Dr Oz: Does Exercise Help Depression?
Dr. Oz sat down with Dr. Drew Pinsky and Dr. Daniel Amen to have an important conversation about antidepressant medications. They all agreed they are overprescribed as they shared the risks involved with taking antidepressants! They also outlined the most common medical conditions that go undiagnosed because their symptoms mimic those of depression. Find out what you need to do before asking your doctor to give you a prescription for an antidepressant.
Dr Oz: Can You Stop Taking Antidepressants?
Dr. Drew Pinsky says it can be very difficult for women to stop taking an antidepressant because it can cause horrible withdrawal symptoms. He urges people not to stop taking their medication cold turkey, especially after seeing this show, but instead talk to your doctor and get professional supervision as to the safest way to taper off your medication. On the other side of that, Dr. Daniel Amen says antidepressants are very effective in treating those with deep depression, but he says it is imperative they are supervised by a psychiatric professional.
Dr Oz: Who Should Prescribe an Antidepressant?
Dr Daniel Amen says there are several ways you can treat your depression before considering a medication, including exercise and talk therapy.
Dr. Daniel Amen says an antidepressant should only be prescribed by a psychiatrist who is professionally trained to diagnose and treat depression. Dr. Drew Pinsky added a primary care doctor’s job is to rule out any medical conditions that could be the cause of the depression, but they should not be prescribing antidepressants. Instead, they should be giving their patient a referral to a provider who can properly assess and treat their condition. Dr. Oz echoed his colleagues’ advice to see a psychiatrist before filling a prescription. He is passionate about helping patients get the proper diagnosis and care for their health problems.
Dr. Oz: Is a Medical Condition the Cause Of Your Depression?
Dr. Oz explained depression symptoms are often caused by an underlying medical condition and if you treat that condition then the depression will go away, but doctors need to take the time to properly diagnose their patients. He says women need to demand a full workup before allowing their doctor to prescribe an antidepressant to find out whether there is a medical condition to blame for their symptoms. Dr. Drew Pinsky explained the role of a primary care provider is to rule out a medical cause that is either causing or contributing to the patient’s depression symptoms. He says once they rule out a medical condition, the doctor then needs to help their patient fight for a referral to a psychiatric professional to get the treatment they need.
Dr Oz: Non-Prescription Treatments For Depression
Dr. Daniel Amen says after a medical condition is ruled out as the cause of your depression there are other things you can do before considering a medication.
- Exercise – Offers the same benefits as taking a medication.
- Take a fish oil supplement – Dr. Amen says the EPA is what has been found to be most helpful in treating depression.
- Talk therapy – Seeing a therapist can be very helpful when a person is depressed.
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