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Depression is treatable. Most people, even those with severe depression, improve with treatment. The main ways to treat depression are medicine, counseling (talk therapy), or both.
Your doctor will decide on your treatment based on:
- How severe your depression is
- How long your symptoms last
- The history of your depression
Medicines for depression
Medicines for depression are thought to work by balancing chemicals in the brain. To decide which medicine is best for you, your doctor will take into account:
- Your symptoms
- Other medical conditions you have
- Medicines you take
- Possible side effects
If your doctor prescribes medicine for depression, give it time. Many people don’t stay on depression medicine long enough for it to work well. It may take a couple of weeks or more before you notice a change in your mood. It may be even longer before you feel the medicine’s full effect.
Your doctor will decide how long you need to stay on medicine. Following your doctor’s directions is key to your treatment success.
Depression medicines developed during the past decade tend to have fewer side effects than older ones. But even the newer medicines may cause side effects.
Some common side effects of medicines for depression include:
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Sexual side effects
- Dizziness
- Problems sleeping or drowsiness
- Nervousness/anxiety
- Headache
- Weakness/loss of strength
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your medicine, or if you have problems you think may be linked to your medicine.
Also of Interest
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