What does depression medicine do

But many people are able to slowly stop taking antidepressants after a while. Antidepressants can change how you feel and respond in certain situations, but they don't change who you are. You may feel more relaxed, more social, more assertive, or more outgoing when you are taking an antidepressant.

Depression treated only with antidepressants, and not also with therapy, is more likely to come back later. Most antidepressants cause minor side effects that go away or improve in the first few weeks of treatment. If you keep taking your medicine, there is a good chance that you will start to feel less depressed and that the side effects will decrease. Most people feel that the benefits of antidepressants are well worth the price of living with some side effects.

Some side effects may not go away, but usually there are ways to manage them. Talk with your doctor about how to manage side effects. Problems with sexual arousal and a lack of interest in sex are common side effects. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor. There are other medicines that may help with these problems. Women who take an SSRI during pregnancy have a slightly higher chance of having a baby with birth defects.

But not treating depression can also cause problems during pregnancy and birth. If you are pregnant, you and your doctor must weigh the risks of taking an SSRI against the risks of not treating depression.

Health Canada and the U. Food and Drug Administration FDA have issued advisories on antidepressant medicines and the risk of suicide. Talk to your doctor about these possible side effects and the warning signs of suicide. Counselling is an important part of the treatment for depression. The types of counselling most often used for treatment of depression include:.

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I didn't even realize that I was depressed for a long time. I thought everyone felt this way; at least everyone in my family seemed to. I probably would have just gone on like that if my doctor hadn't asked one day if I had ever thought about taking an antidepressant. I was relieved to find out that it isn't normal to feel like I do and that a lot of people are helped by medicines.

I know it might take a while to find the right one, but I'm in no hurry; I've spent my whole life feeling sad. I tried antidepressants about a year ago. I really was not prepared for the first few weeks, when the side effects seemed to get me down even more than the depression did. So I stopped taking them. It took me about 3 months, but I eventually started to feel better without any medicine.

Then last month, I started to feel depressed again. I don't want to wait so long to feel better this time. So I'm going to try the antidepressants again. This time, I know what to expect and am better prepared for it. I guess I'm just not comfortable with taking medicine for my depression. I feel like I ought to be able to manage this on my own without needing medicine.

It seems too much like taking the easy route. But maybe I just don't feel bad enough yet. I recently began going to counselling. I know that if I took an antidepressant, I might feel better sooner, but I don't like the sound of the side effects I could have. My therapist and I have set some goals for me to work on, and we agreed to revisit my decision in 3 months. I want to wait and see how the counselling goes before I take medicine.

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. I'm willing to take medicine every day for at least 6 months, and maybe longer. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision.

Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. My symptoms are worse than the possible side effects of the medicines. Is it possible to manage the side effects of antidepressants?

Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. Weinstock MD - Psychiatry. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.

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To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Depression: Should I Take an Antidepressant? Get the facts.

Your options Take antidepressants to treat depression. Don't take antidepressants. Key points to remember Taking medicine for your depression can help you get your life back to normal, especially if you also get counselling. But if your symptoms are mild, lifestyle changes and counselling may be all you need. Sudden changes in your dose can greatly increase your risk of having another mood episode or having withdrawal effects.

The first step is to ask yourself if this is the right time. Are you feeling well? Is the level of stress in your life manageable? Do you feel supported by your family and friends?

If you are not satisfied with his or her reasons, you may want to see another doctor for a second opinion. If your doctor does agree, he or she will advise you not to skip doses but to reduce your dose gradually—usually by about 10 per cent at a time—with at least two to three weeks between each reduction.

This process of cutting back will take several months. Using a pill cutter can help you to cut your dose down in small amounts. If you want to stop taking more than one medication, your doctor will usually suggest that you lower the dose of one drug at a time. As you cut down, if you start to feel unwell, let your doctor know. He or she can help you determine whether you are experiencing withdrawal effects or signs that symptoms are returning.

Find the dose that works best for you. Antidepressants may interact with some other types of medication, even over-the-counter medications, such as cold or allergy tablets or cough syrups, and some herbal remedies, such as St. Always ask your doctor, dentist or pharmacist about potential drug interactions with the medication you are taking before you take other medications.

Drinking alcohol can worsen symptoms of depression or anxiety. Alcohol can also worsen some side-effects of antidepressants, making you more sleepy, dizzy and lightheaded.

However, if you have been taking antidepressants for more than a few weeks, and you are feeling well, having a drink or two on occasion should be okay—but remember that one drink could have the effect of two or even three drinks. The caffeine in coffee and other beverages can cause problems if you struggle with depression or anxiety.

