Sooner or later, a modern person is faced with the need to purchase antidepressant drugs used in complex treatment for a depressed emotional state. Antidepressants are “called upon” to serve a person to elevate mood, create a positive emotional background, and ultimately.

When is a doctor's prescription required for antidepressants?

The dosage and daily regimen of medication is prescribed, of course, by the doctor. Only a qualified specialist will be able to assess the true state of your psyche, accurately calculate and schedule the dosage of medications. Compliance with the prescription when treating depression is one of the components of success in the fight against depression.

A prescription for purchasing antidepressant drugs is required only in the following cases:

• exacerbation of the disease;
• treatment of the most severe forms of depression;
• with an atypical form of the disease.

In this situation, the doctor prescribes monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These are potent antidepressant drugs that are used when other types are ineffective or have severe side effects.

The most effective in treating severe forms of depression are moclobemide, phenelzine, isocarboxazid and tranylcypromine.

Phenelzine, isocarboxazid and tranylcypromine are time-tested drugs, but have been used since the 50s of the 20th century and have many side effects. Moclobemide is a new generation medicine, with a faster effect and fewer associated negative reactions.

Mild antidepressants of a new generation. What's special?

A mild form of depression can be “corrected” with the help of drugs for which pharmacies do not require a prescription. New generation antidepressants, as a rule, do not cause as much harm to the body as drugs produced in the last century. Modern “over-the-counter” antidepressants are fundamentally different from heavy medications and drugs of the older generation.

Advantages of modern antidepressants:

1. faster effect on the body and elimination of depression;
2. fewer side effects;
3. possibility of simultaneous use with many other medications;
4. absence of significant addiction to the action of the drug.

Based on the effect the drugs have on a person’s mental state, antidepressants are distinguished between stimulating and sedative properties.

It is very important to accurately determine the nature of the disease and the subsequent correct choice of antidepressant medication (to stimulate or inhibit the central nervous system). The time and effectiveness of treatment largely depends on this.

List of mild antidepressants available without prescription (15 drugs)

Over-the-counter antidepressants are divided into different groups according to the degree and type of their effect. Let us list the main groups and the drugs included in them. Let's start the list by listing stimulant antidepressants.

1. Maprotiline

Drug name: Maprotiline.

Analogues: Ludiomil, Ladiomil, Flexyx.

Indications: endogenous, involutional, psychogenic and neurotic depression, exhaustion, somatogenic, latent, menopausal depression.

Action: reducing apathy, improving mood, relieving psychomotor retardation.

Side effects: headache, lethargy, drowsiness, hearing loss, hallucinations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, vomiting, nausea, dry mouth, urticaria, swelling, weight gain, sexual disorders, stomatitis.

Contraindications: epileptic disease, kidney disease, liver disease, pregnancy.

2. Prozac

Drug name: Prozac.

Analogues: Fluoxetine, Prodel, Profluzac, Fluval.

Indications: depression, bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder (obsessive thoughts and actions).

Action:

• relieves emotional overload and obsessive thoughts;
• will alleviate anorexia nervosa;
• eliminates premenstrual disorders;
• reduce anxiety and panic.

Side effects: at the beginning of treatment and when the dose is increased - anxiety, drowsiness, headache, nausea. Rarely – convulsions. Possible skin rashes, pain in muscles, joints, fever

Contraindications: hypersensitivity, pregnancy, lactation.

3. Paxil

Drug name: Paxil.

Analogues: Rexetine, Adepress, Actaparoxetine, Plizil, Paroxetine hydrochloride hemihydride, Sirestill.

Indications: depression of all types in adults and children 7-17 years old.

Action: in the first weeks of use, symptoms of depression decrease and suicidal thoughts are eliminated. Prevents relapses of depression.

Side effects: drowsiness, insomnia, loss of appetite, tachycardia, nausea, constipation, seizures, sweating.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to paroxetine and the components of the drug. Pregnancy, lactation.

Drug name: Deprim.

Analogues: Gelarium hypericum, Doppel-Hertz Nervotonic.

Indications: chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, emotional exhaustion, decreased ability to work.

Action: increased performance, mental and physical activity, normalization of sleep.

Side effects: dry mouth, changes in the gastrointestinal tract, fatigue.

