Ask
Dr. Chan
Q: My
doctor thinks I should take antidepressants, but
I would rather take herbs. What are my options?
—Ellen
A:
Depression, or some form of
it, is rampant in this country. When Prozac first
came out, it rapidly became the most popular prescription
drug—showing that depression is a common
problem.
Even though I myself would rather exercise my
own power to manage my physical and mental health,
medication is always one option people have. And
for some people, these medications provide amazing
relief. I always remember what one of my patients
said: “Dr. Chan, until I tried Prozac, I
never knew what normal was.“
The choice of herbal medicine, prescription medicine,
or mental skills is really a personal decision.
Most newer antidepressants such as the SSRI's
(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) Prozac,
Paxil, and Zoloft are very safe, and herbal preparations
such as St. John’s Wort or SAM-e do not
offer much of an advantage over prescription drugs.
It is always helpful to learn skills such as meditation,
hypnosis, or other exercises to change the state
of mind and lift one’s own spirits. These
mental skills take time and practice, and again,
the choice of overall treatment is really a personal
decision. —Dr. Chan
Q:
I have been having problems sleeping. My doctor
gave me sleeping pills but I don’t like
taking pills. What can I do? —Anonymous
A:
Insomnia is a common problem in this society,
and often we create the problem for ourselves.
Of course, there are also many cases where insomnia
is a symptom of a psychiatric illness (such as
schizophrenia, manic depression, etc.). Such cases
are more serious and require some powerful treatments.
Common (non-psychiatric) forms of insomnia usually
respond to better "sleep hygiene." Better
sleep hygiene involves:
• setting a regular (consistent) time to
go to bed
• not staying up late
• not engaging in stimulating exercises
before bedtime
• other healthy practices described elsewhere
in this website
William C. Dement, M.D. is a major figure in the
science of sleep. He has written many bestselling
books that can offer you more detailed information
on insomnia. Dr. Dement also serves on the board
of the National
Sleep Foundation, which you can visit online
for sleeping tips and resources. —Dr.
Chan
Note: The word "hygiene" refers
to all conditions or practices conducive to maintaining
health and preventing disease (not only those
practices related to cleanliness), hence Dr. Chan's
use of the term here.
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