What Alternatives To Antidepressants Are Available
Alternative treatments for depression have emerged that attempt to help the brain create new connections more efficiently most notably ketamine and psychedelic therapy . These interventions appear to be about as effective as antidepressants, improving depression scores in roughly 60 percent of the people who try them. More significant is that they are able to treat some of the people who dont respond to the traditional medications. The drugs are seen as riskier and more invasive than antidepressants, though, so are meant to be used as a last resort, not a first-line treatment, Dr. Sanacora said.
Some psychiatrists have also started to recommend nonpharmaceutical treatments to help people with depression. Dr. Hellerstein said that when he evaluates a new patient, he now pays more attention to habits, such as sleep, diet and exercise, and would often recommend behavioral changes, therapy or meditation before medication. Theres research suggesting that exercise also may help new connections grow in the brain, and in some studies exercise has been shown to be as effective as antidepressants at treating depression. Meditation has been found to help with feelings of stress and anxiety, and theres a clear connection between sleep deprivation and anxiety in the brain.
Youre making, I think, a more holistic assessment of that persons way of living than maybe you did in the late 1980s, Dr. Hellerstein said.
Antidepressants And Suicide Risk
There is a danger that, in some people, antidepressant treatment will cause an increase, rather than a decrease, in depression. In fact, the FDA requires that all depression medications in the U.S. include a warning label about the increased risk of suicide in children and young adults. The suicide risk is particularly great during the first month or two of treatment.
Anyone taking antidepressants should be closely watched for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Monitoring is especially important if this is the person’s first time on depression medication or if the dose has recently been changed. If you spot the warning signs in yourself or a loved one, contact your doctor or therapist immediately.
Antidepressant suicide warning signs
- Extreme hyperactivity
- Other unusual changes in behavior
If you are concerned that a friend or family member is contemplating suicide, see Suicide Prevention.
Don’t Stop Taking Your Antidepressant Medicine Suddenly
If you think your antidepressant medicine isn’t working for you, don’t stop taking it suddenly. Talk to your doctor about the right time to stop taking your medicine. When youre ready, your doctor will work out a plan with you. They will slowly lower the amount you take over a few weeks until youre not taking it at all. This lowers the chance of problems as you stop taking it, eg, feeling dizzy, tired or worried or having trouble sleeping.
You May Like: Do Pills Help With Depression
Should You Treat Your Depression With Medications
You might be asking your healthcare provider this question if you have been feeling low and your friends and family have mentioned this to you. Your provider might have mentioned medication if your mood interferes with work, family or socializing for more than two weeks. Some people with depression might even have legal troubles linked to outbursts.
Having A Hard Time At Work Or School
Whether you love or hate your job or school, depression only makes things harder. You might find that you are missing deadlines, not following up with emails, or forgetting tasks you must complete.
It might become apparent if you arent performing as well as you used to or cant keep up with your peers. This could deter your lifes trajectory because you can miss great opportunities.
People who suffer from depression can still maintain jobs, but the quality of work they put in or the effort they can give will show. If you or a loved one has lost their job or is falling behind in school work, rehab for depression might pull them out of the darkness.
Read Also: How To Help Me With Depression
Starting An Antidepressant Doesnt Mean Youll Be On It Foreverbut Dont Go Off Cold Turkey
People who take antidepressants dont need to feel trapped, Dr. Cox says. Some people need medication indefinitely, but many do not. Their life circumstances change, or they make progress in therapy, and the antidepressants arent as critical anymore.
Just because youre struggling and you reach out to your doctor about medication doesnt mean youre signing up to take something for the rest of your life, she says.
If you are interested in stopping your medication, its important to do so in consultation with your doctor, who will tell you how to taper off slowly. This has two purposes, Dr. Cox says: One, it reduces the chance of withdrawal symptoms. Two, if you start to decrease your dose and your anxiety or depression worsens, you can increase back to your previous dose easily.
Think you might be dealing with depression or anxiety? Talk to your doctor or find one near you.
What Are The Effects Of Taking Antidepressants Without Depression
Research shows that taking antidepressants if youre not depressed can alter brain function and structure, particularly the medication Zoloft. While the effects of depression medications such as improved mood and emotion are advantageous for people with depression, these drugs are designed to regulate a chemical imbalance.
Also Check: Vitamin D Deficiency And Depression In Adults
What Should You Consider When Deciding Whether Or Not To Take Antidepressants
Whether antidepressants are an option will depend on things like the severity of the symptoms. Other aspects can also play a role in the decision:
- Are you going to psychotherapy or are you planning to?
- Have you taken antidepressants before and did they help?
- How bad do you think the potential side effects are compared to the possible benefits?
