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Depression Medication
from: DGSometime depression medication is deemed necessary by the doctor, especially in the case of severe depression. But medication is not an instant cure by any means. It takes weeks before the medication benefits are felt and researchers aren’t sure why it takes so long. But there are certain depression symptoms that warrant medication.
• Having suicidal thoughts or preoccupation with death
• Experiencing psychotic delusions
• Have severe depression that has overwhelmed your life
• Have recurring depression that hasn’t responded to other treatments
Sometimes depression medication is prescribed when other forms of treatment have already been tried and are not proving to be effective. Depression can be elusive because so many different things can contribute to its existence. Medication can be a last resort form of treatment in these situations.
Most doctors will not prescribe depression medication until psychotherapy has been tried if at all possible. Medication is seldom the first choice of treatment unless there are no alternatives available to the patient or the patient is considered to be a threat to him or herself.
There are several different kinds of depression medicine commonly prescribed today. Basically, depression is considered to be the result of the brain not producing the right amount of chemicals needed for proper functioning. The result is increased feelings of stress and anxiety among other effects. Medication attempts to restore balance in the brain so neurotransmitters operate properly.
The most common depression medication prescribed will be one of the following.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
• Tricyclics
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO inhibitor)
• Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor Medications
• Benzodiazepine Tranquilizers (BZ)
These are a lot of fancy names for antidepressants. There are even other medications that can be tried if any of these depression medication choices are not acceptable. Varying side effects will have to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to continue a particular medication. For example, some of them are addictive. That means when it’s time to get off the drug, you must slowly withdraw.
There is another class of drugs that is not considered an antidepressant. Instead, the drugs are actually mood stabilizers. They don’t affect the same chemicals in the brain like the antidepressant drugs. Instead of impacting serotonin or dopamine, they have an impact on glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid.
Not everyone chooses to take medication, but instead try to find alternate treatments. Also, there are times when taking medications is not appropriate. For example, when you’re pregnant or taking a drug for another medical problem you might not want to use antidepressants. Some drugs cannot be safely mixed together. In addition, sometimes the side effects of the depression medication are so uncomfortable that people choose to quit taking the drug.
Depression medication is an effective form of treatment under certain conditions. You must work with your doctor to determine which medication will best suit your situation.
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Depression News
Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression: Conflict of Interest's "Perfect Storm"? (Psychiatric Times)
In July 2005, the FDA approved a new type of therapy for treatment-resistant depression: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). However, the approval process incited controversy because the scientific team that was assigned to review the device rejected its approval unanimously 3 separate times.
Read more...Pa. woman cites depression in mother-in-law's death (Centre Daily Times)
A south-central Pennsylvania woman on trial in the alleged neglect death of her elderly mother-in-law says she herself was battling depression and using a powerful painkiller.
Read more...Defense cites depression (York Daily Record)
While she was supposed to be caring for her ailing, elderly, bedridden mother-in-law, Frances Ann Donohue was wandering around in a fog of major depression and animal-strength painkillers, her attorney said.
Read more...Defense: Depression, Bute abuse left woman unable to cope (York Daily Record)
While she was supposed to be caring for her ailing, elderly, bedridden mother-in-law, Frances Ann Donohue was wandering around in a fog of major depression and animal-strength painkillers, her attorney said. The defensive phase continued Wednesday in the murder-by-neglect trial of Donohue, 61, and her husband, William J. Donohue, 73. The commonwealth has accused the couple of ignoring all but ...
Read more...You've Got To Have Hope: Studies Show 'Hope Therapy' Fights Depression (Science Daily)
A growing body of research suggests that there is a potent way to fight symptoms of depression that doesn't involve getting a prescription. This potent weapon? Hope. "We're finding that hope is consistently associated with fewer symptoms of depression. And the good news is that hope is something that can be taught, and can be developed in many of the people who need it," said Jennifer Cheavens ...
Read more...