Thursday, March 13, 2008

Are Antidepressents Right for you?

Antidepressants are used by many people who suffer depression. Different types of antidepressants are often prescribed for many people who are suffering from different kinds of depression. What is prescribed by the doctor, as well as what dosage the patient is prescribed to take, depends on the many different variables that the therapist has to take into consideration when prescribing an antidepressant. These variables refer to what kind of depression the patient is suffering, how serious the depression is, if the depression caused by a chemical imbalance or if the depression is caused by an outside source, whether the patient is on any other kind of medication and what the patient’s medical history like. Many antidepressants, like most other kinds of medications, have side-affects that the therapist and the patient need to take into consideration so that the patient’s health is not negatively affected by the medication either mentally or physically.

Choosing the right antidepressant is not always an easy task. Different medications tend to have a different effect on different people because every individual is unique, so one type of antidepressant that might work perfectly for one individual might not work at all for another. What a person does for work can also make a difference on what medication is prescribed. Some antidepressants can make an individual taking them fairly tired and not as alert as they normally would be, so a person who is working with heavy machinery should probably not take this type of antidepressant. Sometimes, the medication prescribed might only make the patient tired and not work to make any improvement on how they feel. In this case, another antidepressant might have to be prescribed.

Antidepressants are something the patient will take while they participate in therapy. Over time, the patient, with the help of their therapist, will be able to work through their depression to the point where medication might not be necessary anymore. Having to continue therapy after being prescribed an antidepressant can be something that turns people away because they don’t want to go in to see their therapist on a regular basis. For people who worry about having to do this, online therapy is available. The patients can communicate with their online therapist from the comfort of their home, and don’t need to worry about having to drive into the city or across town for another dreaded wait in the waiting room before they can finally get in to see their therapist. Online therapy gets rid of the inconvenience of having to take a large amount of time out to go visit the therapist in person. It allows the patient the opportunity to remain in an atmosphere that they find comfortable and can help the patient focus more on getting the help they need.

When considering antidepressants, a person needs to consider whether or not they really think they need them. A therapist can often determine if some medication might be useful while the patient continues therapy. A person needs to remember that antidepressants can take a while before they work. It is also recommended that the patient never discontinues use of their antidepressants before consulting their therapist, as it can have an adverse affect on the individual. Antidepressants can help, but they are only a temporary tool used in treatment and are not a cure for depression.

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