Posted by Racer on January 18, 2008, at 23:34:49
In reply to resetting brain neurotransmittors?, posted by rett on January 18, 2008, at 22:50:06
Way back, when I took my first AD, the pdoc said that taking an antidepressant early in one's first episode of depression was thought to reset (ie: correct) the brain's chemistry, and thus reduce the risk of another episode down the road. That was the thinking at that time, although I'm not sure if it's still on anyone's radar these days.
Nowadays, there are a lot of doctors saying, "stay on 'em indefinitely." That's relatively new thinking: maybe ten to fifteen years ago I started hearing it. Before that, I heard anything from six months to two years.
That said, for those of us who have had multiple episodes of depression, over a long term, it's probably true that we need to stay on meds prophylactically. If you get treatment early in your first episode, or you've had only one or two episodes, you may want to consider longer term treatment to prevent relapse, but you probably won't need it.
That's based only one what I've experienced and heard from doctors, though. I am not a doctor, and I do not play one on TV.
poster:Racer
thread:807533
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080114/msgs/807541.html