| If you have been suffering from depression | | | | |
| and anxiety, seeking help to deal with the | | | | There are also some medications that can lose |
| debilitating symptoms is the first step. You | | | | their effectiveness after a period of time, |
| may have found in life that ever the simplest | | | | resulting in a need to change medications. |
| of tasks has now become insurmountable and | | | | Some people simply will need medication |
| responsibilities you have to shoulder are now | | | | changes every few months, even if the |
| more difficult. These are some of the reasons | | | | medication was working because their brain |
| why more people are turning to medications to | | | | chemistry also changes, resulting in the need |
| help them deal with depression and anxiety. | | | | for new chemicals. |
| New medications are becoming available each | | | | |
| day. It is no wonder that more patients want | | | | Side Effects Can Occur |
| to know whether or not they can expect a | | | | |
| turnaround in their mental health - before | | | | As with any medication, medicines for |
| they even begin the treatments. | | | | depression and anxiety can often have side |
| | | | effects as a result of the treatment. You |
| What Your Doctor Knows | | | | might experience things like: |
| | | | |
| Before you begin to think about mental health | | | | Weight gain |
| medications, you will want to talk to your | | | | |
| primary care doctor to rule out any physical | | | | Moodiness |
| disorders that may be causing your symptoms. | | | | |
| For instance, a thyroid imbalance can present | | | | Hunger |
| itself as a depressive disorder, but requires | | | | |
| completely different medication. Once you | | | | Appetite loss |
| have ruled out those physical disorders, you | | | | |
| will want to talk with a psychiatrist about | | | | Dizziness |
| problems you are experiencing in order to | | | | |
| properly prescribe a medication that suited | | | | Racing heart |
| to your needs. Because these doctors are more | | | | |
| experienced with behavioral drugs, they often | | | | Hair loss |
| can give you an accurate description of what | | | | |
| the drug will do and what you might be able | | | | Suicidal thoughts |
| to expect. | | | | |
| | | | Stomach pains |
| Here are some of the things you should keep | | | | |
| in mind in any medication therapy: | | | | Constipation |
| | | | |
| Results Can Take Time | | | | These side effects will vary from patient to |
| | | | patient and often subside as your body grows |
| While you might want immediate results from | | | | use to the medications. However, if you feel |
| the medications you are taking, this isn't | | | | that the side effects are too uncomfortable, |
| always how it works. Many of these | | | | ask your doctor for another related |
| medications require a few days to a few weeks | | | | medication or a lower dosage. |
| to build up in your blood stream. Blood tests | | | | |
| may be needed to see if the right amount of | | | | Is There a Cure? |
| the medication is in your body in order to | | | | |
| provide the positive effects. If you are on | | | | With medications for depression and anxiety, |
| other drug therapies, you may need to stop | | | | there are two types of patients: those that |
| those therapies first or change your dosages | | | | have a chemical imbalance in their brains |
| in order to maintain your medication levels. | | | | that can be stabilized by medications, and |
| | | | those that simply are having a hard time in |
| When those levels have stabilized, you might | | | | life and only need temporary help for this |
| still need a few months for your body to | | | | difficult period. There really isn't a cure |
| adjust. This is especially the case for women | | | | for depression and anxiety, but rather a |
| due to the effects of estrogen on the body. | | | | management regimen. When you have a chemical |
| However, if you are not seeing results after | | | | imbalance, you might need to continue to take |
| about three weeks of medication, you may want | | | | medications for the rest of your life, while |
| to increase the dosage or try a new treatment | | | | others might only need short term therapy to |
| regiment, as prescribed by your doctor. | | | | be able to get back into the swing of things. |