Stages of Relief from Depression
The relief is enormous. After several weeks of medicine, most people experiencing relief from depression are thrilled to feel like themselves again. “The heavy burden of depression is lifting” reports a man after four weeks on medicine. Those of you who have not yet experienced relief from depression may be in the midst of a dosage or medicine change, or you may just need to stick with your current medicine for a little while longer. For patients who take their medicine as directed, about seven out of ten respond to the first medicine they receive. Ultimately, almost all depressed patients get better.
Ironically, relief of symptoms of depression can be a dangerous moment. Some people make the mistake of thinking “Okay, I’m cured” and grow careless about taking their medicine or don’t renew their prescriptions. Most of us have had the experience of being prescribed antibiotics for an infection: after a few days, the symptoms often disappear. But doctors warn, that unless we take the antibiotic for its full course, the infection can reappear.
Antidepressants work on the same principle. It is the underlying disorder itself – not how you feel – that determines how long you should take medicine. Many doctors are now keeping their patients on medicine from four to nine months after a depression has responded. Please discuss with your doctor how long he or she would like you to continue on the antidepressant medicine.
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