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What You Should Know About Antidepressant Medications
· Antidepressants are not addictive. · Antidepressants are not stimulants or “happy pills.” · Antidepressants must be taken on a regular basis if they are to be effective. · Side effects can occur, but are typically minor and can be managed. · All antidepressants must be taken for a period of four to six weeks before positive effects will be noticed. · It is important to be patient and keep taking the medication even though you haven’t noticed symptom improvement yet. · Always share any concerns with your doctor or therapist. Not all anti-depressants work for all people. · If the first medication is not effective, please be assured that a number of other medication options exist and can be tried. · Almost always, medication alone is not enough. Psychotherapy (with or without medical treatment) has been shown to be very effective in treating depression. · Once depressive symptoms subside, do not discontinue medications. Please consult with your treating doctor. · Typically, people are treated for a period of nine months after recovery from depression to help prevent relapse.
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