Choosing the best antidepressant drug based on doctor's recommendations

Antidepressants are one of the drugs that you cannot find over the counter. Naturally, antidepressants are hard drugs and can only be obtained by prescription. Moreover, doctors also have important considerations before choosing the best antidepressant drug for you. Anything?

Considerations of doctors in choosing antidepressant drugs

Different types of drugs have different ways of working and their side effects. Before choosing and prescribing the best antidepressant drugs, doctors usually consider various things, such as:

1. Symptoms you have

Depression symptoms in each person are different. Therefore, before choosing the best antidepressant drug for you, your doctor will ask you about the specific symptoms you feel.

Some of the questions asked can include whether you have trouble sleeping, anxiety, and so on. Therefore, it is imperative that you tell the doctor about all the symptoms you feel in detail.

A complete and detailed description will help your doctor determine what depression medication is most suitable for you.

2. Possible side effects

The side effects of antidepressant drugs usually vary depending on the type. In fact, the same type of drug can have different effects on each person.

Dry mouth, weight gain, and diarrhea are various effects that arise from antidepressant drugs. In fact, reported by Harvard Health Publishing, this one drug can also cause dysfunction to decreased sexual desire.

That is why, the doctor will choose an antidepressant drug that suits your body condition so that the side effects that arise are not too detrimental to you.

Over time, you can also ask your doctor to change your medication if you find that the side effects are too severe.

3. Interaction with other drugs

Antidepressants can cause dangerous reactions when taken with other medicines. Therefore, before choosing an antidepressant drug for a patient, the doctor will first ask about what drugs have been and are being taken.

This is done so that doctors can adjust suitable drugs and minimize drug interactions that may be harmful to the body.

4. Are pregnant or breastfeeding

The condition of pregnancy or breastfeeding is also a consideration for doctors in choosing the best antidepressant drugs for their patients.

The reason is, this depression drug is a strong drug that can have a bad effect on your pregnancy and baby. One type of paroxetine antidepressant, such as Paxil and Pexeva, usually includes drugs that are not recommended for consumption by pregnant women.

Even though you are not pregnant yet, don't forget to tell your doctor if you are planning a pregnancy in the near future. That way, doctors can adjust medications and treatments accordingly.

5. Other health problems

Some types of antidepressant drugs can usually cause problems if you have certain mental or physical problems. However, others can also help treat the physical and mental problems that usually come with depression.

That is why, health problems are also one of the considerations for doctors in choosing the best antidepressant drug for you.

The antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin, Aplenzin, Forfivo XL) for example, can help relieve symptoms. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression.

While the duloxetine (Cymbalta) class of drugs can help treat pain symptoms in fibromyalgia and arthritis. In addition, the antidepressant drug amitriptyline can also be used to prevent migraines.

You can ask your doctor to provide a replacement medication if the antidepressant you are prescribing does not make any difference during the four weeks of use.

However, never stop taking antidepressant drugs before consulting the doctor concerned.