Treating depression through medication
Rosie Czech
Issue date: 1/22/07 Section: News
Depression is an ongoing issue that affects numerous college students across the nation.
According to the 2005 National College Health Assessment (NHCA), 25 percent of the 17,000 college students surveyed reported that they "felt so depressed it was difficult to function," anywhere from three to eight times over the course of the past year.
In an effort to reach out to students, the UIC chapter of the National Voice on Mental Illness (NAMI) held a seminar last Wednesday that addressed various medications used to treat depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. Leading the seminar was fourth year psychiatry resident Jessica Weddle from the University of Kentucky.
Some good indicators of depression are decreased appetite, decreased interest in pleasurable activity and sleep disturbance. Symptoms of bipolar disorder include depression and manic states where the person is in a constant hyper mood. Signs of anxiety disorder consist of constant nervousness, difficulty concentrating and panic attacks.
Though mental disorders can be treated through both medication and therapy, the focus of the seminar was on the importance of medication.
"Medications for depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder work at the cellular level...they help treat symptoms," said Weddle.
The medications work at altering serotonin levels to help the person reach a more stable mental state. However, when looking into using medications to treat mental disorders, it is important to consider the severity of the symptoms.
"Every time we give someone mediation...we have to think about if the side effects are worth the treatment," said Weddle.
Popular medications to treat depression are Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Welbutrin and Cymbalta. Common side effects of these medications include upset stomach, headache, increased sweating and a decreased libido. However, Welbutrin has less sexual side effects than the other medications and can be taken simultaneously with other medication.
According to the 2005 National College Health Assessment (NHCA), 25 percent of the 17,000 college students surveyed reported that they "felt so depressed it was difficult to function," anywhere from three to eight times over the course of the past year.
In an effort to reach out to students, the UIC chapter of the National Voice on Mental Illness (NAMI) held a seminar last Wednesday that addressed various medications used to treat depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. Leading the seminar was fourth year psychiatry resident Jessica Weddle from the University of Kentucky.
Some good indicators of depression are decreased appetite, decreased interest in pleasurable activity and sleep disturbance. Symptoms of bipolar disorder include depression and manic states where the person is in a constant hyper mood. Signs of anxiety disorder consist of constant nervousness, difficulty concentrating and panic attacks.
Though mental disorders can be treated through both medication and therapy, the focus of the seminar was on the importance of medication.
"Medications for depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder work at the cellular level...they help treat symptoms," said Weddle.
The medications work at altering serotonin levels to help the person reach a more stable mental state. However, when looking into using medications to treat mental disorders, it is important to consider the severity of the symptoms.
"Every time we give someone mediation...we have to think about if the side effects are worth the treatment," said Weddle.
Popular medications to treat depression are Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Welbutrin and Cymbalta. Common side effects of these medications include upset stomach, headache, increased sweating and a decreased libido. However, Welbutrin has less sexual side effects than the other medications and can be taken simultaneously with other medication.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Scott Conrad
posted 1/25/07 @ 7:55 PM CST
As far as I am concerned....."life sucks, bad things happen, but still we press on." Your article forgot to mention why 25 percent of the college students surveyed are depressed. (Continued…)
ladyg
michelle
posted 1/25/07 @ 11:51 PM CST
Well, yeah Lithium may be the DRUG OF CHOICE but it nearly killed me. After 7 years on the "so Professed" Miracle Drug I had a close call with Renal Failure & guess what? Nearly ended up on Dialysis. (Continued…)
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