Antidepressants: To prescribe or not prescribe? That is the question

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MENTAL HEALTH

Antidepressants: To prescribe or not prescribe? That is the question

8 November 2017

David Codyre

Thursday 9 November 2017, 09:33 AM

The first patient was made redundant just prior to his symptoms of depression

Two patient examples illustrate the different management approaches required for depression of the same severity, presenting in men of the same age on the same day

Pharmac data show prescriptions for antidepressants have climbed 62.5 per cent in nine years During a busy Friday morning clinic, you see two ma

Mental Health

References

1. BPAC NZ. Management of depression in primary care. Best Practice J 2009.

2. Pharmac. Year in review 2016: mental health (antidepressants).

3. Kirsch I, Deacon BJ, Huedo-Medina TB et al. Initial severity and antidepressant benefits: a meta-analysis of data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. PLos Med 2008; (2):e45.

4. Arroll B, Moir F, Kendrick T. Effective management of depression in primary care: a review of the literature. BJGP Open 27 Jun 2017

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How to Treat

+How to treat

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM