Friday, April 1, 2011

Anti-depression medication is not a panacea for depression.


ANTI DEPRESSION MEDICATION

If you suffer from severe depression, antidepressants, used under the supervision of a mental health professional can relieve some of your symptoms. But antidepressants are not a panacea for depression. Medicine does not cure the underlying problem, and is rarely a long term solution. Not only antidepressants associated with significant side effects and dangers, but recent studies have also raised questions about their effectiveness. Learn the facts about antidepressants and weighing the pros and cons can help you make an informed decision and personal whether a drug is good for you.

Have you seen the TV commercials, read the newspaper articles, maybe even consulting with your doctor: depression caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, the drug may be incorrect. According to the theory of chemical imbalance, low levels of serotonin in the brain leads to depression and antidepressant drugs works of serotonin, leading back to normal. But the truth is that scientists know very little about how antidepressants work. There is a test that measures the amount of serotonin in the brain of living in any way not even know what a low level of serotonin or normal, let alone suggest that antidepressant therapy corrects these levels.


While antidepressants like Prozac increase serotonin levels in the brain, this does not mean that depression is due to a lack of serotonin. After all, aspirin can cure a headache, but that does not mean that the lack of aspirin causes headaches. In addition, many studies are inconsistent with the chemical imbalance theory of depression.Some experiments have shown that serotonin is not always less than people lower mood, and do not worsen symptoms in people who are already depressed. Even if antidepressants increase serotonin levels in a few hours, it takes weeks before the drug can help relieve depression. If the low level of serotonin caused depression, should not delay this antidepressant.

Experts agree that depression is more than brain  bad or imbalance chemistry . Serotonin is one of many factors that may play a role in this disorder. New research points to other contributors of biological depression, including inflammation, increased stress hormones, immune system suppression, abnormal activity in certain brain areas, nutritional deficiencies, and brain cells decreases. And these are only the biological causes of depression. The social and psychological factors such as loneliness, lack of exercise, poor diet and low self-esteem also plays a role in depression.

Scientists agree that when depression is severe, medication may help, even save lives. But research shows that antidepressants do not respond to many people. A major government study published in 2006 showed that less than 50 percent of the population are without symptoms on antidepressants, even after trying two different drugs. In addition, many drugs that address relapse into depression in a short time, despite sticking to a medical treatment. Other studies show that the benefits of medicines against depression have been exaggerated, some researchers have concluded that when it is mild to moderate depression, antidepressants are only slightly more effective than placebo.

If you had severe major depression that can interferes with the ability to function, the drug may be right for you. However, many people use antidepressants, when treatment, exercise, or self-help strategies work as well or better, less side effects. The treatment can also help you get to the bottom of things and to develop tools for overcoming depression well.

There are  different types of medicines used to treat depression, including inhibitors of inhibitors selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase (MAO). Side effects are common on all antidepressants. For many people, side effects are severe enough to stop taking the drug.

Selective serotinin reuptake inhibitors (  SSRIs  ) act on serotonin in brain chemistry. Serotonin can help to regulate mood, but also has an important role in digestion, pain, sleep, mental clarity, and other bodily functions. Therefore, SSRIs cause many side effects. Common side effects include sexual problems, drowsiness, sleep disturbances and nausea. Although some side effects disappear within the first weeks of treatment, others persist and may even worsen. Adults over 65 years, SSRIs cause further concern. Studies show that SSRIs may increase the risk of falls, fractures and bone loss in older people. SSRIs can also cause severe withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking them suddenly.

Anyone taking antidepressants can experience unpleasant side effects or dangerous. But some people are more at risk: people over 65. Studies show that SSRIs may increase the risk of falls, fractures and bone loss in older people. . The use of SSRIs in late pregnancy may cause withdrawal symptoms in the short term neonates after birth. Typical symptoms include tremors, restlessness, mild respiratory problems and weak cry.  In Adolescents and youth  , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that all drugs of depression include a warning about increased risk of suicide among children and young adults.

There is some danger that in some people, antidepressant medication  treatment will cause an increase rather than decrease in depression and with it by increasing risk of commited suicide. While this is especially true for children and adolescents on antidepressants, everyone taking antidepressants should be closely monitored for suicidal thoughts and behavior. The suicide risk is particularly high in the first month to two months of antidepressant treatment. Monitoring is particularly important if the first person on depression medication, or if the dose was changed recently. The signs that the medicine is making things worse are anxiety, insomnia, hostility and extreme agitation, especially if symptoms appear suddenly or rapidly deteriorating. If you see warning signs in yourself or a loved one, contact your doctor or therapist right away.

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