

    Mission Viejo

    26024 Acero
    Mission Viejo, CA 92691

    Phone: (714) 545-5550
    Fax: (949) 609-0374

    Treatments offered at this location

    Areas served

    • Mission Viejo
    • Dana Point
    • San Juan Capistrano
    • Rancho Santa Margarita
    • Laguna Hills
    • Laguna Woods
    • Laguna Niguel
    • Laguna Beach
    • Lake Forest
    • Las Flores
  • Long Beach Long Beach

    Long Beach

    1760 Termino Ave., Suite G21
    Long Beach, CA 90804

    Phone: (714) 545-5550
    Fax: (562) 543-3339

    Treatments offered at this location

    Areas served

    • Carson
    • Cypress
    • West LA
    • Torrance
    • Los Altos
    • Paramount
    • Bellflower
    • Long Beach
    • Signal Hill
    • West Carson
    • Rancho Palos Verdes
    • Rolling Hills Estates
    • Wilmington
    • Harbor City
    • Los Cerritos
  • Corona Corona

    Corona

    900 S Main St., Suite 209
    Corona, CA 92882

    Phone: (714) 545-5550
    Fax: (949) 609-0374

    Treatments offered at this location

    Areas served

    • Riverside
    • Norco
    • Eastvale
    • Chino Hills
    • Loma

Advancing care through clinical research

PNS is an active clinical research site, currently conducting studies in depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, tardive dyskinesia, and other psychiatric conditions at our Orange (La Veta) location.

For most patients, that research experience simply means a more informed prescriber. For some, it opens an additional door: qualifying patients may be eligible to participate in a current trial, gaining access to emerging treatments at no cost, under close medical supervision.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. Treatment recommendations depend on the individual and may include therapy, medication, or a combination of approaches.

Some medications begin working within a few weeks, while others may take longer. Your provider will discuss what to expect based on your treatment plan.

Not always. Some patients use medication short-term, while others benefit from longer-term treatment. Decisions are made collaboratively with your provider.

In most cases, yes. Coverage varies depending on your insurance plan and benefits.

Pharmacogenomic testing analyzes specific genes affecting how your body processes psychiatric medications. It can identify which medications are more likely to be effective or cause side effects for you. It is most useful for patients who have had multiple medication trials without success, or where getting the selection right quickly matters. PNS offers this testing at our locations; your provider will advise whether it’s appropriate for your situation.

Yes. PNS providers prescribe stimulant medications for ADHD, benzodiazepines where clinically appropriate, and other Schedule II–IV medications as part of evidence-based treatment. Prescribing is always within the bounds of standard of care and applicable regulations.

Many patients come to PNS after previous treatments were ineffective or caused side effects. Providers work closely with patients to reevaluate options and identify new approaches where appropriate.

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