Depression Treatment
Information and news on treatment of depression.
Managing Antidepressant Side Effects
The other day, I took an impromptu break at work to buy something to drink. “I’m just so dehydrated,” I told my boss. “My blood pressure medication does that to me – maybe yours is having the same effect.” Aha. That was probably it. Due to my elevated blood…
My history with antidepressants
I’ve been taking antidepressant medication for almost thirty years, with the exception of the period when I was switching antidepressants and when I was pregnant. The first antidepressant my depression was treated with was Norpramin, also known as Desipramine. I was very lucky, as it worked very well for…
Enhancing Antidepressant Treatment with Folic Acid
A few months ago, my psychiatrist recommended that I take folic acid supplements, as they might boost the effectiveness of my antidepressants. I was surprised to hear his recommendation, as the idea was completely new to me. I had of course taken folic acid when my husband and I…
Treatment Resistant Depression
I had my quarterly appointment with my psychiatrist the other day. As planned, I told him that I would like to switch to a new antidepressant. I felt that Wellbutrin, which I had been taking since 2000, was exacerbating my overall anxiety level. I showed him my nails, which…
Are generic antidpressants less effective?
I’ve been taking Wellbutrin (generic name Bupropion) for about seven years, minus the time I was pregnant with my son. I would say that overall it’s been very successful, except for during one period. All of a sudden, even though I was faithfully taking my medicine, it was as…
A Promising New Treatment Path
Could future depression treatments involve using an anesthetic that’s also used as a club drug? A study published in the August issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/63/8/856 showed that a single dose of the anesthesia ketamine improved the mood in 71% of the participants who received it,…
Should We Trust Medical Journals?
How would you feel if you found out, after your doctor had prescribed an antidepressant that he or she recommended to you, that they had financial ties to the drug company that makes the antidepressant? You probably would feel that the doctor had a conflict of interest and should…
Botox Cures Depression? Questions You Need to Ask of Medical Studies
Can you treat depression with Botox? That’s the conclusion of a study published last week in the journal Dermatologic Surgery. I was initially skeptical when I heard about the study and reading the particulars did not alleviate my skepticism. Not because I think the idea is impossible, but because…
Insurance Woes: We Need Better Therapy Coverage
According to an article in the New York Times, psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy have been largely replaced by cognitive-behavioral approaches in the last couple of decades. The first two therapeutic approaches seek the reasons for a patient’s problems in their past, usually dwelling on childhood to a great extent. Cognitive therapy asserts that…
Setting Limits: Understanding Boundaries in Therapy
Most of us recognize and respect boundaries in our day to day life. We don’t stand too close to other individuals in a line, we don’t call a friend in the middle of the night unless there’s an emergency and we don’t walk in on someone when they’re in…