How to Take Antidepressant Medicine

Опубликовал Admin
19-04-2021, 20:20
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There are many different medications available for treating depression, and each of these medications can have very different results for different people. However, there are some general guidelines that you should follow to get the best results from your antidepressant medication.

Starting Your Drug Treatment

  1. Consult with your doctor about your specific medication. Talk over your symptoms and expectations so that your doctor can help you form a realistic idea about your treatment. Some types of major depression may respond to the particular drug prescribed to you, but others may not. Also, you may have symptoms that aren't treatable with antidepressants.
    • Many antidepressant treatments seem to be most effective for moderate to severe depression.
    • If you are experiencing mild depression, some other form of treatment may give better results. Your doctor may recommend transcranial magnetic stimulation or natural remedies, such as yoga, exercise, or a new diet.
    • Don't expect your medication to change your mood overnight.
  2. Know what the possible side effects are and plan appropriately. You may need more sleep or find you have insomnia, for example. These behavioral changes can have a big impact on your daily activities. Try to begin your treatment when you can make adjustments to your schedule and activities.
  3. Expect your doctor to make adjustments to your medication. For many people, finding the most effective antidepressant drug and the best dosage of that drug takes time. You might have an allergic reaction to a drug, or find the side effects too difficult to handle, in which case you will need a different medication. Even when you find the right drug, getting the dosage right will take some time.
  4. Follow the instructions given by your doctor, pharmacist, and/or the drug label. You might need to take your medication at specific times, under specific conditions, or with or without food. You should always follow these kind of dosing directions in order to make your medication most effective.
  5. Do not alter the prescribed dosage. Especially as you begin your prescription regimen, it is important that you take your medication in the amount prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will monitor how you are responding based on the prescribed dosage in order to increase or decrease the amount. If you are starting at a very low dosage level, it is likely that the drug has no effect in smaller amounts, so taking less than what is recommended will interfere with your progress.
  6. Take medication at the same time every day. This is important both for getting in a routine so that you don’t forget to take your prescription, and to keep a steady level of medication in your system. If you do forget a dose, follow instructions about whether or not to skip a dose or to take it as soon as you remember.
  7. Don’t stop because you feel better. Most antidepressants need several months to a year or more to effectively treat major depression. You may feel huge improvement after a few months, but you should continue taking your medication for the amount of time recommended by your doctor.
  8. Be aware of reactions that require your doctor’s attention. As with many drugs, reactions range from mild to life threatening. In addition, different types of antidepressants have different reactions and risks associated with taking them. Familiarize yourself with the reaction symptoms that indicate the need for immediate medical care or supervision.
  9. Don't be alarmed if you experience some typical side effects. Common reactions to antidepressants are mild and often dissipate over time.
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Dizziness
    • Sexual problems
    • Sleepiness
  10. Call your doctor or seek immediate attention if reactions are more serious. While uncommon for most patients, these reactions can be life-threatening so quick response is imperative.
    • Seizures
    • Suicidal thoughts
    • Liver failure
  11. Be patient. This can be difficult to deal with especially if your symptoms are severe, or if you are having difficulty finding the right medication and dosage. Antidepressant medications can be a tremendous help for alleviating serious depression, but they need time to work.
    • Give the medication time to take effect. While some people feel better after a few weeks, for most people it will take 6-8 weeks for your medication to have full effect.
    • Some people may feel worse at first; in addition to side effects, your depression symptoms can be more pronounced initially. Let your doctor know if your condition worsens.
    • Don’t expect to wake up one day and feel completely different. Typically, people report a gradual change in their depression symptoms over time. Gauge your progress over several weeks or even months.

