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cont. from
Go Directly to List of Antidepressant Medications
Anyone can develop
depression. But, treatment is effective in about 80% of
identified cases, when treatment is provided.
Psychotherapy and
medication are
the two primary treatment approaches.
Antidepressant medications can make
psychotherapy more effective, for some people. Someone who is too depressed to
talk, for instance, can't get much benefit from psychotherapy or counseling; but
often, the right medication will improve symptoms so that the person can respond
better.
This page explains many issues related to the treatment of depression with
antidepressant medication. It is intended to help you understand how and why drugs can be used
as part of the treatment of depression. It is important for you to be well
informed about medications for depression, if you are taking any of these
medications, but this is not a "do-it-yourself" manual.
Self-medication can be dangerous. Interpretation of both the signs and
symptoms of depression, and identification of possible side effects, are jobs
for the professional. The prescription and management of medication, in all
cases, must be done by a responsible physician working closely with the patient,
his/her psychologist, and sometimes the patient's family. This is the only way
to ensure that the most effective use of medication is achieved with minimum
risk of side effects or complications.
These antidepressant medication topics are covered here:
Just as aspirin can reduce a fever without clearing
up the infection that causes it, psychotherapeutic medications act by
controlling symptoms. Like most drugs used in medicine, they correct or
compensate for some malfunction in the body. Psychotherapeutic medications do
not cure depression. In many cases, these medications can help a person get on
with life despite some continuing mental pain and difficulty coping with
problems. For example, antidepressants can lift the dark, heavy moods of
depression. The degree of response ranging from little relief of symptoms to
complete remission depends on a variety of factors related to the individual and
the particular disorder being treated.
How long someone must take a psychotherapeutic medication depends on the
disorder. Many depressed and
anxious people may need medication for a single
period perhaps for several months and then never have to take it again. For some
depressions, medication may have to be taken indefinitely or, perhaps,
intermittently.
Like any medication, psychotherapeutic medications do not produce the same
effect in everyone. Some people may respond better to one medication than
another. Some may need larger dosages than others do. Some experience annoying
side effects, while others do not. Age, sex, body size, body chemistry, physical
illnesses and their treatments, diet, and habits such as smoking, are some of
the factors that can influence a medication's effect.
next:
Types of Antidepressants and
What They're Used For
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Reviewed: 01/2006
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