Contraindications: children under 6 years old. Individual intolerance. It should be taken with special caution during pregnancy and lactation.

Along with medications of chemical origin, herbal preparations can be taken to combat depression. Antidepressants of herbal etiology are herbal infusions that can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared at home.

5. Leuzea extract

Drug name: Leuzea extract (Raponticum safflower).

Indications: as a complex therapy.

Action: general tonic effect, increased performance, improved mood, increased appetite .

Side effects: headache, irritability, increased blood pressure, allergic reaction, insomnia.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity, epilepsy, chronic sleep disorders, acute period of infectious diseases.

6. Ginseng tincture

Drug name: Ginseng tincture.

Indications: hypotension, increased fatigue, overwork.

Action: increased performance, decreased fatigue, increased blood pressure.

Side effects: insomnia, headache, diarrhea, nausea, nosebleeds.

Contraindications: hypertension, children under 16 years of age, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.

7. Schisandra tincture

Drug name: Schisandra tincture.

Indications: hypotension, neurasthenia, depression.

Action: stimulating the central nervous system, increasing blood pressure, improving visual acuity.

Side effects: overexcitation of the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Contraindications: insomnia, high blood pressure, acute infectious diseases.

Let's take a closer look at the class of sedative antidepressants.

8. Azafen

Drug name: Azafen.

Indications: asthenodepressive syndrome, anxiety-depressive state, alcoholic depression, endogenous depression, exogenous depression, depressive states in chronic somatic diseases.

Action: elimination of anxiety and depression, manifestations of senile depression, smoothing out the negative state caused by long-term use of antipsychotics.

Side effects: nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, acute infectious diseases.

9. Persen

Drug name: Persen.

Indications: poor sleep, irritability, increased nervous excitability.

Action: sedative and antispasmodic effect.

Side effects: allergic reaction. With prolonged use - constipation.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, arterial hypotension. Children under 3 years old (tablets), children under 12 years old (capsules)

10. Mianserin

Drug name: Mianserin.

Indications: Depression of various origins.

Action: improved sleep, decreased nervous excitability.

Side effects: drowsiness, hypokinesia, convulsions.

Contraindications: manic syndrome, pregnancy, lactation, childhood (up to 18 years). Liver and kidney failure.

11. Amitriptyline

Drug name: Amitriptyline.

Indications: manic-depressive psychosis, bulimia nervosa, childhood enuresis.

Action: sedative effect, antidiuretic effect for bedwetting, analgesic effect.

Side effects: drowsiness, disorientation, excitability, hallucinations, fatigue, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, weight gain.

Contraindications: epilepsy, intestinal obstruction, angle-closure glaucoma, pregnancy, breastfeeding.

12. Mirtazapine

Drug name: Mirtazapine.

Indications: depressive states, early awakening from sleep, loss of interest, anxious depression.

Action: restoring the ability to enjoy, adjusting sleep, eliminating suicidal thoughts.

Side effects: drowsiness, dizziness, unusual dreams, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea, decreased libido, dry mouth, increased appetite.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, epilepsy, organic brain damage.

13. Novo-passit

Drug name: Novo-passit.

Indications: neurasthenia, “manager” syndrome, migraine, eczema of psychological etiology.

Action: sedative, relieving nervous excitability of the premenstrual and menopausal periods, eliminating anxiety.

Side effects: allergic reactions, dizziness, drowsiness, slight decrease in muscle tone.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, children (up to 12 years), alcoholism, epilepsy, diseases, brain injuries.

14. Hawthorn tincture

Drug name: Hawthorn tincture.

Indications: nervousness, cardiovascular diseases, menopause, high cholesterol.

Action: calming effect on the nervous system, normalization of heart activity, reduction of excitability during menopause.

Side effects: allergic reactions, itching, urticaria.

Contraindications: pregnancy, lactation period, individual intolerance, children under 12 years of age.

15. Valerian tincture

Drug name: Valerian tincture.

Indications: insomnia, migraine, hysteria, increased excitability, smooth muscle spasms.

Action: calming, antispasmodic, choleretic, normalizing effect for the gastrointestinal tract.

Side effects: decreased performance, drowsiness, depression.

