| Drug Resource Center Depression Drug Treatment dmtContent 
Drug Treatment There are several important things to consider if you decide on drug treatment for your depression: - It may take weeks before you begin to feel a positive response.
- All drugs have side effects. Some of these effects are mild, some are more serious. You may have no side effects at all.
- Antidepressants and other mental-health drugs can interact with other drugs you may be taking.
- Antidepressants and other mental-health drugs can have an effect on other illnesses you may have.
- Drug treatment should be monitored by a health-care provider.
- Don't stop taking any drug without discussing it with your health-care provider. You can develop unwanted symptoms if you stop taking a drug abruptly.
Finding The Right Drug For You If you are depressed, your health-care provider may recommend several different drugs depending on your condition. For example, antidepressants will target the brain chemicals that influence your depression. Mood stabilizers treat the ups and downs of mood that are common in bipolar disorder and other mood disorders. Or you may need an antianxiety drug (if anxiety accompanies your depression) or an antipsychotic drug (if thought distortion accompanies your depression). Here's the full range of drugs that may be used in the treatment of depression: Antidepressants No antidepressant works immediately. Although they have an immediate effect on the brain's chemical messengers, their effect on depression takes several days to weeks. Although it is possible to get relief sooner, count on an antidepressant drug taking at least two to four weeks, if not longer, to show its full effect. Mood Stabilizers Mood stabilizers are useful in the treatment of bipolar disorder, but they are also used in the treatment of depression. They may be used alone or in combination with other mental-health drugs. For example, they sometimes are prescribed to enhance the action of antidepressants. Antianxiety Drugs Because anxiety is common in depression, drugs to reduce anxiety can be very helpful. Antipsychotic Drugs Distorted thinking can be a symptom of depression. Antipsychotic drugs are very good at helping a person better recognize reality. These drugs are sometimes used in very low doses to enhance the effects of antidepressants.
Last updated March 05, 2010
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