About Antidepressant Medication
Posted by Depressed - 06/02/12 at 09:02 pmWith 80% of people who’ve been diagnosed with depression in America taking a medication for the disorder, it’s important to be savvy to the top mistakes people make when taking antidepressant medication.
Antidepressants are one of the top most prescribed medications in the United States — with approximately 118 million prescriptions given out by doctors to their depression patients each year, as of 2011. But treating the disorder involves much more than just taking the pill. Misuse or mistakes ingesting antidepressants can halt a patient’s recovery.
Discover the top mistakes people make with these tips from mood-disorder doctor Michael Banov, M.D., a Harvard-educated psychiatrist who is triple-board-certified and published author, in this article from Lifescript.com, a top-notch website for women’s health information.
Here’s a sneak peek at just some of the expert advice contained in this comprehensive article.
The top mistakes people make when taking antidepressants:
Taking medications too soon, before you’re tried other methods to try to resolve your diagnosis, such as counseling and adjustments to your lifestyle.
Not taking antidepressants or starting other depression therapies - the sooner you start treating depression, the better.
Some women try to resist due to fear of weight gain or other side effects, but not all antidepressants have such side effects.
Missing doses. If you don’t take the medication consistently, you won’t get the results you’re hoping to get.
Not paying attention to symptoms. Many patients report feeling much better after taking an antidepressant — so much better, in fact, that they wave away side effects or persisting symptoms — such as varying energy levels or insomnia. Be sure not to ignore these signs, no matter how much better a medication makes you feel. Make sure you talk over changes with your doctor.
Continue reading the full article and find many more depression articles at Lifescript.com.
The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).
