Azernews.Az

By Laman Sadigova

Life has changed and become dynamic. This dynamism accompanied by rapid ups and downs in our daily routine unfortunately sometimes produces undesirable surprises for us.

Depression is a condition in which a person feels discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated or disinterested in life in general. Depression is readily treated nowadays with modern antidepressant medications and short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy.

Some medications used to fight against depression increases the risk of human exposure to suicide. Thus, we must be very careful when using medicines against it, the Director of the Center for Mental Health, psychiatrist and Professor Fuad Ismayilov says.

The disease largely spread worldwide affects as much as 10-15 percent of the overall population, said Ismayilov. Unfortunately, 20 percent of patients with depression have a tendency to commit suicide, he warned.

That necessitates a broader use of antidepressants, but they cannot be used spontaneously and independently because they have both positive and negative, dangerous sides.

“Usually, antidepressants have a stimulating effect on human apathy, reluctance, and are used in case of melancholy. But if these drugs are not taken properly, they increase exposure to commit a suicide. Therefore, these drugs should be approached very cautiously,” he said adding that the Ministry of Health has approved a clinical protocol where all types of drugs are clarified.

Professor of Psychiatry at the Medical University Zafar Aliyev M.D. said that if a person has a tendency to commit suicide, drugs could stimulate this factor and lead to disaster.

The anti-depressive medications taken without medical prescription do not allow doctors to diagnose and properly treat the disease, Aliyev noted.

According to the rules of prescribing psychotropic drugs and dispensing at pharmacies, psychotropic drugs must be dispensed in pharmacies with prescription only says Parviz Azizbayov of the analytical Examination Center of the Ministry of Health of Drug Quality Control Inspection.

Azizbayov added that there is stringent control over the sale of antidepressants and 23 pharmacies were brought to administrative responsibility in January to September 2015, in accordance with the Administrative Code.

Talking is a powerful way of combating your depression if you feel bad. There is nothing shameful about recognizing a problem seeking the help of a therapist. Asking for help is a brave act and speaking to an expert is a healthy, productive endeavor from which every individual would benefit. Learning about the source of your pain can truly help alleviate its impact on your life by helping you recognize and combat your critical inner voice.

---

Follow Laman Sadigova on Twitter: @s_laman93

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz