Depression Medication

Modern drugs are highly efficacious when properly prescribed, but mood-changing drugs by their very nature need to be continually monitored and this means establishing responsive communications with your GP.

Each drug has a highly focussed purpose and it is not unusual for there to be side effects of one sort or another. Side effects convey important messages to the doctor, so he or she must be informed regularly about feelings and reactions. When you have a good relationship with your doctor it is easy and perhaps understandable to overlook the fact that there are hundreds of patients with different levels of urgency demanding their attention as well as yourself. So the initiative must be with you to report on the efficaciousness of the medication on a regular basis.

This need not entail you losing one or two hours each week sitting in a surgery waiting room. By prior arrangement with the doctor, progress can be reported by telephone, saving your time and most importantly your doctor's time. The practice nurse in many cases is qualified to receive and pass on reports to the doctor.

Drug Treatment

This is the exclusive province of your doctor. Suffice to say that each drug has a slightly different effect and some have significant side effects, which have to be weighed against the benefits. The doctor's skill is to balance these factors with your physiology and your lifestyle, in order to select the most appropriate drug for your needs. Thereafter constant monitoring is necessary.