Sometimes a number of different drugs have to be tried before you find one that works. If it doesn't help as much as expected, it's possible to switch to a different medication. So doctors often first suggest taking a drug that they consider to be effective and relatively well tolerated. But it's difficult to predict how well a particular medication will help an individual. There are a lot of different medications for treating depression. How effectively do antidepressants relieve the symptoms? Unlike many sleeping pills and sedatives, antidepressants don't cause physical dependence or addiction. Sometimes people stop taking their medication as soon as they start feeling better, but that increases the risk of the depression coming back. These symptoms are especially likely if you suddenly stop taking antidepressants. You may experience temporary sleep problems, nausea or restlessness when coming off antidepressants. Towards the end of the treatment, the dose is gradually reduced over the course of several weeks. That can make the tablets less effective, or they may cause more side effects. By no means should you reduce the dose or stop taking the medication on your own. There you can talk about whether the symptoms have improved and whether there are any side effects. It's important to have regular appointments with your doctor when taking antidepressants. Some people take antidepressants over many years. The duration of treatment also depends on how the symptoms continue to develop over time and whether the depression is likely to return. The medication is sometimes taken for longer to prevent relapses. This continuation therapy is necessary to stop the symptoms from coming back. Once that has been achieved, the treatment is continued for at least four to nine months. The goal in the first few weeks and months is to relieve the symptoms and, where possible, make the depression go away. The treatment options for manic depression (bipolar disorder) aren't discussed here.Īntidepressants are usually taken daily. This information is about using medication to treat the most common form of depression, known as unipolar depression. They are also taken to relieve symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety and sleep problems, and to prevent suicidal thoughts. They are meant to make you feel emotionally stable again and help you to follow a normal daily routine. The main aim of treatment with antidepressants is to relieve the symptoms of severe depression, such as feeling very down and exhausted, and prevent them from coming back. It is important to discuss the pros and cons of antidepressants with your doctor. They are effective in moderate, severe and chronic depression, but probably not in mild cases. But, like with many other treatments, these medications may help in some situations and not in others. Some people doubt that they work well, while others consider them to be essential. Opinions vary on how effective antidepressants are in relieving the symptoms of depression. They aim to relieve symptoms and prevent depression from coming back. Antidepressants, talk therapy, or a combination of the two may help.Like psychotherapy, antidepressants are a key part of treating depression. If you or someone you know thinks they have depression, talk to your health care provider as soon as possible. However, they work better for some people. They are prescribed less often than other medications because they tend to cause more side effects. Older antidepressant medications include tricyclics, tetracyclics, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). It also treats seasonal affective disorder and helps people stop smoking. Common ones include venlafaxine and duloxetine.īupropion works differently than SSRIs or SNRIs. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are similar to SSRIs. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most prescribed type of antidepressant and include: The most commonly prescribed ones include: It may take a few weeks (often four to six) for these medications to fully work. This can lead to improved moods, concentration, and sleep. How do they work?Īntidepressants can help balance chemicals in our brains. You may have to try a few different ones before you and your provider find the best one for you. What are they?Īntidepressants are prescribed for mood conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as for pain and sleeping troubles. We've pulled together some basic information from MedlinePlus and the National Institute of Mental Health on common types of these medications. But there is a lot of information out there to sift through. Antidepressants are among the most searched medications on the internet.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |