This varies by medication and condition. Antidepressants typically require 4-6 weeks at therapeutic doses before significant improvement appears—patience is essential. Anti-anxiety medications can work more quickly. Mood stabilizers may take several weeks to months. We monitor your response carefully and adjust if needed. Importantly, symptom improvement should be gradual and progressive; sudden changes warrant evaluation.

Intolerable side effects are not something you must accept. We have multiple strategies: switching to a different medication in the same class with a better side effect profile, adjusting dose, adding a medication specifically to counter side effects, changing timing of doses, or exploring completely different medication classes. The goal is symptom relief without sacrificing quality of life.

This depends entirely on your condition, how you respond, and your goals. Some people take medications short-term; others benefit from long-term treatment. Some people want to eventually discontinue; others prefer ongoing treatment. These are collaborative decisions. If you eventually want to discontinue medications, that's done carefully under psychiatric supervision—not abruptly, as that risks relapse or withdrawal symptoms.

This is often called "treatment-resistant depression" or treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions. Rather than continuing to try similar medications, Dr. Farkas uses sophisticated strategies: investigating whether diagnosis might be different than previously thought, selecting medications with different neuropharmacological mechanisms, using strategic medication combinations, or exploring newer treatment approaches. Treatment resistance doesn't mean untreatable—it means you need more specialized expertise.

Yes. Dr. Farkas provides professional telehealth psychiatry throughout South Carolina, New York, and Virginia using a secure HIPAA-compliant platform. Telehealth appointments provide the same comprehensive evaluation and expert care as in-person visits—the choice depends on your preference and circumstances. Many patients prefer telehealth for convenience and accessibility.

Bring insurance card (if applicable), photo ID, and a list of current medications with doses. It's helpful to have notes about: psychiatric symptoms and when they started, previous psychiatric diagnoses, medication trials and your response to each, medical conditions and their treatments, and family psychiatric history. However, don't worry if you're not completely prepared—Dr. Farkas will help gather necessary information during your evaluation.

Dr. Farkas operates on a self-pay model (not accepting insurance directly), which provides complete treatment autonomy. Superbills are provided for insurance reimbursement if you have out-of-network benefits. Payment plans are available for initial evaluations. Call 917-267-9678 to discuss specific costs and payment options.