Antidepressant Depression Medication
AntidepressantsAntidepressants can alleviate symptoms of depression to improve your treatment outcomes.
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We believe that recovery from mental illness is not only attainable, but sustainable.
While traditional and holistic therapies offer tremendous opportunities for people to heal their feelings of depression, they aren’t the only option. For many people, adding in an antidepressant depression medication becomes a real game-changer.
We created our mental health treatment plan to include structured care through the use of several types of therapy. We also discuss with each person we treat the possibility of using an antidepressant medication. This one-two punch can help the individual regain a sense of control over their emotions and experience a minimization of their symptoms.
Contact Brandywine Center today to learn more about our mental health treatment in Delaware.
What Are Antidepressants?
Antidepressant medications are available by prescription and used to treat depression, mood disorders, anxiety, and other mental health disorders that count depression as one of their symptoms. Antidepressant depression medications work by helping increase feel-good chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. When their production becomes higher, it helps people improve their moods, experience contentment and joy more often, and sleep better.
Antidepressants, like all mental health medications, should only be taken as prescribed and their use overseen by a physician.
Types of Antidepressants
When a person begins a discussion with a prescribing clinician, they will talk about the different kinds of antidepressants available. Which kind will be chosen to try depends on the individual’s depression symptoms, their severity, and the length of time they’ve had them.
The five types of antidepressants include:
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): They block the reuptake of serotonin in the brain. Popular brands include Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft.
- Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): SNRI drugs increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. The most common types of SNRIs include Cymbalta, Pristiq, Fetzima, and Effexor XR.
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): These break down the neurotransmitters in the brain and help elevate the person’s mood. It’s usually used to help people with treatment-resistant depression. This type of drug includes Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): This older antidepressant is typically used by people who have not responded positively to other antidepressants. Common brands include Norpramin and Pamelor.
- Atypical Antidepressants: Often used as an alternative to other antidepressants that haven’t worked for people. Common ones include Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, and Trazodone.
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What is the Most Commonly Prescribed Antidepressant?
While many antidepressant depression medications are prescribed each year, SSRI drugs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the U.S.
Potential Side Effects of Antidepressants
Like with any prescription drug, there are possible side effects from taking antidepressant depression medication. Some are temporary and just last a week or two, while others can be long-term. It’s important to discuss all side effects with a person’s doctor.
Common side effects of anti-depressants include:
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Change in weight
- Dizziness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Lethargy
Other Treatment Options for Depression
While antidepressants can give tremendous relief to those who use them, it’s important to seek out additional options for healing. Therapy is the first line of defense for many people who struggle with depression. Both individual and group therapies help people explore what issues may contribute to their depression and how to resolve them. They learn healthy coping mechanisms, and how to recognize the connection between their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions.
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Can You Drink on Antidepressants?
In most cases, it is not recommended that a person drinks alcohol while they are using antidepressants. Drinking can diminish the effects of the drug or cause side effects to be worse. Alcohol is a depressant drug and can be counterintuitive to the results a person wants when using antidepressants.
How Long Does It Take for Antidepressants to Work?
A common question when someone begins taking an antidepressant depression medication is how long it takes before it works. On average, it takes one to two weeks for a person to feel the effects of an antidepressant. For some, it may take longer to feel the full effects. If a person’s symptoms have not improved after a month, they should speak to their doctor and see if a change in dosage or type of medication is necessary.
How Do I Know if My Antidepressant Dose is Too Low?
A great deal of the time, physicians start people off on a low dosage of a new medication to see how they tolerate it. For some, the amount they take isn’t enough to give them the desired results. Signs that an antidepressant dose is too low include the individual feeling some improvement but not a notable amount. As well, they may find the side effects stop occurring, but they still feel depressed. Finally, their depression may lift temporarily but then return to how it felt before.
Who Prescribes Antidepressants?
Prescription medications can be prescribed by mental health professionals like psychiatrists, child/adolescent psychiatrists, psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioners, and primary care physicians. Some states also allow prescriptions to be written by physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and school psychologists.
Begin Mental Health Treatment for Depression at Brandywine Center In Delaware
Are you interested in your options for using antidepressant medications and want to speak to licensed clinicians who specialize in treating mental health disorders? The Brandywine Center understands the benefits that using an antidepressant depression medication can offer someone. We include access to them as part of our complex outpatient treatment programs.
Contact The Brandywine Center today to get more information on how we can help you overcome depressive symptoms and feel better. We can provide a free insurance verification and get you started on the path to healing now.