Anuradha Varanasi
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Written By: Anuradha Varanasi | Updated : May 24, 2016 4:20 PM IST
Despite the social stigma surrounding common mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, over the last few years, there has been rising awareness about the symptoms of depression and why it needs to be treated among Indians. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that though 350 million people worldwide are affected by depression, fewer than 10% of them receive treatment.
Living with this mental illness can significantly hamper the quality of your life and also your day-to-day functioning. If you have been considering visiting a psychiatrist for treatment, it is important that you know what to expect from your treatment and also what you should refrain from doing if you want your treatment to be successful in the long run. Dr Parul Tank, Psychiatrist and Therapist at Fortis Hospital, Mumbai, and Nimai Healthcare says these are the four things patients should know about antidepressants:
1. The antidepressants prescribed along with the dosage will keep changing
When you first consult a psychiatrist, you will have a private one-on-one session with the doctor where you will be encouraged to talk about yourself, your background and what symptoms you have been experiencing. The psychiatrist will make notes as you speak and then by the end of your session, he will prescribe antidepressants for you if required.
However, since antidepressants can cause side-effects, depending on that the dosage and even the drug might change quite quickly, says Dr Tank. International guidelines say that the psychiatrist should wait for four weeks but in some cases, the medicines are changed even on a weekly basis, says Dr Tank. The side-effects of antidepressants last for around 10 days or so and depending on their severity, your doctor will decide on the types of drugs and severity. Here s how antidepressants work.
2. It takes at least two to three weeks before you notice the effects of antidepressants
Now that you have taken the important step to seek help for depression, don t expect any overnight results. Psychiatrists say that patients usually take at least two to three weeks before notice any type of improvement in their mood or emotional well-being. During this time frame, continue taking your medicines as prescribed and avoid discontinuing with it abruptly just because you think it isn t working. Did you know, a study has found that antidepressants change brain structures in depressed and non-depressed individuals in very different ways?
3. The number of medicines prescribed for depression varies from one psychiatrist to another
As there is no blanket therapy for treating mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, psychiatrists use different approaches to tackle the symptoms. The guidelines state that psychiatrists shouldn t resort to poly-pharmacy but the reality is that many of them do. The treatment for depression largely varies from one doctor to another, explains Dr Tank. If you re uncomfortable with the number of drugs prescribed or the side-effects are too severe, don t hesitate to contact your psychiatrist and voice your concerns.
4. Avoid taking higher doses of your antidepressants
While Dr Tank says that the myth that antidepressants are addictive or dangerous isn t true, she further adds that many patients start taking higher than the prescribed doses of their antidepressants. The most common side-effect of antidepressants is that they can make you feel drowsy. Many patients take higher doses intentionally just to feel drowsy throughout the day, she says.
However, that won t help in fighting against depression in the long run. Patients should regularly go for follow-up appointments and take their medicines only as prescribed for best results, adds Dr Tank. Instead, try exercising to fight against depression.
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