Aggressive Treatment Pays Off - The Problem Of Recurrence: Depression
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Aggressive treatment pays off
Recurrences also occur more frequently if treatment has not wholly eradicated depressive symptoms. Therefore, treatment should aim for maximum relief.
It's best to gradually increase the dose of an antidepressant until no further improvement is seen. Preliminary research also supports continuing with the full, therapeutic dose even after you start to feel better, rather than risk taking a lower dose that may be only partially effective. Yet inadequate dosages are a common problem. Primary care doctors who are less experienced with psychopharmacology are often reluctant to increase doses, and people who are uneasy about taking medication may be reluctant to try a higher dose.
Here are some other strategies worth considering in search of a lasting, full recovery:
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switching to a different antidepressant if the first one is not adequately effective
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combining two antidepressants that have different mechanisms of action
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adding a second drug (not primarily an antidepressant) that may augment the effect of the antidepressant you're taking
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combining medications and therapy.
| Last updated: | January 23, 2007 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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