How can antidepressants affect your life?

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For patients with depression, the use of medication to control the disease is essential. The mechanism of action of antidepressants is to balance chemicals in the brain, also known as neurotransmitters, which greatly affect a person's mood and emotions.

1.What are the effects of antidepressants?

Antidepressants help improve mood, help people sleep better, increase appetite and improve concentration. According to Eric Endlich, PhD, a psychologist in Boston, depression medication can help "reboot" mood, give people motivation to work through symptoms, allow people to start doing things. doing things they enjoy and making better choices for themselves, contributing to a more positive mood.
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2. When do antidepressants help people feel better?

Most antidepressants work very well in relieving symptoms of the disease, however this antidepressant effect is not immediate, it usually takes at least 3 to 4 weeks for the patient to recover. Notice a change in your mood. Sometimes there are cases where it takes longer. Taking the medicine regularly every day as directed by your doctor will help increase the chances of it working.
Patients with depression need to be patiently monitored to know that the drug is working. The change in the early stages of medication is very subtle, after a few weeks most patients realize that they actually feel better. Therefore, patients need to be very patient in the initial phase, when the drug has not yet exerted its maximum effect.
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3. What if antidepressants don't work?

If the person does not notice any changes in his or her mood after a few weeks, then tell the treating doctor to adjust the medication. About 60% of people taking antidepressants feel improvement with the first medication they take, but the rest need to try more than 1 medication before noticing a positive change in mood.
A study sponsored by the US National Institute of Mental Health in 2008 found that about 50% of patients did not feel better after taking a drug and then noticed a marked improvement after they switch to a new drug or add a second drug to their regimen. Patients and doctors can exchange information to find the right medication together.

4. What are the side effects of antidepressants?

Like all drugs, antidepressants can cause side effects. Some of the most common side effects of antidepressants include:
Headache; agitation; Nausea or vomiting; Insomnia ; Excessive sleepiness; Decreased sex drive; Dry mouth; Weight gain . Several different types of depression medications have the potential to cause certain side effects differently. The newer generation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) generally have fewer side effects than older drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and inhibitors monoamine oxidase (MAOI). However, because each drug affects each person differently, it is difficult to know what side effects this patient may experience until they start taking the medication. If you are concerned about any particular side effect (such as weight gain or nausea), talk to your doctor about a depression medication that is less likely to cause that side effect.
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5. How long do the side effects of antidepressants last?

Many of the side effects of antidepressants last for a few days or weeks at first and then go away. However, there are still cases of patients experiencing side effects that persist until the medication is stopped. If the side effects become more and more severe, greatly affecting the quality of life, the patient should immediately notify the doctor to find ways to improve (such as changing the time of day to take the medicine) or switch to a different drug. other.
The most important thing that patients need to remember is not to stop taking the medicine without a doctor's prescription. If the patient stops taking the drug suddenly, it can lead to severe nausea, headache, and dizziness. In this case, the doctor will instruct the patient to reduce the dose over time to safely stop the medication.

6. How long do you take antidepressants?

How long to take antidepressants depends on the patient's state of depression. Most people need to take medication for depression for at least 6 to 9 months, but it may take longer even if the person feels better. Some patients have to take antidepressants continuously for several years. It is the doctor who decides the right time to stop the medication.
Antidepressants are used as prescribed by the doctor. Patients need to strictly follow the instructions to achieve the highest effectiveness, and at the same time avoid unwanted side effects.

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Reference source: webmd.com