Treatment of depression is especially important because it affects you, your family, and your work. The standard treatment for depression is a combination of antidepressant medication and therapy.
In addition to these treatments, there are other 'alternate' treatments that many people have found useful in managing their depression. A proper diagnosis is essential for determining the correct treatment, as different types of depression are treated with different medications.
Talking to your Doctor about treating depression
Communicating with your doctor is an important part in the diagnosis and treatment of depression. By talking to your doctor openly, you allow him or her to provide you with the best depression treatment program possible.
What are the options for depression treatment?
Depression is difficult to treat, especially in children, adolescents, elderly patients, and those with a history of chronic disease. The primary treatment methods are drug therapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and psydlOtherapy. The various options for depression treatment varies from medication to psychotherapy to self help. Some of them are listed below:
* Medication Treatment for Depression - Antidepressant medications are often the first treatment option prescribed by health professionals. Antidepressants relieve the symptoms of depression, which makes it easier to face your problems and take appropriate action
1. Tricyclic drugs - tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline. TCAs are the most widely used class of antidepressant drugs. They prevent the reuptake of norepinephrine or serotonin (or both) into the presynaptic nerve endings, resulting in increased synaptic concentrations of these neurotransmitters. They also cause a gradual loss in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors.
2. MAOI(Monoamine oxidase inhibitors ) - monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan). MAO inhibitors block the enzymatic degradation of norepinephrine and serotonin. However, they're commonly prescribed for patients with atypical depression (for example, depression marked by an increased appetite and need for sleep, rather than anorexia and insomnia) and for some patients who fail to respond to TCAs. MAO inhibitors are associated with a high risk of toxicity; patients treated with one of these drugs must be able to comply with the necessary dietary restrictions.
3. SSRIs antidepressant medication (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRls), such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft). SSRIs are becoming the drugs of choice for treating depression. They're effective and produce fewer adverse effects than TCAs. Even so, they're associated with sleep and GI problems and alterations in sexual desire and function.
4. Antidepressant - maprotiline, trazodone (Desyrel), and bupropion (Wellbutrin) aren't chemically related to the other antidepressants listed above; however,they're effective in treating depression by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine, serotonin, and epinephrine, respectively. However, the reason they aren't used as commonly as the other compounds is because of increased adverse effects.
symptomsof depressions: Depression
* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
* Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
* Restlessness, irritability
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
2007-02-28 19:58:39
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answer #1
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answered by graze 3
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Feeling that you are depressed does not mean that you are. You may be run down, having a few bad days or just feeling unhappy. Depression is deeper than that - you stop seeing the good in anything. You feel as if you are sinking deeper into darkness and despair and can see no way out. If this is how you are feeling you need to see a doctor. You cannot just shake off real depression. Having seen a doctor you need to take their advice. There are many drugs nowadays which can be prescribed to treat depression and if a doctor advises taking them then you should. Counselling can also help if the depression has an identifiable cause. Just talking to someone who really listens can help. Friends and family may not understand - they often don't understand how serious depression is. It can take weeks or even months of treatment before depression is lifted and you feel anything like normal again. Good luck!!!
2007-02-28 20:02:28
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answer #2
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answered by coffee 5
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Symptoms are pretty self-explanatory. You feel sad all the time. There are different degrees of depression ranging from mild to suicidal, but if you feel sad way more often than you want to, and when you step back and look at yourself and your life it seems sad to you, you're probably depressed.
The best way to come out of depression is to have your life change so that it's happier. Finding a significant other that you really love helps ALOT.
However that's not always possible... so in the mean time medication is definitely the best. It works quite well. (Except Effexor, everyone hates Effexor who takes it!) If things change for the better in your life you'll probably find you don't even need the medicine anymore, and it can get you through until then!
2007-02-28 21:06:44
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Have a doctor give you the once over. Work with them as much as possible and ask many questions so you know exactly what they're doing and why they're doing it, so that you know that the therapy will work.
Then, take small steps. Push yourself a little each day to do more - try first walking outside, then to the shops, then longer stays, then visiting friends, etc. Do a little more social activity every day. Try to do a little bit of what you used to enjoy doing. If it's not working, cut back - don't allow yourself to get too frustrated.
Most importantly - remember that once upon a time, you were not depressed. Therefore, there is no reason why you can't go back to that state again.
And ask lots of questions :-)
Oh, symptoms: poor appetite, poor sleep, difficulty enjoying things
2007-02-28 23:26:39
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answer #4
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answered by Testaco 3
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i suffer from depression and find the best way to get out of it is to get out and just do stuff!
when i sit at home feeling sorry for myself i just plunge further into the depression and self-pity.
Try not to use medication if possible, although if you have clinical depression then medication may be required,
My advice would be find a new interest/hobby and start doing a sport because natural endorphins (the body's 'feel good' chemical') are released when doing sports.
2007-02-28 20:01:06
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Purple
2016-03-16 02:32:46
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answer #6
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answered by Nedra 4
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You can go two ways with this:
Medication
Or Friends/family
Both work
Chose which one might work best for you. I have my fingers CROSSED that you choose family/friends. But Medicine works too, honey. God Bless.
2007-02-28 19:52:45
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answer #7
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answered by Debi in LA 5
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go to a doctor and figure it out.
2007-02-28 19:52:10
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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