What are antidepressants and tranquilizers?
Psychiatry
Author: Edgar BeltránModified date:
As seen in the previous article, depression and anxiety are the two most common mental disorders in the general population, and this time we will have a basic review of the pharmacological treatment of these pathologies.
What are antidepressants?
Antidepressants are drugs used to treat depression, they are very varied and highly effective.
After how long do antidepressant medications start to work?
Antidepressant medications begin to work in approximately the first three to four weeks of use.
Antidepressants produce dependence?
No, antidepressants do not cause dependence.
Do antidepressants cause side effects or collaterals?
Antidepressants can present various side effects in some people, such as:
- Drowsiness
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Digestive and other discomforts depending on the drug used, the dose and the susceptibility of each person.
For how long is it advisable to take antidepressants?
Antidepressants should be used for a relatively long time which is determined by the treating professional.
What happens if I stop my antidepressant treatment?
They should not be stopped without the doctor's decision because relapses of the disease may occur.
Do I have to have a prescription to take antidepressants?
Like all pharmacological treatment, it must be prescribed and managed by the treating physician who determines the type of antidepressant that the person requires, the appropriate dose and the duration.
What are tranquilizers?
Tranquilizers, also known as anxiolytics, are indicated in anxiety disorders (panic).
Do tranquilizers work for all types of anxiety?
As there are different categories of anxiety, not all tranquilizers work for all types of anxiety.
Can tranquilizers cause dependence?
Tranquilizers can cause dependence in some people and for this reason self-medication is dangerous and the only ones authorized to prescribe them are doctors through a special recipe book because they are drugs.