Millions of Americans Take Antidepressants: Understanding When They Are Necessary

Millions of Americans take antidepressants every day, making them the most widely prescribed class of drugs in the United States. In fact, between 55 and 70 percent of people who take antidepressants experience relief from symptoms of depression. However, it is essential to note that antidepressants can have serious side effects, so it's crucial to only take one if it's really necessary.

The Question: How Do You Know If You Really Need an Antidepressant?

Everyone feels down or blue sometimes, but there's a difference between a normal slump and serious depression. Probably, you don't need to take an antidepressant if your blues are mild and have been triggered by a recent stressful event, such as divorce or the death of a loved one. If you feel that you're generally functioning well, then it's unlikely that you need an antidepressant. On the other hand, serious or major depression is different from a normal slump.

The Symptoms of Serious Depression

Serious or major depression includes symptoms that last longer than two weeks and may be triggered by a stressful event or come on for no reason at all. If you feel like you're definitely not functioning well, it's likely that you'll need an antidepressant if you have five or more symptoms of depression for a prolonged period of time. These symptoms can include feeling hopeless, unhappy, anxious, worthless, no longer interested in things you usually enjoy, feeling tired, irritable, or unable to sleep. You may also experience problems concentrating, changes in your appetite, thoughts of death, and unexplained physical symptoms like headaches that don't respond to treatment.

Seeking Help for Major Depression

If you think you have major depression, it's essential to talk to a doctor or a therapist about treatment options, including antidepressants or talk therapy. You should also talk to a doctor if you're feeling somewhere in between – your symptoms are low-level but persistent – and may be able to function despite them. Prolonged depression is an illness no different than an infection or heart disease, so it's crucial not to ignore it.

Combination Therapy: Antidepressants and Psychotherapy

Many experts believe that antidepressants work best in combination with psychotherapy. While therapy can be difficult to afford, it's essential to seek help getting some treatment or a combination of treatments for depression. Doing nothing at all is not a viable option; seeking help is better than doing nothing.

Choosing an Antidepressant: Generic Options

If you and your doctor decide that you need an antidepressant, consider starting with one of the generic options available. These include Proprion, citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline. All of these are generic drugs that cost a lot less than brand-name drugs. However, be aware that you may need to try two or three drugs to find the one that works for you.

Additional Resources

For more free information on choosing an antidepressant and other treatment options, visit our website at CR Best Buy Drugs.org.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enmillions of Americans take antidepressants they are the most widely prescribed class of drugs in the United States in fifty five to seventy percent of people who take them antidepressants can help relieve the symptoms of depression but antidepressants can have serious side effects so you shouldn't take one unless it's really necessary question is how do you know if you really need an antidepressant everyone feels down or blue sometimes but there's a difference between a normal slump and serious depression you probably don't need to take an antidepressant if you're blues are mild if they've been triggered by a recent stressful event like divorce or the death of a loved one and if you feel that you're generally functioning well but serious or major depression is different it's symptoms include a low mood that lasts longer than two weeks it may be triggered by a stressful event or it may come on for no reason at all and you may feel that you're definitely not functioning well you're likely to need an antidepressant if you have five or more symptoms of depression for a prolonged period of time this is especially true if you've had bouts of depression before the symptoms may include feeling hopeless unhappy anxious are worthless no longer interested in things you usually enjoy feeling tired irritable or unable to sleep problems concentrating changes in your appetite thoughts of death and unexplained physical symptoms like headaches that don't respond to treatment if you think you have major depression you should talk to a doctor or a therapist about treatment options including antidepressants or talk therapy you should also talk to a doctor if you're feeling somewhere in between that is your symptoms are low level but persistent you may be able to function but it's rare that you feel happy or satisfied prolonged depression is an illness no different than an infection or heart disease you should not ignore it it's important to know that many experts believe that antidepressants work best in combination with psychotherapy but therapy can be difficult to afford even if that's the case do seek help getting some treatment or combination of treatments for depression is better than doing nothing at all if you and your doctor decide you need an antidepressant consider starting with one of our best buy drug picks they are you Pro prion citalopram fluoxetine paroxetine and sertraline all are generic and cost a lot less than brand-name drugs and be aware that you may need to try two or three drugs to find the one that works for you for more free information on choosing an antidepressant and other treatment options visit our website at CR best buy drugs orgmillions of Americans take antidepressants they are the most widely prescribed class of drugs in the United States in fifty five to seventy percent of people who take them antidepressants can help relieve the symptoms of depression but antidepressants can have serious side effects so you shouldn't take one unless it's really necessary question is how do you know if you really need an antidepressant everyone feels down or blue sometimes but there's a difference between a normal slump and serious depression you probably don't need to take an antidepressant if you're blues are mild if they've been triggered by a recent stressful event like divorce or the death of a loved one and if you feel that you're generally functioning well but serious or major depression is different it's symptoms include a low mood that lasts longer than two weeks it may be triggered by a stressful event or it may come on for no reason at all and you may feel that you're definitely not functioning well you're likely to need an antidepressant if you have five or more symptoms of depression for a prolonged period of time this is especially true if you've had bouts of depression before the symptoms may include feeling hopeless unhappy anxious are worthless no longer interested in things you usually enjoy feeling tired irritable or unable to sleep problems concentrating changes in your appetite thoughts of death and unexplained physical symptoms like headaches that don't respond to treatment if you think you have major depression you should talk to a doctor or a therapist about treatment options including antidepressants or talk therapy you should also talk to a doctor if you're feeling somewhere in between that is your symptoms are low level but persistent you may be able to function but it's rare that you feel happy or satisfied prolonged depression is an illness no different than an infection or heart disease you should not ignore it it's important to know that many experts believe that antidepressants work best in combination with psychotherapy but therapy can be difficult to afford even if that's the case do seek help getting some treatment or combination of treatments for depression is better than doing nothing at all if you and your doctor decide you need an antidepressant consider starting with one of our best buy drug picks they are you Pro prion citalopram fluoxetine paroxetine and sertraline all are generic and cost a lot less than brand-name drugs and be aware that you may need to try two or three drugs to find the one that works for you for more free information on choosing an antidepressant and other treatment options visit our website at CR best buy drugs org\n"