Primary Care Prescribing Antidepressants

Suicide rate amongst patients facing depression are high and hence prescription of antidepressants to them is to be done with primary care and concern as it can lead to very crucial conditions. Depression mostly affects a lesser percentage of adults. The antidepressants prescribing patterns by general practitioners and psychiatrists are relatively different from each other. The use of certain tricyclic antidepressants is found to be safe not leading to any cardiovascular complications as compared to other antidepressants.

Dosages and Prescribing Pattern by General Practitioners:

Suicidal behavior is generally associated with depression and care has to be taken in the amount of dosages that are prescribed to such patients. The dosages of tricyclic antidepressants have to be started or consumed in low quantities which can be stepped up further in accordance with the individual's requirement. Such dosages can have side-effects and sometimes their effect can be neglected also depending on the individual's body compatibility. The general practitioners are a group of people who can give information to the patients about the prescription pattern and dosage of various antidepressants.

Generally, if the patients feel better they themselves discontinue the dosages without consultation of general practitioners. But it is recommended not to do so as it could cause many other side effects. It is also observed that the amounts of dosage prescribed by the general practitioners are less than the recommended quantity which can be regarded as improper prescription. The dosages of antidepressants are generally prescribed to the patients suffering from depression but they can also be approved to a small proportion of patients suffering from Migraine or Prophylaxis. The amount of dosages prescribed by the general practitioners in the trials have found equivalent to a placebo given in trials. These dosages are ineffective and hence it is evident that prescription of antidepressants by general practitioners differs from the dosages administered by Psychiatrists.

Overview:

Primary care needs to be taken by general practitioners while prescribing the medicine to an individual. They have to judge the symptoms shown by the patients and they need to efficiently relate it with kind of mental illness. Usually, people with moderate levels of depression are cured faster with the low dosages prescribed by the general practitioners. A general practitioner has to evaluate symptoms closely and look out for the responsible factors. For people with major depression it becomes difficult to get relief from the mental disorder if they are unable to take tricyclic antidepressants on time. In such cases certain dosages have to be administered and person can be recommended to switch over to a completely new drug.

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