The question of side effects can also be key when choosing which drug to take: Some people might be more keen to avoid digestion problems. Others might prefer to avoid dizziness, decreased sex drive or erection problems.
It only makes sense to use antidepressants if the is correct. Specialists believe that some people are prescribed antidepressants unnecessarily. The fact that a lot more people take antidepressants nowadays suggests that this is true. They are sometimes already prescribed for milder symptoms, even though it’s not clear whether they help in mild .
But it’s still important to make sure that severe is diagnosed and treated properly. Antidepressants can be helpful here, and for some people may be the only way that they can get back into a daily routine or start going to psychotherapy.
How Does Your Doctor Select Which Antidepressant To Administer
Your doctor chooses which antidepressant medicine to recommend based on your symptoms, the presence of other medical conditions, what other medicines you are taking, cost of the prescribed treatments, and potential side effects. If you have had depression before, your doctor will usually prescribe the same medicine you responded to in the past. If you have a family history of depression, medicines that have been effective in treating your family member might be one factor to consider in choosing an appropriate medication for you.
Usually you will start taking the medicine at a low dose. The dose will be gradually increased until you start to see an improvement .
You May Like: How To Cope With High Functioning Depression
How To Safely Take Antidepressants
Last Updated September 2022 | This article was created by familydoctor.org editorial staff and reviewed by Peter Rippey, MD, CAQSM
If you have depression, your doctor may prescribe medicine to treat it. This medicine is called an antidepressant. There are many types of antidepressants. Finding the one thats right for you can take time. Its important to work with your doctor to find it.
Depression And Your Children
Like adults, children and teens can also feel depressed. You should watch your children for signs of depression. Talk to your children if you notice changes in their behavior. Talk to your childs healthcare provider if you are still concerned.
Prozac is the only medicine that is approved by FDA for use in children with depression. Prozac and Lexapro are the only FDA-approved medicines for teens with depression. Talk to your healthcare provider about important warnings for children and teens who take medicine for depression.
Recommended Reading: Holistic Anxiety And Depression Treatment
Antidepressants And Other Medicines
Antidepressants can effect many other medicines. If youre taking an antidepressant, tell your doctor about all other medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines and herbal health products . They can let you know if your regular medicines may cause problems when combined with an antidepressant.
How Do You Know If You Need An Antidepressant
If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with clinical depressionpersistent sadness, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, changes in appetite, sleep disruption, lack of energy, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, inability to make decisions, and/or thoughts of suicide or self-harmsee a doctor. They may prescribe an antidepressant. If you are having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
You May Like: Can Depression Cause Cognitive Impairment
What Seniors Need To Know About Taking Paxlovid
A new coronavirus variant is circulating, the most transmissible one yet. Hospitalizations of infected patients are rising. And older adults represent nearly 90% of US deaths from Covid-19 in recent months, the largest portion since the start of the pandemic.
What does that mean for people 65 and older catching Covid for the first time or those experiencing a repeat infection? The message from infectious disease experts and geriatricians is clear: seek treatment with antiviral therapy, which remains effective against new Covid variants.
The therapy of first choice, experts said, is Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment for people with mild to moderate Covid at high risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus. All adults 65 and up fall in that category. If people cant tolerate the medication potential complications with other drugs need to be carefully evaluated by a medical provider two alternatives are available.
Theres lots of evidence that Paxlovid can reduce the risk of catastrophic events that can follow infection with Covid in older individuals, said Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a professor of medicine at Yale University.
The time to be figuring all this out is before you get Covid, said Dr. Allison Weinmann, an infectious-disease expert at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Path To Improved Health
Your doctor will consider many factors when choosing the antidepressant medicine to give you:
- If you were depressed before and a certain antidepressant worked well, that medicine might be the right choice for you again.
- If any of your brothers, sisters, parents, uncles, or aunts had depression and a certain antidepressant worked well for them, that medicine might work for you, too.
- The choice of an antidepressant depends on your health. Certain antidepressants may have a bad effect on a health problem you have. That medicine wouldnt be the right choice for you.
- Antidepressants can have side effects. The right medicine for you may be the one that gives you the fewest side effects.
- The choice of an antidepressant may depend on how often you must take it. It is important to take antidepressants as prescribed and daily medications may make this easier.
- Some antidepressants cost more than others. Your doctor will choose an antidepressant that works for you and your budget.
- Your doctor will likely choose a medicine they have experience prescribing.
- Some antidepressant can help you with sleeplessness, anxiety, and lack of energy if these are part of your symptoms.
- If youre taking other medicines, your doctor will consider how an antidepressant will work with these other medicines.
- Some antidepressants dont work well with certain foods. If your doctor gives you one of these antidepressants, they will let you know which foods you should stop eating.