Depression disrupts sleep, and caffeine, a stimulant, can make the problem worse. It is better to drink decaffeinated coffee and beverages or to decrease the amount you drink.

You want to feel well. While street drugs such as marijuana or cocaine may have some effects that seem to make you feel better for a while, mixing the effects of these drugs may make your situation worse.

Street drugs may also interact with your medication, for example, by interfering with its effectiveness or by worsening side-effects. Depression itself can lead to fatigue and concentration problems, affecting your ability to drive. Antidepressant medications may also cause drowsiness, especially in the early stages of treatment, before your body has adjusted to the medication.

If you feel drowsy, do not drive a car or operate machinery. Alcohol, sedatives and antihistamines cold and hay fever medication will worsen the problem. Antidepressants, especially those that increase serotonin activity, can also negatively affect sexual function.

Sexual side-effects of antidepressants can include delayed ejaculation and the inability to experience an orgasm. Many factors affect your sexuality. When antidepressants bring relief from the distress of depression or anxiety, this may help you to focus more on your partner and to feel more desire.

If you think your medication affects your sexual function, your doctor may be able to help by changing your dose, switching medication or adding other medications.

For any pregnant woman with a history of depression, the question of whether to take antidepressants during pregnancy usually comes down to a risk-benefit analysis. When treatment with an antidepressant helps to avoid a relapse or to reduce distress, the benefits of continuing the medication may outweigh the risks.

Antidepressants are relatively safe to use during pregnancy. When they are used close to delivery, newborns may be restless and irritable, and may have sleeping, feeding and breathing difficulties.

These problems resolve within three days to two weeks. Antidepressants do not increase risk for birth defects. The amount of antidepressant passed through breast milk is very small and is not considered to be a risk to the baby, especially when weighed against the benefits of breastfeeding.

If you decide to stop taking medications during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, it is a good idea to see your doctor more often, to help you monitor for a return of symptoms. Most antidepressants are not officially approved for use by children and teens.

However, when distress is so severe that non-drug approaches are not possible, or when they do not work, antidepressants may be considered. Studies of children and and young people who take antidepressants suggest an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour, but not death by suicide.

Antidepressants are an effective treatment for depression in adults over 65 and are known to decrease the risk of suicide in this population. However, due to the increased sensitivity of the older body, older adults are more vulnerable to side-effects. As older adults often take multiple medications, they are also more vulnerable to drug interactions.

Older adults usually start with lower doses, and the dose is increased at a slower rate. Understanding psychiatric medications: Antidepressants PDF For more information on medications, contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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Keep your finger on our pulse — latest CAMH news, discoveries and ways to get involved delivered to your inbox. To unsubscribe at any time click the link in our mailing or email: unsubscribe camh. Overview Antidepressant medications are most commonly used to help relieve the distress of depression or anxiety. Do I need this treatment? What does Antidepressant Medications do?

Side effects of Antidepressant Medications All medications can have side-effects. Your doctor may: encourage you to wait a little longer for the side-effects to fade adjust your dose suggest you take the medication at a different time of day prescribe other medications to help control side-effects change your medication stop medication treatment and suggest a different type of treatment approach.

You can help to control possible side-effects on your own by: getting regular exercise and eating a low-fat, low-sugar, high-fibre diet e. Do antidepressants increase the risk of suicide? If possible, other therapies should be considered, such as cognitive CBT, meditation, or yoga.

Tiny amounts of some antidepressants enter the breast milk, for example, sertraline and nortriptyline. One study, published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism , found that for women who use antidepressants during pregnancy, it may take longer to be able to breastfeed.

The researchers explain that the breast glands are regulated by serotonin, so their ability to produce milk at the right time is linked to the production and regulation of this hormone. Hypericumwhich is made from the herb St. It is available over-the-counter as a supplement. Some evidence supports the use of St. This involves sitting in front of a light box first thing in the morning for 20 to 60 minutes. Light boxes are available to purchase online. Vitamin D supplements may or may not help treat SAD.

Evidence is not conclusive. Some studies have shown that a healthy, well-balanced diet, plenty of exercise, and staying in touch with family and friends can reduce the risk of depression and recurrences.

Depression is a serious condition that may need medical treatment. Anyone who experiences the symptoms of depression should seek medical advice. Despite decades of research into depression, many questions remain.

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The link is…. Researchers might have uncovered why antidepressants only work in some people and have pinpointed the involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor. All about antidepressants. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Types Side effects Uses Effectiveness In pregnancy Alternative options We include products we think are useful for our readers.

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