Ellen Campbell Grizzle - Pharmacy Today DEPRESSION IS a real and treatable illness. Scientists believe it may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. It affects the way people eat, sleep, think about themselves and the world. It is not a passing 'blue' or 'low" feeling' and is not a sign of personal weakness. People with a depressive illness cannot 'just get with it' or 'pull themselves together' to get better.
In 2001, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that depression was the leading cause of years lived with disability among women and men worldwide. Depressive disorders often begin between ages 15-20 but also appear in children. Women are twice more likely to be affected than men. Appropriate treatment will help most people.
The common signs of depression:
Feel sad, scared, hopeless, worthless, guilty and empty for weeks or months at a time.
Cannot keep your mind on a specific task for more than a few minutes.
Have trouble sleeping or sleep too much.
Lack energy and feel sluggish or tired all the time.
Lose interest in things you usually like to do. You may lose interest in sex.
Change eating habits and gain or lose weight.
Cry often for no reason.
Have thoughts or try to kill yourself.
There are several types of depression and getting treatment from your doctor is the best way to get better. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is also recommended. The medicines available to treat this condition are called antidepressants. It takes two or three weeks for these medicines to work and during this time, side effects may occur. This leads many people who take these medicines to believe that they are not working. These side effects may include dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, difficulty with urination, low blood pressure, drowsiness, restlessness, headache or nausea.
You can help to get the best from your medication. Take the following steps:
Get all of your medication filled at the same pharmacy. It is important for your pharmacist to know all the medicines that you are taking so that they can check for drug interactions or any other problems with your treatment plan.
Do not drive if your medicine makes you drowsy.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
Appoint a reliable person and good friend to help you keep track of your medicines each day. Friends can tell you if you are showing signs of improvement. Ask you pharmacist to call you if you fail to show up to refill your prescription.
Use medication reminders. Combine taking your medication with another daily activity such as brushing your teeth.
Take the full course of your medication.
If you get worse, get dizzy when you stand up or have a seizure, your doctor must be called immediately.
Depression is not a sign of character flaw but a real illness. Successful treatment is long term but is very effective at reducing recurrence. Signs of improvement are gradual and may include return to normal appetite with usual pleasure in work and hobbies. Your interest in sex may decrease as a result of depression or your antidepressant medication. Sexual function should return to normal as depression is relieved. If not, you may need to switch your medication. This must be done under the careful supervision of your doctor.
If you want to know more about how antidepressants work, ask your pharmacist you have the right to know!
Ellen Campbell Grizzle, President of the Caribbean Association of Pharmacists (CAP) and Director, Information & Research, National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA).
