| If you have been suffering from depression and | | | | estrogen on the body. However, if you are not |
| anxiety, seeking help to deal with the debilitating | | | | seeing results after about three weeks of |
| symptoms is the first step. You may have found in | | | | medication, you may want to increase the dosage or |
| life that ever the simplest of tasks has now become | | | | try a new treatment regiment, as prescribed by your |
| insurmountable and responsibilities you have to | | | | doctor. |
| shoulder are now more difficult. These are some of | | | | There are also some medications that can lose their |
| the reasons why more people are turning to | | | | effectiveness after a period of time, resulting in a |
| medications to help them deal with depression and | | | | need to change medications. Some people simply will |
| anxiety. New medications are becoming available each | | | | need medication changes every few months, even if |
| day. It is no wonder that more patients want to | | | | the medication was working because their brain |
| know whether or not they can expect a turnaround | | | | chemistry also changes, resulting in the need for new |
| in their mental health - before they even begin the | | | | chemicals. |
| treatments. | | | | Side Effects Can Occur |
| What Your Doctor Knows | | | | As with any medication, medicines for depression and |
| Before you begin to think about mental health | | | | anxiety can often have side effects as a result of |
| medications, you will want to talk to your primary | | | | the treatment. You might experience things like: |
| care doctor to rule out any physical disorders that | | | | Weight gain |
| may be causing your symptoms. For instance, a | | | | Moodiness |
| thyroid imbalance can present itself as a depressive | | | | Hunger |
| disorder, but requires completely different medication. | | | | Appetite loss |
| Once you have ruled out those physical disorders, | | | | Dizziness |
| you will want to talk with a psychiatrist about | | | | Racing heart |
| problems you are experiencing in order to properly | | | | Hair loss |
| prescribe a medication that suited to your needs. | | | | Suicidal thoughts |
| Because these doctors are more experienced with | | | | Stomach pains |
| behavioral drugs, they often can give you an | | | | Constipation |
| accurate description of what the drug will do and | | | | These side effects will vary from patient to patient |
| what you might be able to expect. | | | | and often subside as your body grows use to the |
| Here are some of the things you should keep in mind | | | | medications. However, if you feel that the side |
| in any medication therapy: | | | | effects are too uncomfortable, ask your doctor for |
| Results Can Take Time | | | | another related medication or a lower dosage. |
| While you might want immediate results from the | | | | Is There a Cure? |
| medications you are taking, this isn't always how it | | | | With medications for depression and anxiety, there |
| works. Many of these medications require a few | | | | are two types of patients: those that have a |
| days to a few weeks to build up in your blood | | | | chemical imbalance in their brains that can be |
| stream. Blood tests may be needed to see if the | | | | stabilized by medications, and those that simply are |
| right amount of the medication is in your body in | | | | having a hard time in life and only need temporary |
| order to provide the positive effects. If you are on | | | | help for this difficult period. There really isn't a cure |
| other drug therapies, you may need to stop those | | | | for depression and anxiety, but rather a management |
| therapies first or change your dosages in order to | | | | regimen. When you have a chemical imbalance, you |
| maintain your medication levels. | | | | might need to continue to take medications for the |
| When those levels have stabilized, you might still | | | | rest of your life, while others might only need short |
| need a few months for your body to adjust. This is | | | | term therapy to be able to get back into the swing |
| especially the case for women due to the effects of | | | | of things. |