Doctors, including general practitioners (GPs) and psychiatrists (specialists in mental health) can prescribe antidepressant medicines. Psychologists specialise in psychological treatments and do not prescribe medication, but they can talk to your doctor if they believe a trial of medicine would be of benefit.
Can a regular doctor prescribe antidepressants? Yes, primary care providers (also called general practitioners or GPs) can prescribe antidepressant medications.
Speaking to your GP or practice nurse is the first step to getting help. If you're struggling with your mental health, you might be offered various types of treatment, or signposted on to other services. Typically, you could be offered, or given information about: Medication such as antidepressants.
Overall, the most commonly prescribed individual antidepressants were amitriptyline (19%), escitalopram (19%), sertraline (15%), mirtazapine (11%) and fluoxetine (7%); together these constituted 71% of all prescriptions.
The most straightforward way to get antidepressants is to schedule a visit with your primary care physician (PCP) or mental health prescriber. During the appointment, let them know: What symptoms you are experiencing. The presentation and impact of the symptoms.
If a GP thinks you'd benefit from taking an antidepressant, you'll usually be prescribed a modern type called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Examples of commonly used SSRI antidepressants are paroxetine (Seroxat), fluoxetine (Prozac) and citalopram (Cipramil).
SSRI's are anti-depressants and are currently the most popular anti-depression / anti-anxiety drugs as they have fewer side effects than MAOI's. SSRI's include drugs such as Prozac, Luvox and Aropax. SSRI's must be taken on a daily basis for at least a few weeks before they are effective.
SSRIs are usually the first choice medicine for depression because they generally have fewer side effects than most other types of antidepressant.
The main way a GP will tell if you have depression is by asking you questions about your general health and how the way you're feeling is affecting you mentally and physically. Try to be as open and honest as you can be with your answers.
Focus on how you feel, rather than what diagnosis you might meet. Try to explain how you've been feeling over the past few months or weeks, and anything that has changed. Use words and descriptions that feel natural to you – you don't have to say specific things to get help.
There's good news: Your everyday family doctor, otherwise known as a general practitioner (GP) has the authority to prescribe anxiety medication.
The anxiety puzzle
Psychiatrists often prescribe antidepressants, but the vast majority (86 per cent) in Australia are prescribed and managed by GPs.
While antidepressants can treat your symptoms without therapy, taking them without therapy may not be the best option for your mental health in the long run.
Weight gain is a possible side effect of nearly all antidepressants. However, each person responds to antidepressants differently. Some people gain weight when taking a certain antidepressant, while others don't.
Benzodiazepines (also known as tranquilizers) are the most widely prescribed type of medication for anxiety. Drugs such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) work quickly, typically bringing relief within 30 minutes to an hour.
Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off antidepressants.
SSRIs and SNRIs are often the first-line treatment for anxiety. Common SSRI brands are Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, and Zoloft. Common SNRI brands are Pristiq, Cymbalta, and Effexor XR. Pros: They are effective for a lot of people and they have a solid safety profile.
On antidepressant medication, it is possible that you might experience a sense of feeling numb and less like yourself. Though the symptoms of depression have decreased, there may be a sense that other emotional responses – laughing or crying, for example – are more difficult to experience.
Common side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) can include: feeling agitated, shaky or anxious. feeling and being sick. indigestion and stomach aches.
Most antidepressants boost mood and reduce depression symptoms by elevating serotonin levels in the brain. Although this is beneficial for someone who's depressed, for someone who does not have depression, taking antidepressant medication can cause serotonin to build up in the body, resulting in serotonin syndrome.
How to Ask Your Doctor for Anxiety Medication. The first step in getting anxiety medication is meeting with your provider, whether that be your primary care doctor or a mental health professional. Talk to them about your symptoms in depth, and discuss what options could be best for you.
Talk to your GP first
You'll need to talk to your GP to use some mental health services. This is known as a GP referral. Your GP can also talk to you about your mental health and help introduce you to the right mental health service for your needs.
In your appointment your doctor will probably make an initial assessment by asking questions about: your mood, thoughts and behaviours – sometimes by using questionnaires or forms which measure depression and anxiety. your lifestyle and any recent events in your life that might be affecting your wellbeing.