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Depression Treatment
Some people would try to solve their problems themselves. However, this may not work when the problem is depression. Even if you know a lot of strategies to fight depression, you may not have the ability to use them once you're hit with depression. Depression can be treated. In fact, depression treatment can take effect in a matter of weeks depending on the severity of the condition.
Once you see at least five of the most common symptoms of depression, seek professional help. Do not wait for the time when you’re completely affected by depression or when you start to entertain thoughts of death or suicide. You can contact your family doctor or a psychiatrist, or mental health professional. You can alsoconfide to a family member or a friend if you do not know where to seek treatment.
Treatment for depression is normally composed of a combination of therapy, medication and supportive care. Therapy may be provided by a psychiatrist or psychotherapists. Most depression patients do not necessarily need to be confined. A series of outpatient visits to the doctor will suffice. However, for people with more serious symptoms like patients who are contemplating on suicide, inpatient care is required.
There are four major classes of antidepressant medication. These are the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or SSRIs, the tricyclic antidepressants or TCAs, the monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs, and the atypical antidepressants.
SSRI medications are usually the first choice in treating depression. They affect levels of serotonin in the brain. Most popular examples of SSRI are Prozac (generic name: Fluoxetine), Zoloft (Sertraline), Luvox (Fluvoxamine) and Celexa (Citalopram).
When SSRI medications don’t work, doctors prescribe TCAs. Examples of these medications are Elavil (Amitriptyline), Anafranil (Clomipramine), Norpramin (Desipramine), and Adapin (Doxepin). The MAOIs are not prescribed as often unlike SSRIs. These medications may not be taken with many other types of medicines. Patients taking MAOIs should avoid food that are high in tyramine such as wines, aged cheeses, and cured meats. Examples of MAOIs are Nardil (Phenelzine) and Parnate (Tranylcypromine).
The atypical antidepressant medications are also prescribed when SSRIs have not worked. Examples are Effexor (Venlafaxine) and Desyrel (Trazodone).
It may take a patient taking antidepressant one to six weeks to start feeling better. While taking the medications, patient should see their doctor regularly to monitor improvements and the side effects of caused by the prescribed drugs.
The side effects of antidepressant medications may include insomnia, constipation, dizziness, nausea, tremor, and blurred vision. The therapy used to treat depression includes Psychotherapy or talk therapy which involves working with a trained therapist to find ways to address problems and cope with depression.
Three major psychotherapy approaches are commonly used to alleviate the symptoms, if not, treat clinical depression. These are interpersonal, cognitive behavioral and behavioral therapy. These therapies usually take weeks to months to complete. Doctors may require more intense psychotherapy for more serious depression or for depression with other psychiatric symptoms.
Complementary therapies are also being promoted by certain groups to effectively cure depression. These include lifestyle changes, meditation and relaxation therapies, physical therapies such as massage, reflexology and acupuncture, spiritual activities, and interactions with people and animals.
The support of people who understands depression also matter. Being with people who genuinely care may make the patient recover easily.
