Each year millions of people around the world are diagnosed with depression. This medical condition affects your mind and body and its emotional and physical symptoms can be so severe that they disrupt your life. An antidepressant medication is often the first treatment used to alleviate severe symptoms of depression. Although medication may not cure your depression, they can help you reduce your symptoms so that you can pursue other forms of treatment such as psychotherapy. Work with your mental health professional and explore your drug options.
Instructions
1. Make an appointment with a psychiatrist. Although a family physician can help you realize that you need to treat your depression, a psychiatrist specializes in treatment for mental disorders. He will most likely be familiar with the latest antidepressants available and the risks involved.
2. Discuss Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. This antidepressant medication is usually well tolerated and it is often effective. Common SSRIs include Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), Fluoxetine (Prozac), and Escitalopram (Lexapro). SSRIs are believed to regulate a chemical in the brain called serotonin, which is important for sleep, mental function, digestion, and sleep. Low serotonin levels may contribute to depression.
3. Discuss a class of antidepressants called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). This group of antidepressants is the second choice for many physicians because they usually have more severe side effects. TCAs work by inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. Common TCAs used for depression include Doxepin (Sinequan), Nortriptyline (Pamelor), Protripyline (Vivactil) and Trimipramine (Surmontil).
4. Discuss the side effects of the antidepressant your physician is suggesting. Common side effects of antidepressants include dizziness, drowsiness, constipation and blurred vision. Know which symptoms require immediate medical attention such as suicidal thoughts, worsening of symptoms, aggression, and dangerous impulses.
5. Ask if the antidepressant will interact with other medications that you are currently taking. Ask if there are certain foods or substances that you will have to avoid while taking the antidepressant.
6. Ask how long it is necessary to take the medication. Discuss withdrawal symptoms that you should expect when you stop taking the antidepressant.
7. Allow the medication time to work. You may need to wait four to six weeks before you see the complete therapeutic effect of the antidepressant.
8. Continue to take the medication and do not stop without discussing it with your physician. Always follow the dosage instructions and don't skip a dose. Never stop taking the antidepressant just because your symptoms improve. Stopping treatment suddenly may cause the depression to return or you may have serious withdrawal symptoms.
9. Note the effects of the antidepressant medication in a journal. Write down any emotional and physical changes that you are experiencing. Talk to your physician about these changes.
10. Be patient as your physician tries to pinpoint the exact dosage and medication that works best for you.
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