Fact 4 Treatment for depression is easy to get and costs less than not treating it. Doctors can treat depression with psychotherapy, counseling and medications called antidepressants. The most well-known of the new antidepressants are Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft, although there are many others. Whatever the medication, antidepressants have to build up in the system before being effective. People have to take them for about four weeks before feeling any difference.
Side effects are usually mild and temporary and can include nausea, constipation and dizziness.
More serious side effects are losing interest in sex and having trouble getting aroused. Fact 5 Family members are also affected by a loved one's depression. People suffering from depression often feel too fatigued and hopeless to seek help. In addition, they often resist suggestions that they need help. Mass. She recommends joining a support group even if your loved one hasn't been diagnosed or seen a doctor.