| When a person is suffering from the severe disease | | | | - moderate depression and |
| called chronic depression, most likely he or she may | | | | - mild or minor depression |
| need to be prescribed depression medication as soon | | | | For each group of symptoms, most treatment |
| as possible. If you have experienced any of the | | | | methods or schools prescribe certain methods of |
| classical symptoms of depression, persisting for more | | | | treatment where medication plays an important role. |
| than a month, you may need to visit your physician | | | | This approach works better and an increased clinical |
| without fail. You can help yourself and your doctor in | | | | efficiency has also been documented. |
| his or her diagnosis work, by providing as much details | | | | The main purpose of acute or immediate medication is |
| as possible about your problems of depression. | | | | to systematically take off the severe symptoms of |
| Always keep in mind that if your problem is severe | | | | depression until you feel well or better. Continuation |
| enough to demand extra help, you will need to take a | | | | medication means to continue the treatment on a |
| family member or friend along on your first visit, to see | | | | more long term basis even after you feel fine. This is |
| that you are helped in a proper way. | | | | critical because it avoids the recurrence of depression |
| A good and proven way to find the right treatment or | | | | after some time. |
| medication against your depression consists of | | | | The third kind of medication is for patients who |
| - a correct analysis of your previous clinical history, | | | | experience one or more episodes of recurrent |
| - a precise overview of the current status of the | | | | depression. This medication is also known as |
| disease | | | | "maintenance medication" and it's purpose is to |
| - a right diagnosis. | | | | maintain depression treatment over a longer period of |
| The first obvious step on your part, should normally be | | | | time to prevent recurrence . |
| to provide every bit of information about your problem; | | | | There are many types of depression medication |
| your previous medical history, physical tests, and | | | | methods and combinations like |
| preliminary laboratory tests can assist your doctor | | | | - antidepressant medicine (Happy pills) |
| know a lot, if a general medical problem is the real | | | | - antidepressant medicine combined with other |
| cause of your malady. | | | | psychopharmaca |
| Most cases of depressions are caused by a general | | | | - antidepressant medicine combined with |
| medical illness or medicines associated with those | | | | psychotherapy etc.. |
| diseases. As soon as these conditions are identified | | | | Be aware that medication for depression does not |
| and treated, the depression will usually disappear by | | | | work instantly. As a matter of fact, it works pretty |
| itself. | | | | slowly and gradually over a period of several months. |
| Unfortunately, depression medication is simply not | | | | However, with the correct medicine, most affected |
| possible without your active cooperation and help; you | | | | people will obtain good results within a month. If we |
| should never hide anything from your doctor. | | | | compare with psychotherapy alone, medical treatment |
| Based on the intensity or severity of the disease | | | | is significantly faster. |
| condition, depression medication is for practical reasons | | | | A significant criteria for a successful treatment of |
| classified in three main categories: | | | | depression is the same as for many other diseases: |
| 1. Emergency or acute medication | | | | the earlier it is detected the better chances for healing. |
| 2. Continuation or long term medication. | | | | Another important success parameter is correct |
| 3. Maintenance medication | | | | medication - and this depends on a correct diagnoisis. |
| The medicines against depression which have been | | | | Depression should be treated properly no matter what |
| and improved tremendously the recent years, are | | | | it cost once it has been detected and diagnosed. This |
| used to treat any one of the three main levels of | | | | is the best way to prevent relapse, which in most |
| depression symptoms: | | | | cases mean increased severity and intensity. |
| - severe or major depression, | | | | |