The Complete Encyclopedia of Self-Help Techniques/Anti-Depressants

Why might this help?
If you suffer from a low mood that is affecting your ability to work and/or enjoy life, Anti-depressants may be able to help.

How do I get them?
Antidepressants can only be prescribed by a GP, Physician or Doctor, and are likely to be included with some sort of talking therapy. Higher doses are usually only available with the supervision of a Psychiatrist.

How do they work?
They effect chemicals in the brain to do with transferring information, however they are not completely understood. Basically this theory of depression involves the chemicals not having time to be transferred before they are recycled; so anti-depressants prevent them being recycled for a while longer.

Because the brain takes time to get used to the tablet's effect, it can take up to a month before they work properly. You can feel very tired over this month. This is because the brain isn't used to the flood of chemicals the medication results in, so it needs to adjust.

How do I use them?
Antidepressants are usually taken once or twice a day with a drink (preferably with water). There are no other steps, although you do need to make sure you take it at the same time everyday, or it may leave you feeling funny for a few days.

User Reviews
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I have been on and off of anti-depressants for nearly 6 years. They were prescribed to me when I was misdiagnosed with depression, and led to a worsening of my symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. I feel they have had no help other than making me addicted to them, as it is very difficult to come off them without side effects. Better effects to my life were only made after different lifestyle changes. However, anti-depressants are the most tested medication you can get, and are approved by the medical community. Rating: 2/5 Gwatts88 (talk) 18:06, 7 September 2009 (UTC)