Several depression medication options are available

Depression has no single cause. It is often a combination of various factors. Whatever be the causes of the illness, it is not just a state of mind alone. It is related to certain physical changes in the brain. Heredity, stress, trauma, weak physical conditions, schizophrenia, drug abuse, alcoholism are some of the common factors associated with the illness.

Medications have provided a creditable percentage of success for treating the condition. Research and studies in this field have found out new means and medical procedures. Advanced anti depressant drugs, coupled with various forms of psychological therapy have proved to be very effective. However, what is obvious is that despite each new development in medications, the illness is still on the increase.

Several medication options are available. There is no evidence that one medication works better than another; however, the side effects of the medications differ. Medications usually take 4 to 6 weeks to become fully effective. If one medication does not work, there are many others to try before giving up.

It is to be understood that medications in the form of anti depressant drugs cause undesirable side effects. By considering these side effects, the wide range of conditions these drugs are used to treat, and the ongoing success of drugs, what is clear is that prescribing medications for the illness is not exactly scientific.

If the patient is recommended medications by the physician, it is very important that proper studies of the side effects of the prescribed drugs are made. Drug interactions, age, monitoring and duration of the therapy are important factors. The patient�s response to particular type of drugs, its effect on the patient�s other medications if there are any, sex and physical state should be considered by the physician.

Up to 35% of people with the illness do not continue taking their medications. It is important to continue taking medications for your depression as prescribed, even after symptoms go away, to prevent recurrence of depression. Depression is often under diagnosed and under treated. Medications affect the brain chemistry in different ways, so several different medications or combinations of medications may be required to find an effective treatment that works.