What's the best medication for depression?

Question

I need to see a doctor regarding my depression. What's the best medication that I can get? I have trouble concentrating, too. How do I know if this is depression some kind of ADD? Thanks.

I have so many things that are making me depressed.....I don't even know where to start. Try becoming an MD w/o a green card, w/o parents to support you, student loans that are going to bite you in the *** later on, no government aid, and the list goes on and on. I'm a junior at NC State University right now. My grades have taken a significant plummet this year, possibly due to the passing of my mother in Feb.

So, as you can probably tell, my depression stems from a multitude of setbacks. It's not as simple as just going to a psychiatrist and fixing my problems because, in this instance, many of my problems cannot be fixed.

Answer 1

Sunshine and dirt... stay off the drugs and go for a walk in the park.

[edit] I'm very sorry to hear of your mother's passing. This must be very difficult for you and your family. February is quite recent for such a tragedy. Were you able to finish spring semester? I assume that you are beginning your Junior year now (this fall). What is your undergrad major? Have you spoken to your academic advisor regarding your loss? Usually, schools are very understanding, and they can make accomodations for your needs. I would recommend grief counseling if you haven't already started. There are probably options through your student health care coverage that won't be expensive. If you are religious, you might try counseling through that route. Medication may be effective in treating your problems, after you begin counseling sessions, the counselor will know whether or not it is necessary.

I can see how all these things are compounding to make it more and more difficult. The debts that you have incurred surely weigh heavy on your already troubled mind. Don't worry about them, when (not if) you graduate, you will find a great job and you will be able to afford to pay them back. Don't worry about your grades - no human being in the world would hold it against you, considering what you are going through.

Good luck.

Answer 2

There are several medication options for depression. What works depends on you and what your biochemistry will respond to. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's like Prozac) are typically the first ones that are explored. These take several weeks to begin working and have some side effects. Another class are the Tricyclic Antidepressants (Amitryptaline or Elavil) and I think that these are tried next. Also, there are side effects with these meds too. Finally, there are the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI's). These meds are the one of the last resort pharmaceutical approaches as there are a lot of side effects as well as food and drug interactions. As far as your trouble concentrating, this is also a sign of depression. I would see my doctor and get a referral from him/her for a psychiatrist to be sure that you get the best meds the first time. This is not to say that your family doctor cannot help, nor prescribe the right meds, its just that the psychiatrist specializes in this area. Good Luck

Answer 3

I will say this lightly because i do not want it read as sarcasm. Before guessing that hard medication is the answer (it is addicting, there are side effects, and it often is used to bandaid the problem, rather than heal the source), you may wish to consider Holistic Medicine or Herbs.

A couple that i know of, off the top of my head are:
Goji Berries!!! -- These are available at many health food stores and are great to snack on all day long. They are originally from Tibet and they are excellent mood heighteners (My top choice)...They are also called, "the happy berry", by the way...

St John Wort -- I have heard of this as the most common mood elevating herb and has been highly praised for a long time.

I will say that if your choice of hard meds is a temporary decision on your path to find a more permanent resolve to your depression, it could work. Good luck and i hope this helps...

Answer 4

in case you look on the easily documents from the scientific trials you will locate that those factor outcomes in uncomplicated terms impression a small proportion of the persons who take the drug. besides, this is not any longer medical doctors or scientists who arise with the checklist of factor outcomes. If one individual interior the trial comments that they had a facet result it is going on the checklist. this is not any longer suitable that the guy in actuality has no way of understanding what brought about the symptom they think of they have, it is going on the checklist. That that's why that's fairly uncomplicated to make certain issues like: factor result: Sleepiness, insomnia, Weight income, weight help--for the comparable drug. in case you want the data look up the percentages of folk who suggested the factor outcomes and not the leaflet featuring the medicine.

Answer 5

Different medications have different advantages and disadvantages. The doctor can help you sort this out. I recommend that you see a psychiatrist; a doctor with this specialty will be the most informed about your medication options. A psychiatrist will also be able to do a full psychological evaluation to determine exactly what your problem is and how best to treat it.

Answer 6

Usually SSRIs are the best, but they only work for 60% of depressions. Psychotherapy increases the effectiveness. Lexapro works the quickest. Trouble concentrating is one of the symptoms of depression.

Answer 7

1. Make sure you have a laugh every now and again.

2. Try not to lose your sense of humour as it can sometimes make you feel even more depressed.

3. Just keeping busy really helps.

4. Follow your dreams and if someone says you can't do that say I can and I will.

5. But most of all try and find people to talk to who really do like you. Not pretend to be your friend because they feel sorry for you. I have had that happen to me a few times.

Answer 8

I really hope no one gives you a medicine name to try... EVERY ONE IS DIFFERNT, i cant stress that more, and no matter what, when u go to the doc, they are going to throw one kind at you weather you say a name or not, and odds are they arent going to listen to what you have to say.. =) sorry, but its true, and you will end up going back and forth to try another one, and another one, b/c one isnt working. I got sick of it, and stopped taking the pills all at once.. ive had alot of bad days, but, hey, im fixing it myself, its all mental hun, you need to find out whats making you depressed first off, because medication isnt going to make it go away! Good luck. Think about it.

Answer 9

Well, that depends....
*Wellbutrin can help some, and if you smoke too - it might help you quit.
*Lexapro helps if you have anxiety too.
*St. John's Wort is an over the counter antidepressant.
*Paxil can also help with anxiety... but usally for more severe cases.
*Effexor/Cymbalta is another mild antidepressant, but can affect your blood pressure so it needs to be taken the samr time every day.
I could go on and on and on. So, you should ask your doctor which one he thinks is right for you. But, remember... it takes minimum 2-4 weeks to get completely in your system and see if it's going to work well for you. If, before this time, or any time after you have uncontrollable urges to harm others or yourself - stop taking the medicine and call your doctor or hospital ASAP.

Good Luck!

Answer 10

They normally try with one of the newer ones as they have fewer side effects. Youmay well be put onto an SSRI, but I am not a doctor so I cannot tell you what yours will put you onto. I was first put on citalopram then mirtazapine. Just have a word with your doctor about it. They may listen to other symptoms such as appetite and sleep and use them to decide what to put you onto as some meds can make you sleepy and hungry (great if you're not sleeping or eating).