Contraindications: individual intolerance.

Contraindications for over-the-counter antidepressants

Antidepressants sold without a prescription have a beneficial effect on the elimination of neurotic conditions of various etiologies. But this does not mean at all that you can take these drugs for a very long time and without negative consequences.

Many antidepressant medications that are freely available in pharmacies may have a number of contraindications.

These “prohibitions” apply to almost all antidepressants:

• individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding period;
• children under 18 years of age.

It must be said that each drug with antidepressant action, along with the contraindications listed above, may also have its own, unique to this drug.

If you are in doubt about whether or not to take antidepressants, watch a video that will enlighten you and destroy a number of myths about drugs of this kind:

Constant stressful situations and the very fast pace of modern life lead to many people becoming overly irritable, nervous, and susceptible to various types of phobias. Depressive conditions, unfortunately, have ceased to be something unique and isolated.

Nowadays, even young children are familiar with the term “depression.”

The chemical composition and clinical use of these drugs may vary. The search for new pharmacological compounds to combat depression in medical science does not stop.

The first medications to combat depression began to be prescribed to patients in the 50s of the 20th century. The drug iproniazid is at the origins of antidepressants. Currently, there are about 125 drugs with antidepressant effects in pharmacology. Be careful when choosing antidepressants!

Antidepressants are medications that are aimed at treating and eliminating various types of depression. It is necessary to distinguish between simply a bad mood and drug-induced depression. There is no need to swallow pills if you are able to cope with stress on your own. Antidepressants have a number of side effects that can worsen the situation.

Depression can cause various diseases

There are visible and invisible causes of depression. Visible ones can be recognized immediately.

It could be:

1. Loss of loved ones;
2. Job loss;
3. Some bright unpleasant event in life.

And there are invisible reasons when neither you nor the doctor can immediately determine a sharp deterioration in your emotional state. Perhaps something was accumulating inside, or you realized some unpleasant things.

Most often, emotional disorders in people are observed in the spring and autumn periods. This is due to the fact that there is a sudden change in the weather. In one case - for the better, in the other - for the worse. Such changes affect our condition, and for some people too much.

How to get rid of depression?

To prevent your body from experiencing a serotonin deficiency, try to always make your life brighter than it is now. Say yes to your life!

1. Participate in every activity that anyone suggests to you. If you don't have any, then you probably have a ton of theme nights and parties going on around town.
2. Get involved in sports, if not professionally, then at least as an amateur. At any time of the year you can lead an interesting sports life: rollerblading or skating, biking or skiing, swimming in the river or in the pool, working out in the gym.
3. Find new friends. You can meet people both online and in real life. You will see how diverse life can be.
4. Eat right, allow yourself chocolate sometimes, eat fruits more often, especially bananas and citrus fruits. They will help lift your mood, and antidepressants may not even be useful;
5. Travel whenever possible. If it is not there, then explore the nearby areas, there will also be a lot of interesting things there.
6. Find a circle of interests - participation in some kind of party, in various business communities, and musical events can very well change your life. Try to find them; if you don’t succeed, organize them yourself!

Names of antidepressants

Now we will look at what antidepressants there are. It should be remembered that, as a rule, they are prohibited for sale without a prescription. Therefore, either you go to the doctor and he writes you a prescription, or you use antidepressant drugs that can be bought at the pharmacy, more on that below. Of course, private pharmacies, for their own benefit, can sell antidepressants without a prescription, taking risks and breaking the law. But you need to understand that such laws were invented for a reason. By taking strong antidepressants, you are risking your health.

Drugs for depression:

• tryptophan;
• rexetine;
• noofen;
• fluoxetine;
• sonopax;
• amitriptyline;
• paxil;
• grandaxin.

a) "Paxil"; b) "Noofen"

Side effects of antidepressants

Self-administration of such drugs can cause unpleasant side effects.

It could be:

• headache;
• vomit;
• diarrhea;
• insomnia;
• anxiety;
• lack of appetite;
• temperature.

And other disorders. They depend on the type of medicine.

Taking antidepressants - reviews

In their reviews, women often complain about side effects, but there are also those for whom the drugs really helped.

