The Myths and Facts About Depression: Be in the Know About One of the Most Common Mental Health Conditions
(BPT) – There are some myths about major depressive disorder (MDD, depression) that may make it difficult for people experiencing symptoms to reach out for help. It’s time to learn the facts.
MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT DEPRESSION:
MYTH: Depression only affects mood.
FACT: Many people think of depression as simply being sad. But depression is more than sadness. Other symptoms include loss of interest, tiredness or insomnia, difficulty concentrating, change in appetite or weight, noticeably moving or speaking slowly, or feeling a lot of guilt. People with depression do not all experience the same symptoms, and the severity, frequency and duration can vary.
MYTH: Most people with depression seek professional help.
FACT: Based on an epidemiology survey, only 50 percent of adults who met the criteria for a depression diagnosis for one year actually receive some form of treatment for their condition.
MYTH: Depression is not that common.
FACT: There are approximately 14 million Americans ages 18 and older who live with depression annually. That’s more than 6 percent of U.S. adults.
MYTH: Depression is purely psychological.
FACT: Depression is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
Major depressive disorder (MDD, depression) is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States and nearly 35 million Americans over the age of 18 will experience depression in their lifetime. Many people think depression is just sadness and it’s important people understand all of the symptoms of this complex medical condition.
“After talking to my doctor about all of my symptoms, together we figured out a treatment plan for me. After taking TRINTELLIX® (vortioxetine), I started to notice an improvement in my overall depression symptoms,” said Ruth, a working mom who was diagnosed with depression.
There are many people who experience symptoms of depression and remain untreated. Due to the complex nature of depression, some people experience a few symptoms while others may experience many symptoms.
“Symptoms of depression may affect people differently, including the way they think, feel and act, contributing to the complexity of the disorder,” said Dr. Gregory Mattingly, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine. “It’s important that people talk to their doctor about their symptoms and find a treatment plan that works for them.”
People who may be experiencing symptoms of depression should talk to their doctor.
For more information about depression and a potential treatment option, visit TRINTELLIX.com.
TRINTELLIX is available as 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg tablets.
TRINTELLIX is a prescription medicine used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
TRINTELLIX helped improve overall symptoms of major depressive disorder based on a standardized depression rating scale in clinical trials. Individual results may vary.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR TRINTELLIX (VORTIOXETINE)
Suicidal Thoughts and Actions and Antidepressant Drugs
Do not take TRINTELLIX if you:
- Are allergic to vortioxetine or any of the ingredients in TRINTELLIX
- Take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid; do not take an MAOI within 21 days of stopping TRINTELLIX; do not start TRINTELLIX if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days
TRINTELLIX may cause serious side effects including:
Serotonin Syndrome: A potentially life-threatening problem that can happen when medicines such as TRINTELLIX are taken with certain other medicines. Symptoms may include agitation, hallucinations, coma or other changes in mental status; problems controlling movements or muscle twitching, stiffness or tightness; fast heartbeat, high or low blood pressure; sweating or fever; nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Abnormal bleeding or bruising: TRINTELLIX and other serotonergic antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), or aspirin.
Manic episode: Symptoms may include greatly increased energy; severe trouble sleeping; racing thoughts; reckless behavior; unusually grand ideas; excessive happiness or irritability; talking more or faster than usual.
Visual problems: May include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. Only some people are at risk for these problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are.
Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood: Symptoms may include headache; difficulty concentrating, memory changes or confusion; weakness and unsteadiness on your feet; and in severe or sudden cases hallucinations, fainting, seizures or coma. If not treated, severe low sodium levels can cause death.
Before starting TRINTELLIX, tell your healthcare provider if you have or had liver problems, seizures or convulsions, bipolar disorder (manic depression) or mania, low salt (sodium) levels in your blood, bleeding problems, drink alcohol, have any other medical conditions or if you are pregnant, nursing, plan to become pregnant, or plan to nurse.
TRINTELLIX and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects when taken together. Tell your healthcare provider if you plan on or are taking any other prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements including medicines for migraine headaches, such as triptans; medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders such as tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, buspirone or antipsychotics; MAOIs including linezolid (a specific antibiotic); over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John’s wort; and the following medicines: aspirin, NSAIDs, warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), diuretics, rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, quinidine, tramadol or fentanyl.
Common side effects of TRINTELLIX include: nausea, constipation or vomiting. These are not all the possible side effects of TRINTELLIX.
Do not start or stop taking TRINTELLIX without talking to your healthcare provider first. Suddenly stopping TRINTELLIX when you take higher doses may cause you to have side effects including headache, stiff muscles, mood swings, sudden outbursts of anger, dizziness or feeling lightheaded, or runny nose.
Talk to your healthcare provider.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Indication for TRINTELLIX
TRINTELLIX is a prescription medicine used to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults.
To see complete Prescribing Information, and Medication Guide for TRINTELLIX, visit www.TRINTELLIX.com or call 1-877-825-3327.