The Use of Anti-Depressants:
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What do anti-depressant medications have in common? All currently approved anti-depressant medications are equally effective in that they will lead to substantial improvement in the symptoms of depression in 85% of the people who take them. For example, anti-depressants will improve energy levels and concentration, normalize sleep and appetite, reduce feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of death, and restore motivation and the capacity for pleasure, decrease unwarranted feelings of guilt, and eliminate depressed mood. One anti-depressant may be more effective or better tolerated than another for any given person. All the anti-depressants take from two to four weeks to start working, and must be taken regularly to maintain their benefits. It is generally recommended that if an anti-depressant is effective, it should be taken for a minimum of six months, because there is a high likelihood that depression will recur if it is stopped sooner. Anti-depressants are not addictive, and they usually maintain their effectiveness over t ime. Will I become a different person if I take medication? On the contrary, most people who take medication for depression report that they "feel like themselves again." Although anti-depressants relieve symptoms of depression they do not cause euphoria. A person taking anti-depressants will experience the range of feelings that accompany day-to-day life, including both joy and sadness. Is it a sign of weakness to take medication? No. As with any serious illness, coping with depression takes great personal strength. Nonetheless, you may be exposed to negative attitudes about anti-depressant medications, which vary among individuals and cultures. Many students have found it helpful to take the perspective that medication is one form of treatment for depression, just as medication may be used to treat asthma, allergies, infections, or diabetes. Although no one welcomes the presence of illness in their life, treatment such as medication can serve to limit or eliminate the impact of illness, freeing you to direct your energy more fully toward your personal goals. Is taking an anti-depressant just running away from my problems? No. Anti-depressants relieve the symptoms of depression, which makes it easier to face your problems and take appropriate action. Many people find that they can work more productively in psychotherapy when they are free of depressive symptoms. If you are coping with the loss of a loved one, using an anti-depressant will not interfere with the grieving process. How do anti-depressants work? All anti-depressant medications work by influencing the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that cross the space between one brain cell (neuron) and the next to enable communication between them. Common neurotransmitters are serotonin, norepinepherine, and dopamine. During an episode of depression, brain levels of these neurotransmitters are lower than usual. Antidepressant medications work by slowing the breakdown of neurotransmitters and enhancing the sensitivity of receptors on the receiving neurons. Basic science research has been focused on more accurately identifying which receptors are linked to the beneficial effects of anti-depressant medications, so that new medicines can be more specific and have fewer side effects. When should I be especially cautious about using anti-depressants? If you are or think you may be pregnant, if you are planning on getting pregnant in the near future, or if you are nursing a baby, it is important to discuss this with your health care provider, because anti-depressants have not been shown to be completely safe for the developing fetus or infant. In addition, several prescription or over-the-counter medications and herbal preparations have interactions with anti-depressants which can be dangerous, so it is important to discuss any medications or herbal supplements you are taking with your provider. Any medical problems that you have, especially a history of seizures, head injury or eating disorders, should also be mentioned to your provider, because it may influence which anti-depressants would be safest for you to use. It is recommended to minimize your alcohol intake when taking anti-depressants because alcohol is itself a depressant, and because anti-depressants may increase the intoxicating effects of alcohol. As always, do not consider this written information to be sufficient to constitute complete medical advice, so please discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your health care provider. Hush provide the worlds most secure, easy to use online applications – which solution is right for you? 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PLEASE try using word wrap next time you post. Reading this is unbearable…
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>PLEASE try using word wrap next time you post. Reading this is unbearable…
I can’t stand poorly-formatted messages! To be fair, both poster and reader bear some responsibility. Both have the duty to set their newsreader options to wordwrap at over 80 columns, then they should try to make sure their columns never exceed approx. 72 columns. Remember that people are going to reply and add ">>" characters, so this combination works very well. It really disgruntles me when I see idiots post messages where they post beyond the column limit and it forces the newsreader to wordwrap the last 1-2 words on the next line.
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Good post, "Stan". Thanks for some real info.
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