What do you know about depression and drugs for depression e.g. Esertia?

Many people think of depression as just something made up. Many think that people suffering from depression can just snap out of it. But you know what? All this is untrue and unkind towards people suffering from depression. Depression is a real illness AND because it’s an illness, there are drugs and treatments to help people suffering from depression. 

So, do NOT be ashamed about having depression.

Esertia is one such drug which has been carefully researched to treat depression. Esertia belongs to a class of highly effective antidepressants, called as the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). In fact, it is one of the newer drugs discovered that belongs to this group. As such, it has been found to be highly effective towards two main diseases:

1. Major Depressive Disorder

2. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

How does Esertia work? In short, in a person with depression, there’s an imbalance/decrease in a chemical in the brain, called as serotonin. What esertia does is it basically helps to increase the level of serotonin in the brain, which helps the patient to feel much better. It takes roughly 2 weeks before the good effects of the drug kicks in, so don’t expect an immediate cure!

Most patients on esertia may need to take it for up to 6 months. Some even up to years. So, refer to your psychiatrist for more information.

FYI: Esertia is also known as Escitalopram, Lexapro, Lexaprin, Sipralexa, Seroplex, Entact, Cipralex.

Technorati Tags: Esertia

I would like to diverge from just focusing on drugs like Esertia (Cypralexa) and talk more about spirituality. I know that drugs like Esertia can be effective but I would be cheating myself to ignore the spiritual side of mental health. If you find this topic offensive, I apologize as I cannot deny my faith in Jesus Christ and hide the truth.

Please note that I am not advocating that you throw away your drugs, i.e. Esertia. It’s absolutely crucial that you continue taking your prescribed medicines because Esertia really does work and it has helped many.

I would just like to raise three points for readers to ponder:

1. Depression does not just ‘happen’. It began when a seed of problem was given a chance to be sown into our hearts, and allowed to fester, thus growing into a full-blown depression. These problems are due to weaknesses in our human self, who does not allow God to intervene and take control.
   




2. Demonic spiritual manifestations of some depressed patients can sometimes be seen during healing ministries in churches.




3. In some patients, depression can be a spiritual bondage, which will not be completely cured even if properly medicated with effective medicines like Esertia.

As I do not intend to turn this blog into a ‘battlefield’, I would like to direct those who are interested to seek further information or help to:

• http://www.christianityoasis.com/keyword/Depression.htm
• http://christians-in-recovery.org/

Please understand that this is my personal belief and I believe firmly that Christ can set you free. Linking to those websites do not in any way represent my affiliation with them.

Technorati Tags: Cypralex, Esertia

A Happy New Year to all, especially to those who are suffering from depression. May you recover soon and may the year ahead be a better year. Remember, regularly taking Esertia(Cypralex) is an important and helpful step towards cure.

As promised, let’s look at how to prevent and treat postpartum depression.

If you are expecting me to say that Esertia is the prevention and cure, then you are wrong. No, I do not believe that drugs is the answer to all things. Esertia is one of the treatment of choice for postnatal depression but let’s take a look at the bigger picture.

If you are suffering from postpartum blues (feeling down after pregnancy), these are concrete steps to take to help you feel better:

• Understand and accept that it’s a normal process that happens to many mothers.
• Please involve your partner or closest relatives and friends in caring for the child.
• Do not hesitate to share about your sadness or troubles. A new baby can be a big burden to mums.
• Remember to periodically declare ‘time outs’. This does not mean that you totally ignore your responsibility as a mother, but it does mean that you should share the responsibility with others so that you can have more free time for yourself.
• Do not ignore these steps and jump straight towards medications, e.g. Esertia or Cypralex.

The steps outlined are important towards the prevention of partnatal depression and treatment of postpartum blues.

Warning: If after a week or two of giving birth, you find that you are feeling worse each day or you are on the verge of committing suicide or ill-treating your child, it is important that you seek medical attention. It is important that postnatal depression be treated promptly. This is where Esertia or Cypralex plays an important role.

If you are a victim of postpartum depression, I encourage you to share your views and experience here.

image taken from here.

