Posts Tagged ‘Antidepressants’

Are you suffering from depression? Right now you probably don’t know what to think. Nothing in your life is making sense. It hasn’t for a while but now that you know what it is, you feel lonelier than ever.

Depression is an illness like any other. It has causes, symptoms, risk factors and also treatment options. The best thing for you to do now is to become familiar with all of this information. There is power in knowledge.

While you are pursuing that goal, here are a few things that will enlighten you. Hopefully they will give you the strength that you need to fight back and win. Read each one carefully and let it sink in.

1. You did not cause your depression. Depression happens to people. There is not always a rhyme or reason to it. Even if a family member has been diagnosed, you are not to blame for that either. Also, just because you have been diagnosed, doesn’t mean that your children will be affected either.
2. Depression can be treated. One of the key things here will be your level of commitment and compliance. Sticking with a course of treatment is essential to diminish your symptoms.
3. Don’t let fear get you down. Fear doesn’t have to be your enemy. Use it to motivate you to stay in your support group, keep weekly appointments with a therapist and also take your antidepressants. Squash that fear of success before it can take root and ruin all of your hard work.
4. No one wants to see you fail. That is your depressed persona talking. Your family and friends want you to get better. They know that you will have bad days and don’t expect it to be easy but they are on your side.

You don’t have to live with depression symptoms any longer. Let the people you love help you to find the right treatment that will get you back to feeling good.

Depression in itself is something difficult to deal with, especially if the person hasn’t yet been treated for it. Suicidal thoughts can often be a result of depression, especially in cases where there is still no treatment in place.

Some newly data collected in a recent study has reported 3% of people receiving treatment for depression on an outpatient basis will actually die from suicide. This doesn’t mean however that the suicidal thoughts aren’t still there. Any therapy which is aimed at helping a person’s depressive state can also help the patient regain enough feeling of self control to put the suicidal urges at bay.

Being depressed causes a person to narrow their personal view of the world around them. Everything in reality can end up seeming distorted. Any negative aspect in their lives becomes constantly reinforced, while the positive is either discounted or seemingly irrelevant.

This is where the suicidal thoughts normally come into play. With this unrelenting sadness causing pain to the depressed person, sometimes they feel the only way to escape it to get away from it permanently. The opinion that death is the only solution often enters the depressed person’s mind.

The most important step to take if you notice any suicidal tendencies surrounding those you care for is to make sure they seek medical help. If this person is already being treated for depression, they should consult with their physician or therapist as quickly as possible. The situation may be changed by an increased dose of their current antidepressant, or perhaps a change in prescriptions.

It has been well documented that some antidepressants will have adverse effects on some people. Any suicidal thoughts could mean the medication prescribed just simply isn’t having the desired effect. There are many more options out there, and your physician is well equipped to try something else.

If you are experiencing any type of suicidal thoughts yourself, please share how you feel with someone else. Suicide is not the answer to any problem, and discussing your feelings canhelp you find a better solution.

Dealing with one of the many depression disorders can often bring forth another task which is hard to cope with. That extra issue just happens to be a weight problem, and can either be a loss or gain of weight. In the majority of people the issue is weight gain, but there are still those who deal with unexplained weight loss during this time.

No matter which of the two scenarios you’re personally dealing with, the first step recommended is to speak to your physician about your depression as well as any weight issues.
Here are some ideas on how to best approach this situation.

* Get help for the depression. Putting priority on depression treatment will make dealing with weight issues more successful in the long-run.

* Set small goals. Any task is difficult when you suffer from depression. Adjust your goals by making them smaller and they will become more achievable.

* Increase your physical activity. Many people have a difficult time getting themselves to exercise. For the depressed person, the task can be monumental. However, exercise and general activity helps alleviate depression and minimizing weight gain. However, it’s better to take things slow and manageable rather than quitting too soon out of frustration.

* Eat nutritiously. Your body can be your friend during tough times if it’s treated right. Eating colorful, nutritious foods will give the body what it needs to help fight the depression and prevent improper eating habits.

* Work on your self-esteem. As a rule, people with depressive disorders have either feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem. By working on these issues, it becomes easier to handle the necessary tasks of proper nutrition and exercise required to avoid weight issues in the first place.

* Ask your physician if your medication could be the culprit in your weight issues. Some antidepressants are known for causing weight gain.

While there are still many unknown elements about the relationship of weight issues and mental health, it’s evident that any connection is an important public health issue.

All types of antidepressant drugs can potentially cause side effects, some of which can be serious, even life-threatening in some cases. Though newer generations of antidepressant drugs are generally safer, with lower toxicity and less chance of overdosing, they still cause significant problems for some users.  Some are unsuitable for pregnant women. Anyone taking them should read the package insert carefully for possible drug interactions, allergic reactions and other complications. The FDA online medication guidelines may also be useful.

Side Effects – General

Headaches, nausea and stomach upsets are common side effects of the antidepressants, and some people also experience unpleasant feelings of agitation and anxiety. Sexual dysfunction is not uncommon and feelings of apathy, numbness and emotional detachment are also reported. Other side effects include dry mouth, vision problems, dizziness, skin complaints and fluctuations in weight. Some may interfere with driving or use of machinery.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are known for the serious consequences arising from drug interactions and if users eat foods rich in tyramine (including red wine and cheese). They also reduce REM sleep and can cause fatigue. Serotonin syndrome is a rare but dangerous drug reaction that can be caused by any of the antidepressants (not just SSRIs) and some tranquillizers.

Although not addictive in the way that the benzodiazepines (such as Valium) can be, antidepressants can nevertheless induce physical and psychological dependence and if discontinued, this should be done gradually. Reputable practitioners will discourage long term use of antidepressant therapies.

Major Controversy

Antidepressants have regularly made the news, with some high profile lawsuits. Thousands have sued GlaxoSmith over paroxetine (Paxil/Seroxat), who advertised it as safer than subsequent studies suggest. As well as risks associated with withdrawal, it is claimed that it can raise a person’s suicide risk (or their risk of acting out suicidal behavior by harming others). Those under 25 are thought to react especially badly to it, and it is contraindicated for children and adolescents.

Antidepressants have transformed some people’s lives, and made others’ lives a misery. They can be dangerous and should be used with extreme caution, always strictly according to prescription specifications.