A guide to medication adherence in depression

Abstract

Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects at least 350 million people worldwide and exerts a negative effect upon a person's physical, mental and social functions, and it is associated with an increased risk of premature death. The treatment of depression involves the use of antidepressants and selective serotonin inhibitors are currently the first line of treatment. In particular, fluoxetine is safe and effective in the treatment the disorder. It is one of the few antidepressants licensed for use in children under the age of 18 years in the UK. Fluoxetine is associated with fewer dose adjustments compared to other SSRIs and this simplifies therapy and may improve outcomes. However, fluoxetine induces a number of side effects like, nausea, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and its interaction with monoamine oxidase inhibitors can cause the serotonin syndrome.