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Depression Symptoms And Treatment Of Depression

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If you 've been treated for depression but your symptoms haven 't improved, you may have treatment-resistant depression. Taking an antidepressant or going to psychological counseling (psychotherapy) eases depression symptoms for most people. But with treatment-resistant depression, standard treatments aren 't enough. They may not help much at all, or your symptoms may improve, only to keep coming back. If your primary care doctor prescribed antidepressants and your depression symptoms continue despite treatment, ask your doctor if he or she can recommend a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions (psychiatrist). The psychiatrist will review your medical history and may: Ask about life situations …show more content…

For some people, it takes even longer. Increase your dose. Because people respond to medications differently, you may benefit from a higher dose of medication than is usually prescribed. Ask your doctor whether this is an option for you — don 't change your dose on your own. Switch antidepressants. For a number of people, the first antidepressant tried isn 't effective. You may need to try several before you find one that works for you. Add another type of antidepressant. Your doctor may prescribe two different classes of antidepressants at the same time. That way they 'll affect a wider range of brain chemicals linked to mood. These chemicals are neurotransmitters that include dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Add a medication generally used for another condition. Your doctor may prescribe a medication that 's generally used for another mental or physical health disorder, along with an antidepressant. This approach, known as augmentation, may include antipsychotics, mood stabilizers (lithium or anti-seizure medications), anti-anxiety medications, thyroid hormone, beta blockers, stimulants or other drugs. Consider the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) genotyping test. This test checks for specific genes that indicate how well your body can process (metabolize) a medication. Because of inherited (genetic) traits that cause variations in certain P450 enzymes, medications may affect each person differently.

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