Depression Medication

There are several different types of depression medication on the market.  The best way to treat depression is with a combination of depression medication and psychotherapy.  The role of the medication is not to “cure” the depression but to help control symptoms.  The person seeking treatment can then use the talk therapy as a way to learn some strategies to combat the disorder.

Depression is a lot more than feeling sad, going through a rough time, or feeling “blue”.  In order to be diagnosed with depression, the individual must have been experiencing symptoms for a minimum of two weeks.  The condition must be diagnosed by a health care professional, who will also determine whether and which depression medication should be used to treat it.  The symptoms must be affecting the individual to the extent that he or she is finding day-to-day living difficult. 

Depression can be mild to severe.  Some people have an episode of depression at a given time and then may not experience symptoms for years.  Other people experience symptoms for an extended period of time, perhaps years.

What Type of Depression Medication is Best?

A physician will prescribe a depression medication based on the individual’s symptoms.  It is important to understand that there will not be an immediate relief of symptoms.  The person taking the depression medication may not know for approximately six weeks how well the particular medication is helping to relieve symptoms of depression.  It may take awhile to find out which particular medication is best.

One type of depression medication is called Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRI.  SSRI’s are sold under the brand names Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, and Luvox.  This medication affects the brain’s neurotransmitters, such as dopamine.  The advan-tage of prescribing an SSRI medication is that this type tends to have less side effects than either the tricyclics or the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are older forms of depression medication and may not be a physician’s first choice. 

It is very important for patients to take their medication as prescribed.  Some people start feeling better and assume that they don’t need to keep on taking the medication and so they stop.  Other patients become discouraged at the amount of time it seems to be taking to get relief and also go off their medication.  Both of these courses of action are ill-advised, to say the least.

Side Effects

One of the more common side effects from SSRI medications is dry mouth.  It may be helpful to drink plenty of fluids, chew a sugarless gum, and brush teeth daily.

Another side effect is constipation.  Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet should help to combat this problem.  Some patients feel drowsy or dizzy while taking the medication.  If drowsiness is a problem, it is best to avoid driving or operating heavy equipment. 

Headaches and nausea can also be a problem.  These side effects are generally short-lived.  Some people report feeling nervous or having difficulty falling asleep.   The nervousness is usually a temporary problem.  People who experience sleep disruptions (waking up during the night) or have trouble getting to sleep may find that changing the time of day they take their medication (i.e. take it earlier in the evening) helpful.

Natural Treatments for Depression

St. John’s Wort can be used to treat depression.  The compound contained in the plant resonsible for relieving symptoms of depression is called hyperforin.  The hyperforin works by increasing the levels of the brain’s neurotransmitters, thereby  improving mood and bringing about a feeling of emotional balance.

Even with the risk of side effects, it is very important for people with depression to seek treatment and get on the right depression medication to start feeling better soon.