Mental & Emotional Health

I haven’t been laughing enough lately. Wanna know why? I haven’t been taking my Prozac like I should. I am supposed to take 20mg every morning before I get going through my day but lately I’ve really sucked at keeping on top of that. Friday, Saturday & Sunday I either forgot to take my meds or I forgot to take my meds. It was my fault, and I paid for it.

This might make you wonder, if antidepressants are so wonderful, why do people stop taking them? The National Committee for Quality Assurance says that about 1/2 of the people getting drug treatment for depression are taking their medications six months after being diagnosed and prescribed.

The American Pharmacists Association lists five common forms of noncompliance:
* Not getting the prescription filled (because of financial or other issues)
* Taking the wrong amount of medication
* Taking the medication at the wrong time (such as with food, when it should be taken on an empty stomach)
* Forgetting to take a dose
* Stopping the medication before you should (one example is antibiotics, which some people stop taking once they start feeling better)

Anti-depression medications come with a special set of reasons for why people stop using them. A study published in the Sept. 18, 2002, Journal of the American Medical Association lists the following reasons why people don’t comply with their antidepressant drug treatment:
Hyong Un, M.D., medical director for Aetna Behavioral Health, comments on the study’s findings:
Not seeing positive effects: “These medications don’t work right away,” Dr. Un says. “It takes a good two to three weeks before you start to see the positive effects of most antidepressants.” Many patients don’t understand this and quit their medicine too soon.
Poor patient-doctor communication

Unpleasant side effects: Many people take the newer antidepressants without a problem, but side effects can occur, and may include:
* Stomach upset (nausea, diarrhea, constipation)
* Sleep disturbance (insomnia, drowsiness)
* Problems with sexual functioning (decreased sexual desire, delayed or absent orgasm, erectile difficulties, decreased vaginal lubrication
* Headaches
* Skin rashes
* Weight gain or weight loss
With side effects like these, it’s not hard to understand why people feel the treatment is worse than the disease. However, keep in mind that there are many drugs to try. You may have fewer side effects (or less troubling ones) with another medication.

Fewer than three follow-up visits: A study in the Sept. 18, 2002, Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that people who make fewer than three follow-up visits with their doctor are less likely to continue using their antidepressant medications.

My goal for the next seven days is to take my Prozac before work every day. If I do that, I will buy myself a new book or a new pen. I love books and pens.

Oh, and here is some good news:

My worth has gone up some! Keep linking me, guys!

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