medications for depression?

[The_Sweetest_Thing]

Originally posted by FizzingWhizzbees:
Medications for depression are, in most cases, designed for short-term use

My mom has OCD and depression. She wasn't herself. Things gradually started slipping away...her job, daily chores, etc. Celexa brought her back somewhat. It gave her less anxiety.

Unfortunately, the doctordoesn't think that she'll be able to function w/out it. She tried Prozac but it made her moody and anxious. Her medication IS NOT for short term use...not if she wants to function like a normal person. She attends counselling twice a week, but not everything can be corrected by talking to a psychiatrist. Talking will never make my mother stop having teh urge to check things over and over.

While I hate taking medications...and hate long term use, Ithink that this is the only solution. Some people can clearlynot function without them. Trust me. It's very easy to say "Stop taking those. Just live with it," but I've seen it tear someone apart...driving them insane.

Medications are used to treat diseases.

[meriphew]

If I were someone who was habitually depressed, I would rather make DRASTIC changes to my lifestyle, and to my spiritual state, before I resorted to being medicated 24/7.

[Bonochick]

I suffered with depression for a long time. It seems I've finally gotten things on the right track though. I never got meds though. I know some folks on meds, and it just fucked them up even worse.

[FizzingWhizzbees]

Originally posted by The_Sweetest_Thing


While I hate taking medications...and hate long term use, Ithink that this is the only solution. Some people can clearlynot function without them. Trust me. It's very easy to say "Stop taking those. Just live with it," but I've seen it tear someone apart...driving them insane.

Medications are used to treat diseases.

I know that - it's why I said "in most cases" anti-depressants are designed for short-term use. I take long-term medication myself so I'm definitely not about to tell anyone else to stop taking their medication.

I was commenting on the tendency of some doctors to give patients who are depressed a prescription for anti-depressants and just keep giving them a repeat of that prescription every month for year after year, instead of taking the trouble to get them the help they actually need - ie counselling, referal to a doctor specifically trained to deal with their problems, and yes, in some cases, long-term anti-depressant or other psychiatric medications.

[Klodomir]

Originally posted by meriphew
If I were someone who was habitually depressed, I would rather make DRASTIC changes to my lifestyle, and to my spiritual state, before I resorted to being medicated 24/7.

That's a nice idea, but one of the problems with depression is that it tends to render one unable to make such changes until the condition is treated successfully.