Many people have already tried taking antidepressants, some were prescribed them by a doctor, others managed to buy them on their own. Determine for yourself what to do, but we recommend that you first consult with a knowledgeable person. Because you can plunge into the state of an even greater vegetable than you were before.

Antidepressants without a prescription

There are antidepressants that can be bought at a pharmacy without a prescription:

1. afobazole;
2. novo-passit;
3. hawthorn tincture;
4. Valerian tincture;
5. Negrustin.

Most of them are made on the basis of herbs and are not addictive and do not harm the body. If the situation has not gone far, then it is better to get by with simple drugs.

Treatment with antidepressants - consequences

Antidepressants can cause addiction, hallucinations, and sleep disturbances. Possible decrease in libido. Therefore, strong drugs should be taken only as directed by a doctor. In mild cases, you can get by with tincture of hawthorn or valerian.

Recently, more and more people are suffering from depression. This is especially true for residents of large cities. The fast pace of life, overwork, poor environmental conditions, lack of vitamins, frequent stress - all this contributes to the development of depression.

More about the concept

Depression is an illness that is treated with antidepressants. Clinical (unipolar) depression can occur in people of different ages (even children as young as 5 years old), but most often it affects people between the ages of 25 and 45. Men encounter this problem less often. The condition in question leads to poor health and loss of performance. Depression is the most common reason for suicide.

With clinical depression, a person suffers from constant mood changes that negatively affect his self-esteem and relationships with family and friends. Recurrent episodes of depression last for many days, months, or even years.

Symptoms

A person in a state of depression is in a depressed mood, loses interest in those activities that he liked before, does not enjoy life, becomes lethargic and apathetic, suffers from sleep and appetite disorders, constant fatigue, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, loses sexual interest, loses weight or gains weight, cannot concentrate on anything or make decisions. Many are tormented by incomprehensible fears and anxiety.

To be diagnosed with depression, such symptoms must last for at least two weeks. It is worth considering that such conditions can be consequences of other diseases.

Sometimes a person does not understand the changes that occur in him. It would seem that there is no serious illness, but I am tormented by anxieties and fears, and the excitement does not go away. With such symptoms, we usually don’t go to a specialist, but go to the pharmacy to buy antidepressants without a doctor’s prescription.

Unfortunately, many tips for combating depression are banal and not always effective. A person is advised to spend more time in the fresh air, communicate with friends, play sports, etc. Such advice does not help everyone, so many are interested in which antidepressants without prescriptions may be useful in such a situation.

The use of herbal sedatives, which are sold without a prescription from a specialist, can bring significant relief.

Depressive conditions develop when brain cells lack certain nutrients. To compensate for their deficiency, herbal antidepressants are used. Based on their effect on the human psyche, they are divided into sedative and stimulant.

You need to be very careful when choosing a drug, not forgetting that antidepressants taken without a doctor's prescription are still a medicine that can have side effects.

Stimulant medications help fight apathy and feelings of melancholy. The drugs discussed below with these properties can be purchased at the pharmacy without a prescription.

The drug "Prozac"

A widely used remedy for effectively overcoming depression. The drug Prozac and its analogues help fight panic and anxiety, eliminate symptoms of PMS, relieve emotional stress and relieve anxious thoughts.

Reviews of people who have experienced the effect of this drug indicate that an improvement in mood occurs already in the first days of its use, in addition, treatment with this antidepressant makes a person balanced, stress-resistant, adequate, reduces feelings of fear, and eliminates a depressed state. The drug has no negative effect on the cardiovascular system. Among the disadvantages, many note a decrease in libido.

The drug "Maprotiline" ("Lyudiomil")

After a course of treatment with Maprotiline, mood improves, apathy and anxiety disappear. Please note the contraindications for this medicine. People who suffer from epilepsy, have kidney disease, glaucoma, prostate adenoma, are prone to convulsive conditions, and pregnant women should not use this drug.

The drug "Zyban"

This remedy is often used by those who quit smoking. The drug "Zyban" and its analogues help eliminate the emotional stress that arises as a result of quitting nicotine.

Those who have tried the effects of the drug "Zyban" note a loss of interest in smoking from the very beginning of using the drug. The antidepressant effect helps overcome this bad habit without much stress. In addition, judging by the reviews, the craving for smoking does not return even after completing the course of treatment.