Increasing Your Medication's Effectiveness

  1. See a psychiatrist about your condition. Psychiatrists have specific skills and knowledge for dealing with major depression, while your family physician may have limited experience with how best to treat your depression.
  2. Get regular exercise. If you haven't been in the habit of taking some form of exercise, you should make it a priority. Studies have shown that exercise is crucial for recovering from major depression, and can prevent it from reoccurring.
  3. Start a meditation practice. Like exercise, meditation has been proven to have a powerful benefit for people suffering from major depression. Over time, meditation can "rewire" your brain and decrease the likelihood of having repeated episodes of depression.
  4. Maintain your social connections. People with strong community bonds and regular social interaction improve much more quickly than those who are isolated or reclusive. In addition, having these kinds of connections reduce the chances that your depression will recur.
  5. Consider developing a spiritual or religious practice. If you already have a faith based practice, make sure that you maintain the habit. People with strong belief systems report greater overall happiness and satisfaction and are less likely to suffer from major depression.
  6. Reduce external sources of stress or turmoil. Sometimes, stressful life events can contribute to your depression. If there are external factors, look for ways to cope with these events or to reduce their influence in your life.
    • Stressful events include separation or divorce, death of a loved one, sickness, and major life changes. Consider therapy, support groups, or other practices to help cope with these stressful events.

Stopping Treatment Safely

  1. Evaluate why you want to discontinue your treatment. You may find that you don't feel the need for medication due to any number of circumstances, or you may need to stop taking your medication due to changes in physical conditions.
    • If the side effects from taking your medication don't abate, or are just too much to handle, you may need to change medication rather than stop completely.
    • You may have a change in circumstances; if your depression was the result of some life experience or situation which you no longer have, you may be ready to stop treatment.
    • You may have developed healthy coping skills or established habits that can help you avoid another depressive episode.
    • Some antidepressants are not recommended during pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about alternatives for treating your depression if your medication could be harmful to you or your baby.
  2. Stop your medication only with your doctor’s supervision. Your doctor can give you the best advice about if and when you can discontinue your medication, and will know the best method for discontinuing your particular medication. Your medical history as well as your treatment history are very important factors when deciding to go off an antidepressant medication.
    • Don’t try to quit cold turkey. Just as it took time for your medication to take full effect, you will need time to discontinue its use.
    • Don’t decrease your dosage on your own. Your doctor needs to be aware of how much medication you are taking so that he or she can monitor how you are doing.
    • Find out about any issues with discontinuing your particular medication. Some antidepressants are more difficult to stop taking and can cause withdrawal symptoms. Be aware of any potential problems and know how what you can do to address them.
  3. Make plans to deal with possible side effects. You can experience side effects from withdrawal and these may cause problems for your daily routines. Your sleep patterns, appetite, and mood can be effected, so try to schedule quitting for a time when you can make adjustments in your routine.
  4. Continue with your other forms of treatment and support. You should maintain the routines and resources you have put in place to treat your depression, such as seeing a therapist and getting regular exercise.

Eliminating Negative Behaviors

  1. Limit use of social media. Some studies indicate that people who spend a large amount of time on social media have dramatically increased chances of developing major depression, and experience less benefit from antidepressant medications. Spending a lot of time on line probably means that you are spending a lot of time alone, or self-isolating, even with people around. Either of these behaviors can impede your improvement.
  2. Limit or avoid alcohol while taking an antidepressant. Some antidepressant medication can cause you to be more affected by alcohol while some drugs may have serious interactions or side effects from alcohol consumption.
  3. Don't take narcotic medications without your doctor's approval. You could negate or reduce the effectiveness of your antidepressant, or have more serous symptoms of major depression occur or increase.
  4. Check for possible interactions. Some nonprescription drugs or nutritional supplements could interact with your antidepressant prescription. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist or check the product's packaging or website for information about possible interactions.
  5. Create a new schedule for your day. Often, depression can cause you to avoid daily tasks. Writing a schedule can provide structure to your day. Write down your schedule in a planner, phone app, or calendar.
    • If you work best at a certain time of day, try scheduling your necessary tasks for that time. For example, if you're a morning person, try to get your work done in the morning.
    • Checking items off your list can help you stay motivated and engaged with your day.

Warnings

  • If you're considering self-harm in any way, seek immediate help.
  • Some of these medicines have serious side effects. Make sure you're fully aware of any risks.
  • Have family, friends, and medical professionals observe for any strange behavior. Some people react to antidepressants with extreme (and potentially dangerous) behavioral changes.
  • Make sure your doctor is aware of any other medications you're taking.
  • Antidepressants are not like mood altering drugs such as amphetamines or sedatives.They work by addressing chemical imbalances in the brain; don't expect a sudden emotional shift when taking them.
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