Thursday, 11 December 2014

Antidepressants Medicines

Not only does it take time to get an accurate depression diagnosis, finding the right medication to treat depression can be a complicated, delicate process. Someone may have a serious medical problem, such as heart disease or liver or kidney disease, that could make some antidepressants unsafe. The antidepressant could be ineffective for you or the dose inadequate; there may not have been enough time to see an effect, or the side effects could be too bothersome -- leading to a failure of treatment.
As you approach taking antidepressants to treat depression, it is important to keep these points in mind:
Only about 30% of people with depression go into full remission after taking their first course of antidepressants. That’s according to a 2006 study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Those who got better were more likely to be taking slightly higher doses for longer periods.
Some antidepressants work better for certain individuals than others. It's not uncommon to try different depression medicines during treatment.
Some people need more than one medicine for depression treatment.
Antidepressants carry a boxed warning about increased risk compared to placebo for suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults 18-24 years old.
Working with your doctor, you can weigh the risks and benefits of treatment and optimize the use of medication that best relieves your symptoms.

 What is an antidepressant?

Antidepressants, sometimes in combination with psychotherapy, are often the first treatment people get for depression. If one antidepressant doesn't work well, you might try another drug of the same class or a different class of depression medicines altogether. Your doctor might also try changing the dose. In some cases, your doctor might recommend taking more than one medication for your depression.

antidepressants Medicines Cause Certain Side Effects:

Although all antidepressants can cause side effects, some are more likely to cause certain side effects than others.
Side Effect Medicines Most Likely To Cause This Side Effect
Nausea/vomiting
  • Venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil)
Weight gain
  • Mirtazapine (Remeron, Remeron SolTab)
    • Between 2 and 7 pounds in 6 to 8 weeks
Diarrhea
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
Sleepiness
  • Trazodone (Desyrel)
Sexual problems (such as decreased sex drive or difficulty getting an erection)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), or sertraline (Zoloft) had more sexual side effects than bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR®, Wellbutrin XL)
What happens if I stop taking my antidepressant?
Some people have symptoms after they stop taking certain antidepressant medicines. These are called withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include headache, dizziness, light-headedness, nausea, and anxiety. You should never stop taking your medicine without first talking with your doctor.
More people had these symptoms after they stopped taking paroxetine Paxil, Paxil CR and venlafaxine Effexor, Effexor XR.
Fewer people had withdrawal symptoms after they stopped taking fluoxetine Prozac, Prozac Weekly).
Antidepressant medication, used under the guidance of a mental health professional, may relieve your depression symptoms. But antidepressants also come with side effects and dangers. What’s more, recent studies have raised questions about their effectiveness. At the very least, it’s clear that medication alone usually isn’t enough—you also may need therapy and lifestyle changes. Learning the facts about antidepressants and weighing the benefits against the risks can help you make an informed and personal decision about what’s right for you.
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/antidepressants-depression-medication.htm

 

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