Facts And Things

Los Angeles specialty pharmacies are accustomed to providing special, made-to-order prescriptions for individuals suffering from depression and/or anxiety. Typically, people obtain their antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication from a conventional pharmacy. However, certain issues can, depending on the distinct needs of the person, make that rather problematic. Allergies to filler ingredients, distaste for particular delivery methods, or the need for a personalized dosage can hinder the capability of a traditional pharmacy to provide relief to patients. That is why specialty pharmacies are so important.

More than 21 million Americans between the age of 15 and 44 are afflicted by clinic depression. Of these people, many suffer from anxiety as well. Depression is the number one cause of disability for that age group and causes an estimated $30 billion in lost work productivity each year.

There is some overlap of depression and anxiety symptoms, though each mental illness is distinct. Depression is characterized, in part, by:

• Hopelessness and low self-esteem
• Noticeable weight loss or gain
• Chronic lethargy
• Too much or too little sleep
• Feelings of sadness and guilt

Anxiety, however, often manifests mental and physical symptoms, including:

• Dizziness and fast heartbeat
• Breathing trouble
• Dry mouth
• Inability to focus or concentrate
• Irritability
• Hopelessness
• Trouble sleeping

If left untreated, depression can result in suicidal thoughts and actions. More alarmingly, depression is a factor in many of America’s 30,000 annual suicides. Though different, depression and anxiety are related in that nearly half of people suffering from depression deal with anxiety issues as well.

Treatment of both anxiety and depression is most effective when several methods are combined. Commonly, people undergo some form of professional treatment such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. In many cases, medication is prescribed by the psychiatrist to complement the talk sessions. Other beneficial things include a healthy diet, vitamin supplements and regular exercise, all of which have been shown to elevate mood.

When medication is prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, it is vital that it be successful without causing harm. Medications offered by conventional pharmacies are mass-produced and almost always contain a host of filler ingredients. Dosage levels are optimized for profit, and coloring agents, preservatives and other additives may exacerbate allergies or cause unpleasant side effects. North Hollywood specialty pharmacies avoid this by creating person-specific medicine, personalized with regard to ingredients, dosage and delivery method.

Compounding pharmacies work with doctors and patients to make drugs created to suit a person’s specific needs. For people who have trouble swallowing pills or capsules, for example, a specialty pharmacy may make a syrup or chewable gummy candy. Other delivery methods include dermal patches, suppositories, sprays and – in certain cases – injection therapy. The basic idea is that individuals get the treatment they need to manage their illness in a manner most consistent with their personal needs.

A serious problem among people suffering from depression and/or anxiety is people going off their medication too soon or without their doctor’s approval. Specialty, compounded medications are more likely to be consumed on a regular basis because they are created specifically for the person taking them. Pharmaceutical compounds obtained from a specialty pharmacy take a person’s height, weight, allergies, dosage requirements and other factors into account to create prescription drugs that are effective without being harmful. For people suffering from one or both of these illnesses, better relief is possible through a compounding pharmacist.

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