Overview Of Antidepressants

Common Uses

Antidepressants are typically used to treat moderate and severe cases of depression. They may also be prescribed as part of a combination treatment for patients with severe anxiety and panic attacks. Doctors may also use this type of medication to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder and social anxiety disorder. Before being prescribed an antidepressant, patients will undergo a screening test to ensure they meet the criteria for clinical depression. The test asks the patient a series of questions about how often feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness have occurred in the past two weeks and longer.

Patients who take antidepressants for depression should let their doctor know if their symptoms are getting worse. In these cases, doctors may need to add another antidepressant to the patient's medications. The dosage of the original antidepressant may need to be increased.

Get familiar with uncommon uses for this medication next.