The drug "Deprim"

The medicine is based on St. John's wort. It is safe to use, helps improve performance and improves mood. Among the advantages of this drug, buyers note that it does not muffle emotions, does not cause drowsiness or addiction. But during treatment, you should not overexpose yourself to the sun and solarium, and it is not recommended to drink alcohol.

Leuzea extract

This remedy is used for fatigue. It improves performance. Those who have used this drug note, in addition to the tonic effect and improved mood, also an increase in libido.

Ginseng tincture

A good remedy for increasing stress resistance, helps with nervous system disorders. Many people note the tonic effect of the tincture and a decrease in drowsiness after its use. But it is necessary to correctly calculate the dose, otherwise the effect may be the opposite.

Sedatives are useful if a person suffers from unreasonable anxiety, restlessness, or irritability. You can buy the following without a doctor's prescription.

The drug "Novo-Passit"

Herbal medicine based on valerian, St. John's wort, passionflower, hawthorn, hops, lemon balm, black elderberry.

Antidepressants are often the only treatment for depression, especially if it is severe and deep. Few people know that they are not a panacea for depression. The fact is that they have side effects and dangerous consequences. And the effect of their adoption itself is not stable and raises a lot of questions in modern research.

Let's look at all the positive and negative aspects of adoption, and then everyone can conclude about the need to take them.

Of course, the doctor should make the decision on the use and dosage of drugs, but it is not forbidden to have your own opinion.

Depression and chemical imbalances in the brain

Many people know that the cause of depression is a chemical imbalance. This is precisely what the theory of the effectiveness of antidepressants is based on. According to her, depression is caused by low levels of serotonin. Antidepressants simply return serotonin levels to normal.

In fact, there is no method for analyzing the amount of serotonin in cells. No one also knows what amount of serotonin is normal. Therefore, there is no way to give an objective assessment of the effectiveness of antidepressants in relation to serotonin levels.

Even if we assume that antidepressants do affect the level of serotonin in the brain, there is no absolute guarantee that it is a lack of serotonin that causes depression. This situation can be compared with the use of aspirin for headaches. It really relieves headaches. But this does not mean that the pain itself is caused by aspirin deficiency.

In addition, many researchers categorically refute the theory of imbalance as a cause of depression. Most experts agree that depression is a consequence of poor brain chemistry. But in this case we are talking not only about serotonin. The latter is just one of a few factors. The main factors of depression are increased stress hormones, certain brain disorders, inflammation, decreased immunity, and insufficient nutrition of brain cells.

These are only biological reasons. In addition to them, the appearance of depression is influenced by a number of psychological and social factors, among which the leading ones are: decreased activity, chronic fatigue, loneliness, low self-esteem. If this is multiplied by a lack of vitamins and poor nutrition, then a clinical picture of a depressive state will be evident.

The need for antidepressants in severe forms of depression does not cause controversy, because, often, this is the only way to escape from depression. But according to experts, very often antidepressants are simply not effective. Many patients report that they did not feel any improvement after using a series of antidepressants. There is evidence that after stopping medication, depression returned again.

There is a version that antidepressants have a psychological effect. Patients convince themselves of the effectiveness during treatment and the cessation of effectiveness after the end of treatment. Therefore, in mild stages of depression, antidepressants have no more effect than a placebo.

In severe forms of depression that impair the ability to function, antidepressants are a necessary component, but subject to consultation with a psychologist who will help find the root causes of the depressive state and help choose effective ways to correct this condition.

Side effects of antidepressants

To identify side effects, you need to determine the group of drugs:

• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors;
• atypical antidepressants;
• tricyclic antidepressants;
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Let us consider in detail the side effects of various groups of antidepressants.

Selective inhibitors have the following side effects: insomnia, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, decreased libido, fatigue, drowsiness, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, tremor, headache.

Atypical antidepressants: sexual problems, drowsiness, nausea.

Monoamine oxidosis inhibitors may also cause these symptoms.

Some depressants cause weight gain, blurred vision, and symptoms of chronic fatigue.

Depressant Withdrawal: Symptoms

Stopping antidepressants is usually accompanied by serious consequences. It is very important not to stop using medications abruptly, but to do it gradually. With sudden cessation, a number of symptoms may occur under the general name: withdrawal syndrome.

