Depression Medication
There are several different types of depression medication on
the market. The best way to treat depression is with a
combination of depression medication and psychotherapy. The
role of the medication is not to “cure” the depression but to
help control symptoms. The person seeking treatment can then
use the talk therapy as a way to learn some strategies to
combat the disorder.
Depression is a lot more than feeling sad, going through a
rough time, or feeling “blue”. In order to be diagnosed with
depression, the individual must have been experiencing symptoms
for a minimum of two weeks. The condition must be diagnosed by
a health care professional, who will also determine whether and
which depression medication should be used to treat it. The
symptoms must be affecting the individual to the extent that he
or she is finding day-to-day living difficult.
Depression can be mild to severe. Some people have an episode
of depression at a given time and then may not experience
symptoms for years. Other people experience symptoms for an
extended period of time, perhaps years.
What Type of Depression Medication is Best?
A physician will prescribe a depression medication based on the
individual’s symptoms. It is important to understand that there
will not be an immediate relief of symptoms. The person taking
the depression medication may not know for approximately six
weeks how well the particular medication is helping to relieve
symptoms of depression. It may take awhile to find out which
particular medication is best.
One type of depression medication is called Selective Seratonin
Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRI. SSRI’s are sold under the brand
names Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, and Luvox. This medication
affects the brain’s neurotransmitters, such as dopamine. The
advan-tage of prescribing an SSRI medication is that this type
tends to have less side effects than either the tricyclics or
the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are older forms
of depression medication and may not be a physician’s first
choice.
It is very important for patients to take their medication as
prescribed. Some people start feeling better and assume that
they don’t need to keep on taking the medication and so they
stop. Other patients become discouraged at the amount of time
it seems to be taking to get relief and also go off their
medication. Both of these courses of action are ill-advised, to
say the least.
Side Effects
One of the more common side effects from SSRI medications is
dry mouth. It may be helpful to drink plenty of fluids, chew a
sugarless gum, and brush teeth daily.
Another side effect is constipation. Increasing the amount of
fiber in the diet should help to combat this problem. Some
patients feel drowsy or dizzy while taking the medication. If
drowsiness is a problem, it is best to avoid driving or
operating heavy equipment.
Headaches and nausea can also be a problem. These side effects
are generally short-lived. Some people report feeling nervous
or having difficulty falling asleep. The nervousness is usually
a temporary problem. People who experience sleep disruptions
(waking up during the night) or have trouble getting to sleep
may find that changing the time of day they take their
medication (i.e. take it earlier in the evening) helpful.
Natural Treatments for Depression
St. John’s Wort can be used to treat depression. The compound
contained in the plant responsible for relieving symptoms of
depression is called hyperforin. The hyperforin works by
increasing the levels of the brain’s neurotransmitters, thereby
improving mood and bringing about a feeling of emotional
balance.
Even with the risk of side effects, it is very important for
people with depression to seek treatment and get on the right
depression medication to start feeling better soon.
| 
Delicious
Google Bookmarks
Stumbleupon
Digg
BlinkList
Ma.gnolia
Reddit
Yahoo My Web