Medication for depression
Abstract: When psychiatric problems become too much to handle, many people, with the guidance of their physicians, turn to medication to control their symptoms. Many doctors choose to prescribe a psychopharmalogical drug, usually made of a synthetic chemical compound that helps to compensate for imbalanced brain chemistry. We have to concern about these drug. Do medications truly help mental disorders, however, or do they simply treat symptoms? Is there any natural way of dealing with depression?
Keywords: Antidepressant, psychotherapy, mental disorder, Side effect, medication, placebo.
Introduction:
Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. In fact, it affects 322 million people in the world and over 6 million people in Bangladesh (WHO). It is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. It’s not known exactly what causes depression. As with many mental disorders, a variety of factors may be involved, such as: Biological differences, brain chemistry, hormones & inherited traits. Antidepressants are medications commonly used to treat depression. .When we need to use this types of medication? Do they simply treat symptoms? There are various facts we should know about antidepressant drug because when a person is diagnosed with a depressive disorder, antidepressants are often seen as first line treatment.
It has been argued that all subtypes of depressive disorders may be an indication for antidepressants, but the main “intuitive” criteria for prescribing antidepressants remains the severity of the depressive symptoms (eg, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HDRS] score >18). The more severe the depression, the greater the benefits are likely to be. In other words, antidepressants are effective against chronic, moderate and severe depression. They probably don’t work in the treatment of mild depression. Antidepressants are usually taken for one to two years, sometimes longer, to prevent relapses. Studies involving adults show that taking commonly used antidepressants such as TCAs, SSRIs or SSNRIs lowers the risk of relapses, but cannot completely prevent them.
Studies of adults with moderate or severe depression showed:
Without antidepressants: About 20 to 40 out of 100 people who took a placebo noticed an improvement in their symptoms within six to eight weeks.
With antidepressants: About 40 to 60 out of 100 people who took an antidepressant noticed an improvement in their symptoms within six to eight weeks.
Antidepressants carry a boxed warning about increased risk compared to placebo for suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults 18-24 years old. Not only does it take time to get an accurate depression diagnosis, finding the right medication to treat depression can be a complicated, delicate process. Someone may have a serious medical problem, such as heart disease or liver or kidney disease, That could make some antidepressants unsafe. . It is very necessary to check with doctor before starting any supplement, especially if we are already taking medications. The right medication to an individual depends on the clinico-physiological condition of patient such as symptoms, possible side effect and interaction with other medications, state of pregnancy or breast feeding and the mental condition. Antidepressant targets are primarily the monoaminergic neurotransmitter system (eg, 5HT, NA,and to a lesser extent dopamine).By inhibiting neurotransmitter transporter or receptors ,leading to an increase in synaptic levels of monoamines. Different classes of anti-depression are in practice depending on the type and requirement of depression. They are used in the medication of a number of symptoms, including not only depression, some anxiety disorder, nervousness, manic-depressive disorders, social fretfulness, stress disorders etc. Anti-depressants may recover sings depression but also exert some side effects such as; fatigue, weakness, dry mouth, blurred vision, headache, confusion, weight gain etc.
Natural depression treatment:
As there are a lots of serious side effect of antidepressant, I think it is not so wise to use this drug frequently. Now a days, suicidal tendency is also very alarming issue while using some antidepressant drug. Considering patient condition and some major side effects are very necessary. It is very important to discuss about pros and cons with a doctor or pharmacist before using. Very often we forget about safety and try to get rid of depression using chemical agent. There is also some natural way of treating depression. .In some case psychological approach is more effective. Changing behavior, physical activity, lifestyle, and even way of thinking — are all natural depression treatments.
Some natural way of treating depression are:
- Challenge negative thoughts: In our fight against depression, a lot of the work is mental — changing how we think.
- Do something new: When we’re depressed, we are in a rut. It is wise to do some new work. We can sit on a park bench and read a book in open sky.
- Take on responsibilities: Staying involved and having daily responsibilities can help us maintain a lifestyle that can help counter depression.
- Exercise: It temporarily boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It may also have long-term benefits for people with depression. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways.
- Get enough sleep: Depression can make it hard to get enough shut-eye, and too little sleep can make depression worse.
- Voluntary work: This may a very effective way for removing depression for someone. Sometimes we need a break from our regular life. Helping others make us mentally happy.
- Set goals: When someone are depressed, they may feel like they can’t accomplish anything. That makes them feel worse about themselves. To push back, we have to set daily goals.
- Try to have fun: What if nothing seems fun anymore? “That’s just a symptom of depression.
- Spend more time with family: In some case, bad relation among family member may cause depression in a person. We need to realize how much our parents love us. They are our well-wisher.
- Meet some new people: Every person may have some problem in life. Nobody is satisfied. When need to listen some new story of new people and understand their suffering.
Conclusion:
Our happiness is related to some chemicals that are released by our body. They are Dopamine, Endorphin, Serotonin and oxytocin. Dopamine is released when we exercise and it makes us feel good temporarily. Endorphin is released when we accomplish something substantial in life and again it gives us temporary happiness. Serotonin is released when we connect with others in a way that benefits others, when we connect with others in a deep and meaningful way. Hats why many billionaires have given up their wealth into charity for the lack of peace of mind and mental balance. Oxytocin is released when we become close to others and connect with a friend by shaking hands, hugging a friend, laughing with them etc, when we become social. A lots of people are suffering from serious illness, many people leave this earth every day. I am breathing, this is happiness and this is satisfaction. I think there are so many natural treatment of depression. We should think twice before using an antidepressant drug. Antidepressant are a form of treatment with very little patient involvement, only requiring a regular pill intake but in some case psychotherapy is more effective. Through this whole discussion, I would like to encourage the proper use of medication that are used for treating depression. Very often I see , my friends are depressed and some are taking antidepressant medicine for a simple case. We need to know about the effect of medicine in our body. After all a medicine is not a grocery product.
References:
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269836305_Mental_Illness_Medication_or_Therapyhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016/
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/mental-health-medications/index.shtml
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321079742_Antidepressants_Mechanism_of_Action_Toxicity_and_Possible_Amelioration
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340105242_Medical_and_Clinical_Archives_Factors_inducing_depression_as_effective_tool_in_therapy
- http://www.searo.who.int/bangladesh/enbanwhd2017/en/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007
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