Stopping antidepressants may cause:

• fear;
• mood swings;
• aggressiveness and irritability;
• dizziness;
• cold-like symptoms;
• spasms;
• excitement;
• muscle tremors.

Repeated waves of depression and anxiety often occur. The condition when stopping antidepressants is often worse than with depression itself. And mistakes when stopping antidepressants can lead to such consequences that it is necessary to resume treatment with greater force than during the treatment itself. This causes a vicious circle.

Stopping antidepressants should take the form of a small dose reduction. There should be at least 1-2 weeks between each reduction. The process of stopping antidepressants should take several months and be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

Doctors around the world are sounding the alarm that cases of suicide attempts have become more frequent when stopping taking antidepressants. A number of European countries and the United States have introduced a requirement to indicate on medications the risk of suicide, if any, as a side effect.

The risk of suicide is especially high during the first 1-2 months of treatment. Patients taking antidepressants need to be attentive to their own condition and especially their thoughts. It is especially important if treatment for depression is being carried out for the first time and it is complicated by the following side effects: anxiety, insomnia, hostility, agitation. If you observe alarming symptoms, especially if they manifest themselves sharply, you should immediately consult a doctor.

It is very important to pay attention to the following signs:

• worsening depression;
• the appearance of signs of anxiety;
• appearance and anger;
• worsening state of irritability;
• problems falling asleep and staying asleep;
• signs of hyperactivity or, conversely, inhibition;
• signs of changes in mood or behavior.

How to treat depression without antidepressants

Antidepressants are prescribed to relieve the symptoms of depression, but they cannot cure this pathological condition. The medicine relieves some symptoms, but you can get rid of depression completely only by identifying and correcting the cause of this condition.

Imagine a situation of depression due to poor family relationships, problems at work, low material income or health problems. You can take a whole bunch of medications, but the problems will not disappear. And after treatment for depression, a person will again be faced with what caused him to be depressed. Will there be any effect from such treatment? Of course not.

Taking antidepressants does not eliminate problems, but only improves mood on an organic level, with the help of chemicals. But as soon as the medication is stopped, the person comes face to face with all his problems and understands his hopelessness.

Depression tends to return. Doctors detect a relapse and prescribe a new course of treatment with stronger drugs. But this course will also have a short-term result, which, when confronted with the realities of life, will simply cease to be effective.

Working with professional psychologists has a much greater profound effect. Statistics show that working with psychologists gives better and more lasting results that do not lead to relapse. Patients can use the methods of solving problems and combating manifestations of depression, mastered in psychological trainings, throughout their lives.

On the Internet, in traditional books and any media, you can find a variety of information about the rules for taking antidepressants and their effects. The forums are full of opinions and advice. The topic is not new at all. Why does the correct use of antidepressants remain a stumbling block in the treatment of depression?

What are antidepressants?

Let's first understand the concept of antidepressants.

Antidepressants are substances that are used in the treatment of depression. The doctor can prescribe them for other mental disorders, in combination with drugs from different groups. Antidepressants can have more than just antidepressant effects on the body.

Properties and effects of antidepressants.

All antidepressants, depending on their effect, can be divided into three groups:

1. Sedative antidepressants. In addition to the direct effect on depressive syndrome, they can help with anxiety, restlessness, and poor sleep. The most famous representative: Amitriptyline. The drug is a hundred years old, but it is not going to lose its position in terms of the strength of its antidepressant effect. Among the more modern ones I can name Mianserin and Buspirone. Doxepin has proven itself very well in my practice.
2. Antidepressants with stimulant action. Used in cases of predominance of lethargy, passivity, depression and indifference. Everything is clear here, I think. I would like to note one fact. The stimulating effect occurs significantly earlier than the antidepressant effect. This isn't always a good thing. I usually prescribe drugs from this group together with sedatives (sedatives) in small doses. The most prominent representative is Escitalopram.
3. Antidepressants with a balanced effect. They absorbed the properties of the first and second groups. Representatives Pyrazidol and Sertraline.

Rules for taking antidepressants.

Now we can talk about the rules for taking antidepressants.