Read Also: Depression Support Groups Fort Myers
How Do Antidepressants Work
Various antidepressant medications are available for prescription use. There is no single best antidepressant, and the best one for you depends on your symptoms and individual needs.
Usually, antidepressants help balance the levels of neurotransmitters, which are chemicals responsible for communications between neurons in the brain. These chemicals include serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Higher levels of these chemicals usually correspond with lower levels of depression.
While antidepressants can be helpful in depression, effectiveness varies from patient to patient. How long the drugs stay in your body also varies. Some drugs stay in your body for about 36 hours, while others last as long as several days.
Children And Young People
The use of antidepressants isn’t usually recommended in children and young people under the age of 18. This is because there’s evidence that, in rare cases, they can trigger thoughts about suicide and acts of self-harm in this age group.
Their use could affect the development of the brain in children and young people.
An exception can usually only be made if the following points are met:
- the person being treated has failed to respond to talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy, and
- the person being treated will continue to receive talking therapies in combination with antidepressants, and
- the treatment is supervised by a psychiatrist
If an antidepressant is recommended, then fluoxetine is usually the first choice.
Read Also: Do I Go To A Doctor For Depression
How Is Blepharitis Treated
We can usually control early-stage blepharitis with artificial tears and drugs that restore the balance of the eyes tear layer. These drugs are remarkably effective and have improved significantly in the past decade.
I tell my patients not to underestimate the relief that comes from applying regular warm compress to the eyes at home. But there is no one-time fix, and it is important to continue treatment for life.
Tips For Stopping Your Antidepressant Safely
Reduce your dose gradually. In order to minimize antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, never stop your medication cold turkey. Instead, gradually step down your dose , allowing for at least two to six weeks or longer between each dosage reduction.
Don’t rush the process. The antidepressant tapering process may take from several months to years, and should only be attempted under a doctor’s supervision. Be patient. If at any time you experience difficulties, consider spending more time at your current dose before attempting any further reductions.
Choose a time to stop that isn’t too stressful. Withdrawing from antidepressants can be difficult, so it’s best to start when you’re not under a lot of stress. If you’re currently going through any major life changes or significantly stressful circumstances, you may want to wait until you’re in a more stable place.
Recommended Reading: How To Stay Alive When Depressed
What Are The Different Types Of Antidepressants
There are many different types of antidepressants. They can be grouped according to how they work in the body. Within each group, there are several different medicines that work in a similar way.
- SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They are not necessarily more effective than others, but they tend to have fewer side effects. They include citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline
- SNRIs, or serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, including duloxetine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine
- Serotonin modulator, including vortioxetine
- Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors such as reboxetine
- TCAs , including amitriptyline, nortriptyline, clomipramine, dothiepin, doxepin, imiprimine, trimipramine
- RIMAs , such as moclobemide
- Tetracyclic antidepressants such as mianserin
- Tetracyclic analogues of mianserin such as mirtazapine
- MAOIs , including phenelzine and tranylcypromine
- Melatonergic antidepressants such as agomelatine
Your doctor will prescribe an antidepressant based on your symptoms or disorder. People respond differently to different antidepressants, so it may be necessary for a doctor to trial more than one antidepressant to find one that works well for you with few side-effects.
NPS MedicineWise has a detailed list of antidepressants, which can be searched by active ingredient as well as by brand name.
How Effectively Do Antidepressants Relieve The Symptoms
There are a lot of different medications for treating . But it’s difficult to predict how well a particular medication will help an individual. So doctors often first suggest taking a drug that they consider to be effective and relatively well tolerated. If it doesn’t help as much as expected, it’s possible to switch to a different medication. Sometimes a number of different drugs have to be tried before you find one that works.
Studies show that the benefit generally depends on the severity of the : The more severe the depression, the greater the benefits will be. In other words, antidepressants are effective against chronic, moderate and severe depression. They don’t help in mild depression.
The various antidepressants have been compared in many studies. Overall, the commonly used tricyclic antidepressants were found to be equally effective. Studies involving adults with moderate or severe have shown the following:
- 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.
In other words, antidepressants improved symptoms in about an extra 20 out of 100 people.
Antidepressants can also relieve long-term symptoms of chronic depressive disorder and chronic , and help make them go away completely.
Don’t Miss: Talking To Someone With Depression
Other Treatments For Depression
Other treatments for depression include talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy .
People with moderate to severe depression are usually treated using a combination of antidepressants and CBT. Antidepressants work quickly in reducing symptoms, whereas CBT takes time to deal with causes of depression and ways of overcoming it.
Regular exercise has also been shown to be useful for those with mild depression.
Read more about alternatives to antidepressants.