What are antidepressants and when should they be used?
Depression is still a taboo subject that people often feel ashamed to discuss. It is often thought that depression can be hidden, that nobody will notice it, and that it will pass with time without outside help. Unfortunately, in most cases, this is not true.
Depression is an illness that requires professional help and strong support from those around you. Its treatment includes antidepressants, which affect mood and behavior.
There is no set of characteristics that indicate whether someone will develop depression or not. This illness affects both the young and the old, the rich and the poor. It is also a cause of personal tragedies that hinder even the simplest daily activities. Antidepressants come to the aid, influencing mood and behavior. They also allow you to function normally in everyday life. However, these drugs are not widely used.
.Due to their potent effects and somewhat complex dosing, the use of antidepressants should always be associated with a doctor's visit. Patients starting treatment in Switzerland antidepressant treatment receive necessary information about the dosage and side effects from a specialist.
How do antidepressants work?
Antidepressants can treat the symptoms of depression or other mental health problems, but they do not always address the root causes. Doctors often prescribe them alongside talk therapy to help address the underlying issues affecting your mental health.
You may find that some types of antidepressants work better than others for your symptoms, or you may discover that antidepressants are not suitable for you.
Antidepressants increase the activity of chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain. Increasing the activity of neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine appears to help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the brain is a very complex organ, and the reasons these drugs work are not fully understood.
We know that these drugs help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety in 70% of people who try them. This percentage is even higher when people who do not find relief from one type of antidepressant try another type.
What side effects do antidepressants have?
While the therapeutic effects usually take three to four weeks to appear, side effects can be felt relatively quickly. The most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Weight gain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Sleepiness
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of libido
Do antidepressants have dangerous side effects?
One particularly dangerous side effect is an increased risk of suicide. Specialists explain this by the fact that the antidepressant effect of the medication takes several weeks to manifest, while the activating effect can be felt very quickly. As a result, patients may still be in a state of depression but suddenly have the energy to carry out plans they had been making for a long time, including self-harm.