Technorati Tags: Cypralex, Esertia, Postnatal Depression

Now, let’s focus on postnatal depression (or postpartum depression), the main topic for the day. Postnatal or postpartum means “after giving birth”, so postnatal depression means depression which afflicts people after giving birth to a child or children.

Some key points to ponder AND remember:

DO YOU KNOW THAT

1. Postnatal depression afflicts more than 10% of postnatal women?

2. Postnatal depression is very easily missed out by doctors?

3. Postnatal depression is a potentially serious condition which can result in deaths?

4. Postnatal depression can be prevented in its early stages?

5. Postnatal depression needs treatment with drugs such as Cypralex?

6. Postnatal depression can effectively be treated by Cypralex?

Image taken from here.

Due to hormonal imbalances after giving birth, women commonly experience postpartum blues (a lesser version of postnatal depression). Postpartum blues are pretty ‘benign’ or harmless in its nature. Such women normally only need some support from their family and friends and they will be fine. However, in a small portion of these women, over time (normally within a month or two), their condition may worsen to become postpartum depression and this is when medical help should be sought.

So how do we treat it? To prevent the article from getting lengthy and boring, I will talk about how to prevent and and treat postpartum depression next time. For now I just want to leave one important take home message:

Husbands and partners, please remember to look out for signs and symptoms of depression in your partner after she gave birth to a child.

It can save lives and certainly will save you a lot of trouble. Esertia can help you. Cypralex can help you!

Technorati Tags: Cypralex, Esertia, Postnatal Depression, Postpartum Depression

First of all, I would like to clarify. Cypralex (another name for Esertia) is NOT commonly prescribed for normal grief. So don’t go asking your doctor for a cypralex just because you feel very sad for losing your favourite dog/cat….kidding

Grief is a normal process that most people experience, after the lost of a close relative or a beloved pet. You can read more about what grief is over here. It gives you a comprehensive discussion on what grief is and the stages of grief that a person will go through.

Pathological grief is when grief consists of certain ‘dangerous’ elements. It’s when grief went overboard. Common clues/features of pathological grief are:

• The person feels the same for longer than a year (this is arguable and recently has been said to
  ]]> http://esertia.brighterplanet.org/esertia/depression-vs-grief-how-do-you-differentiate-them/feed http://esertia.brighterplanet.org/esertia/depression-criteria http://esertia.brighterplanet.org/esertia/depression-criteria#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:19:33 +0000 admin http://esertia.brighterplanet.org/esertia/depression-criteria Because I am talking about Esertia, an effective and relatively new antidepressant here, I might as well get started talking about the depression criteria. It doesn’t make sense talking about Esertia, the drug without talking about the disease.

  According to the newest criteria (DSM IV-TR), in my own words:

  An episode of major depression is,

  If for a period of two weeks,you suffer from:
  

  a) EITHER depressed mood OR Loss of interest in activities that you normally like

  AND

  b) 4 symptoms out of the following symptoms:

  • Loss/gain need for sleep
  • Loss/gain weight or appetite
  • More easily agitated or showing slowed responses
  • Loss of energy
  • Loss of ability to concentrate or make decisions
  • Loss of self worth or feeling excessively guilty about certain things
  • Suicidal

  AND

  It causes significant distress, social or occupational impairment or other problems in functioning.
  

  Apart from the above criteria, you will also (or rather, your doctor will also) need to exclude certain things:

  a) You do not have any medical condition which could possibly explain all these

  b) You are not under the influence of drugs which could cause these (you will be surprised how many drugs can cause these symptoms)

  c) These symptoms are not due to death of a close relative/friend.

  For more information on the criteria, please refer to: http://www.mental-health-today.com/dep/dsm.htm

  I will elaborate more on how to differentiate between bereavement and depression next time. In the meantime, if you have these symptoms, it makes A LOT of sense to see a psychiatrist. He will most probably prescribe Esertia or some other drugs for you.

  Remember, Esertia is not a total cure, you still have to tackle the root problems but Esertia definitely helps most people to take the first step towards cure.

  Technorati Tags: Depression criteria, Depression DSM criteria, DSM IV-TR depression criteria, Esertia

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