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Don't Give Up On Depression

Drugs Don't Always Get It Right the First Time

By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 31, 2006

Depression • Study Probes Link Between Antidepressants, Birth Defects • Antidepressant Use Increasing In The United States • Children May Be Impacted By Parents' Anxiety Disorder • Higher Rx Costs May Limit Seniors’ Access to Antidepressants • Dual Approach Best for Depressed Teens • Depression Not a Normal Part of Aging • Study: Few Risks from Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy • Panel Finds Omega 3 Little Help Against Depression • Antidepressants Similar in Effectiveness, But Side Effects Differ • Antidepressants: Crutch or Catalyst? • Drugs Not Always a Cure for Depression Dr. Henry Fishman: • Don't Give Up On Depression • Exercise and Depression • The Winter Blues --- • First-Time Mothers at Increased Risk for Depression • Holidays May Bring Out Depression In Seniors • Depression Bigger Problem For Men Than Women • FDA Approves the First Drug for Seasonal Depression • Acne Drug's Possible Depression Link Under Review • Treating Depression May Mean Trying Different Drugs • Study Suggests Antidepressant-Suicide Link • FDA OKs Patch For Depression • Feeling the Holiday Blues? You Must Have Children • Gene May Trigger Depression, Study Finds • Exercise and Depression • Former Prozac Users Slam FDA • Consumer Drug Ads May Influence Doctors' Rx Decisions

Anti-depressant medications don't work well for a lot of people, so you have to stick with it. That's the result of a survey released by the National Depressive and Manic-Depression Association.

Get depressed, pop a pill and you'll feel better -- that's the promise of modern anti-depressant medications. Problem is, it ain't always so.

A survey found that a lot of people on anti-depressants improved a little bit, but still suffer from serious depression. Specifically, 8 out of 10 people in the survey felt depression, they still had impaired social lives, nearly three-quarters said they had trouble working because of depression.

What to do? Well, don't give up. Seek professional help and come up with a personalized total program.

For example, ask about bright lights, exercise, group sessions and talk therapy, as well as pills.

If pills don't work well, talk about it. Find a new anti-depressant or special combination of many medications, like anti-depressants and stimulants. Combinations can help.

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