Medical treatment

Many patients are cautious about starting drug treatments because they fear problems such as unwanted sedation or the development of physical or psychological dependence.  Remember that that benzodiazepines were, in years gone by, prescribed as ”antidepressants”, although they are not antidepressants. The benzodiazepines are in fact sedating and often cause dependence. The antidepressants do not do this!

If you have any such doubts or fears, you should discuss the relative benefits and risks of the proposed treatment with your doctor.

It should be emphasised that in some cases the response to medication is often not immediate and that symptoms may sometimes worsen temporarily – this can be prevented by starting with an initial low dose of the medication and gradually increasing then dose to the prescribed dose. Prolonged courses are sometimes needed in order to maintain an initial treatment response and minimise the risk of relapse.