When prescribing any drug, the doctor will definitely tell the patient how to take it, and specifically answer the following questions: “What?”, “When?”, “How much?”, “How often?”

Any person who takes antidepressants himself or looks after someone taking them must remember and strictly follow the following rules:

• Take antidepressants regularly. Usually, modern drugs are taken 1-2 times a day. It is better to keep a schedule and take the medicine at the same time every day. If one dose is missed, take the next tablet at the appointed time. The dosage schedule is not shifted, the dose is not increased independently.
• Having a week's supply of medicine at home can avoid many troubles. There is no need to buy 5-10-100 packs of the drug for future use.
• You should take antidepressants with plain water. Drinking alcohol during treatment with antidepressants is strictly contraindicated.
• Only the doctor knows when to stop treatment with antidepressants. He will tell you how to properly reduce doses without harm to health.
• Antidepressants can have side effects, like other medicines, even those of herbal origin. There is no need to rush to refuse treatment if side effects occur. Most of them will go away in the first week of treatment. If the patient experiences significant discomfort or malaise, this is a reason to consult a doctor ahead of schedule.
• Choosing an antidepressant, selecting the dosage and duration of treatment is a very complex process. It is impossible to predict the same positive effect of treatment in two different patients. It is possible that during treatment you will have to change doses or antidepressants several times. It is necessary to assist the doctor in every possible way. Note positive and negative changes in your condition.
• The average course of treatment for depression is about 3-6 months. You need to be prepared to take medications for a long time.

Taking antidepressants and the main mistakes made by patients.

As you may have noticed, everything is quite simple. But. Errors in taking antidepressants occur every hour.

And here, in fact, are the main reasons I noted for the incorrect use of antidepressants:

1. Fear of becoming different, of changing. Patients are often afraid to take psychotropic medications. They believe that these drugs can “somehow change my Self.” I convince you. Psychotropic drugs used for medicinal purposes do not change personality. The person will remain as he was. Unless before illness.
2. Difficulty following doctor's recommendations due to symptoms of depression. With moderate to severe depression, it is really difficult for patients to adhere to the rules of taking antidepressants. Dear relatives! Be vigilant and show care and attention! Don't leave things to chance.
3. Influence of others. A sick person seeks help from relatives and friends. Unfortunately, due to existing stereotypes, others can cause harm by their lack of understanding of the problem. And I give up on doing anything... If I encounter such a problem with my patients, I ask you to come to the appointment with your family.
4. “And Grandma Masha from apartment 34 said...” She had a lot to say. She could say that “antidepressants turn people into vegetables” (this is my favorite phrase, especially if taken literally), she could say: “you will get used to it and will sit on this poison for the rest of your days.” Do we remember the average time for taking antidepressants? 3-6 months... For the sake of the truthfulness of the picture, I am forced to make one remark. Severe depressive disorders may indeed require very long-term medication, but this is an exceptional need. In this case, a parallel can be drawn with diabetes. Insulin is a vital substance. For those suffering from severe forms of depression, antidepressants are vital and allow them to live a full life. It's not all doom and gloom. Depression is far from a death sentence.
5. Early cancellation due to complications. Something stabbed somewhere, I got sick, and it was all to blame, of course, on antidepressants. And Grandma Masha could have left her mark here too... Most often, complications are observed in the first week of treatment. Is there any reason to blame the antidepressant? Before, before depression, did you have any tingling sensations? Or maybe you had it before, but because of depression you didn’t pay attention? A visit to the doctor will help you figure it out.
6. Refusal to take if the dynamics are positive. Almost half of all patients, even those who have repeatedly suffered from depressive disorders, stop taking antidepressants when they begin to feel better. This is the biggest mistake. Well done, well done doctor. correctly selected treatment, correct intake, positive dynamics... You cannot stop the drug even if you feel excellent. It is necessary to complete the course of admission. Most antidepressants require a gradual dose reduction. Stopping taking antidepressants too early and inappropriately stopping the drug greatly increases the risk of relapse of depression.

Dear readers. Antidepressants are designed to help, not hurt. Patients who trust the doctor and follow the recommendations recover from depression earlier. If there are any difficulties in taking medications, only a doctor can assess the patient’s condition and give practical advice.

All the best.

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