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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How does a psychiatrist know what is the best anti-depressant for me?

    Related Topics
    Depression Mental Health
    There are so many anti-depressants on the market today, each with its own side effects… how does a professional know which type is most suitable for a patient?
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    Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith

    Health Professional

    My research interests include immunology and the mechanisms of amyloid formation. The latter has implications for people who are dealing with Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease … View Profile

    I don't think that there is a right answer to this question.

    Matching the “right” anti-depressant to the “right” person is a matter of trial-and-error, more an art than a science, probably because the underlying molecular basis of depression is still poorly understood.

    In my case the first anti-depressant that I was on was (for me) worse than useless; bad suicidal ideation, but what I am on now is (for me) great.

    Bear in mind that, typically, anti-depressants take a while (weeks-months) to kick in fully so give a new one a chance to work and monitor your mood carefully - if you notice anything untoward, be direct and honest with your psychiatrist.

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