Antidepressant answers
June 12, 2012
AUSTRALIANS are asking more
questions about antidepressant
medications than any other drug,
according to NPS.
The comments coincide with the
launch of the NPS’ new online
knowledge hub for depression and
antidepressant medicines, with NPS
saying more calls answered by its
Medicines Line pharmacists relate
to antidepressant drugs than any
other class of medicine.
“The use of antidepressants is
continuing to rise in Australia, and
calls to Medicines Line clearly show
that people are being medicinewise
by asking questions about what
they are taking,” said NPS clinical
adviser Dr Philippa Binns.
The most common questions
fielded by NPS pharmacists to the
Medicines Line related to the
potential for interactions with other
medicines when taking an
antidepressant, such as possible
interactions with cough and cold
drugs and complementary
medicines; as well as what side
effects are likely to occur when
using antidepressants.
Other common questions,
according to NPS, related to
whether problems antidepressant
users were experiencing were
related to their antidepressant
medicines; as well as questions
regarding the safety of these
medicines when pregnant and
breastfeeding.
“Responses to antidepressants
are quite individual, so what works
well for one person may not for
another,” said Dr Binns.
“Under guidance from their
health professional, some people
will need to try more than one
antidepressant in order to find the
one that suits them best,” she
added.
To help the Australian public find
the answers they seek regarding
depression and antidepressants,
the new NPS knowledge hub
provides tips for finding the right
treatment and what to do about
side effects from an antidepressant;
as well as an A-Z listing of different
antidepressants with information
about effectiveness, side effects,
interactions, and who needs to take
extra care with them; info on how
to avoid side effects and symptoms
when making changes; and an
overview of non-drug related
depression treatments such as
cognitive behavioural therapy.
To view the hub visit
www.nps.org.au/conditions/
depression.
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