Book Review
‘Taking Antidepressants’
By Patricia Gale
Many people believe that once you start taking antidepressants, you have to take them for life. After all, if they “correct” a chemical imbalance in your brain, it logically follows that stopping the medication will only deliver you back to your original mood-imbalanced state, right?
Wrong! New scientific research shows that, when prescribed correctly, antidepressants not only relieve symptoms of depression, but they can actually reverse the underlying conditions in the brain that are causing the mood disorder _ particularly when the depression is diagnosed and treated early. This is one of the many myth-busting facts in a comprehensive new resource by noted psychiatrist Dr. Michael Banov called “Taking Antidepressants: Your Comprehensive Guide to Starting, Staying On, and Safely Quitting” (Sunrise River Press, $16.95).
Depression is a mental health condition that affects nearly 19 million Americans over the age of 18 every year _ and antidepressants used to treat it are the most prescribed medications today. Yet myths and misunderstandings still abound about depression, antidepressants and other treatments that have been shown to help. “Taking Antidepressants” is a one-stop resource that offers the most reliable, balanced and current information to date about depression and the newest, most effective ways to manage it. Banov explains the causes and symptoms of depression and the full range of medications and nonmedical treatments for the condition _ including the new trend of using multiple medications to treat depression, and brandnew FDA-approved medicines that can augment your current antidepressant.
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October 2010
Banov discusses what to do if you’re not fully responding, how to know when you need another medicine and whether it’s safe to switch. Finally, he delves into a little discussed topic: stopping antidepressants safely. Do a selftest that helps you determine if you’re a good candidate for tapering off medications, and discover right and wrong reasons to stop antidepressants, how to safely taper off and how to manage challenges posed by your taper schedule and coming off multiple psychiatric medications.
Readers also learn: _ How to know if you have clinical depression or are just suffering symptoms due to stressful life events _ How depression can be reversed if diagnosed and treated early _ Top myths and facts about antidepressants _ Where to seek help _ and how to find the right health care professional _ Ways to help you and your doctor decide which medicine to try _ Common side effects of antidepressant drugs and how to deal with them _ How _ and whether _ to tell your boss and coworkers you’re being treated for depression _ How depression affects your overall health _ and which medications and
medical conditions can worsen depression _ What to do if antidepressants don’t seem to help _ How to safely stop and stay medication free
Far from being a dry medical reference, “Taking Antidepressants” presents the latest facts about managing depression through the stories of four people we come to know and relate to, each suffering from some type of depression but whose attitudes and treatment choices differ widely. We learn that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for this complex mental health condition. A resource section at the end of the book includes helpful tools, such as a self-test for bipolar disorder, one for depression, a mood diary template and a selfassessment to see if you’re ready to taper off antidepressants. “Taking Antidepressants” is an invaluable reference for patients, family members, caregivers and health care professionals who want the latest research-based information about antidepressant therapy. Banov neither promotes nor discourages the use of antidepressant medication, but gives the facts so individuals can determine a course that’s best for them. Banov is a Harvard-trained, triple board-certified adult, adolescent and addiction psychiatrist who specializes in depression and other mood disorders. You can find out more about him at www.takingantidepressants.com. (c) 2010, Basil & Spice Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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