Medication

There are several types of antidepressants available, each of which functions in its own way. In general, they work to balance the chemicals in the brain, specifically the “feel good” ones such as serotonin and dopamine. The four main types are: MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors, used for “atypical” depression), SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Zoloft and Prozac, which affect seratonin), Tricyclics (more commonly used for major depression than MAOIs), and newer antidepressants such as Wellbutrin, which affect norepinephrine and dopamine more than serotonin.
Because depression is not completely understood, most medications are still fairly experimental, and new discoveries are always being made. Much caution must be taken with any antidepressant because they are all still very new. I would advise anybody considering this option to do some research and ask a doctor about options. New medications are constantly being developed. This is a good sign, in that it is progress, but we must be careful because all future side effects may not be known, even when a medication is deemed safe. Weighing the risks and benefits is up to each patient individually. Many patients find that they need to try a few medications before finding one that works for them.
Some patients need only take an antidepressant for a short amount of time for it to rebalance them. Others find that they need to stay on it indefinitely.
There are myriad opinions regarding the use of medications and therapy, as demonstrated in the following quotes:
“Therapy works if you are willing to be brutally honest. Most people who are depressed, I believe, aren't willing or able to be. Going through the motions of therapy finally brought me to the point of being willing to be honest with my life and myself.
“I think meds are a necessary evil. I think there must be better ways out there…but I also don't know much about it. I think there must be a more holistic approach. Meds often cause more problems than they help. Coming off them is so emotionally dangerous, and I, as many people do, decided many times to just take myself off them without supervision. It always seems logical at the time.”
“I think it’s preferable to come up with an internal solution rather than an external solution if you can. For a lot of people, what medication does is cut off the highs and the lows. I think life is supposed to have ups and downs in it, and having it all leveled out is really not taking into account the full spectrum of experiences that you’re supposed to have.”
“I believe that for some people therapy and medication works. Every person’s depression is different, as well as their bodies. Some doses work for one person, and a different person may need a higher or lower does, or a completely different drug all together. I think it just takes some time to figure out what works for that individual person. But I do believe that both therapy and medication are very helpful.”
“I decided to try mental thought process changing without medication first, hoping that would be enough. I was lucky-I never went the medication route, but would have had it come to that.”
Most research has found that a combination of therapy and medication works best for severe depression. The important thing is to find what you feel is the best answer for you. It seems to me that medication should be a last resort, though for some people who take it temporarily, it can provide a taste of what life can feel like, and give them incentive to reach for that feeling again once they come off the medication. I believe, however, that no matter what help we get professionally, if we do not make the gospel our primary implement in our search for happiness, we will never fully heal.