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Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. Your doctor can prescribe them for you. They can improve your mood, sleep, appetite and concentration. It may take several weeks for them to help. There are several types of antidepressants. You and your doctor may have to try several before finding what works best for you.
Medicines sometimes cause unwanted side effects. For example, when you first start your antidepressant you may feel tired, have trouble sleeping or feel sick to your stomach. The side effects usually go away after a short time. Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You should also let your doctor know if you take any other medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements.
It is important to keep taking your medicines, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking your medicines without talking to your doctor. You often need to stop antidepressants gradually.
National Institute of Mental Health
An '''antidepressant''' is a medication used primarily in the treatment of clinical depression. Some examples of antidepressants on the market today are Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, and Celexa. They also are not thought to produce Drug_tolerance, although sudden withdrawal may produce adverse effects. Antidepressants create little if any immediate change in mood and require between several days and several weeks to take effect. Some antidepressants, notably the Tricyclic_antidepressant, are commonly used off-label in the treatment of Neuropathy, whether or not the patient is depressed. Smaller doses are generally used for this purpose, and they often take effect more quickly. Many antidepressants also are used for the treatment of anxiety disorders, and tricyclic antidepressants are used in the treatment of chronic pain disorders such as Chronic Functional Abdominal Pain (CFAP), Myofacial Pain Syndrome, and post-herpetic neuralgia. Antidepressants do not seem to have all of the same addiction qualities as other substances such as nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, or other stimulants. There is still controversy on the definition of addiction. Some argue that antidepressants do not meet the general requirements for the common established view. While some antidepressants may cause dependence and withdrawal they do not seem to cause uncontrollable urges to increase the dose due to euphoria or pleasure. For example if some Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications are suddenly discontinued they may produce both withdrawal and addiction symptoms, a phenomenon known as "SSRI discontinuation syndrome" (Tamam & Ozpoyraz, 2002). When the decision is made to stop taking some antidepressants it is common practice to “wean” off of them by slowly decreasing the dose over a period of several weeks. It ... [ Read More ]
Prozac Exposed - The Shooting Drugs - The side effects of SSRI psychiatric antidepressant drugs. Their connection to school shootings, suicide, murder, violence, weight gain, alcohol abuse, and sexual dysfunction.
Dealing with Depression Naturally - Excerpts from Syd Baumel's popular, comprehensive guide to natural antidepressants: St. John's wort, SAMe, 5-HTP, homeopathy, aromatherapy, psychotherapy, and meditation.
Potatoes Not Prozac by Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons - If antidepressants leave you feeling moody, impulsive, overwhelmed, eating compulsively, you may be sugar sensitive. Learn to give your body the food it needs to keep your emotions in balance.
Jeanne Segal Ph.D., Author of Raising Your Emotional Intelligence - Information on emotional intelligence, emotional trauma and antidepressant risks.
Depression: An Introduction - Information and symptoms of depression with a depression support site and information for friends and family. Also includes information on antidepressants, therapy, suicide, myths, books, poetry, and links.
Focus on Depression - Depression and depressive disorders - information on treatment, antidepressant medications, and support groups.
Depression and Alternative Health - Links to articles on antidepressants, herbs and depression.
Depression WebWorld - Articles on depression and antidepressant therapy.
HealthyPlace.com Depression Community - How to diagnose, manage and treat depression. Includes antidepressant medication information, hosted depression support groups, depression chatrooms, online depression tests, diaries, and buddy lists.
NPR : Treating Depression in Adolescents - It's estimated that one of every 20 adolescents suffers from clinical depression. Few of the newer antidepressants have proven effective for teens. But researchers are reporting positive, measurable results with cognitive behavior therapy. NPR's Michelle Trudeau reports. [8:49 streaming audio broadcast]