Do OTC Treatments Really Help with Depression?

Over-the-counter treatments can be attractive to people facing depression. There are many options available, but do they actually work?

A Cautious Approach

Experts generally recommend caution when looking at OTC treatments. The links between the likes of dietary supplements and herbal remedies are not strong, and most studies into natural remedies for depression and their effectiveness have been small. Certainly, most specialists in the field, such as those running mental health training courses in Blackpool and elsewhere, would not recommend OTC treatments as a replacement for psychological support, prescribed medication and non-pharmacological strategies.

One of the most comprehensive studies into OTC remedies and the type of depression explored on mental health training courses, such as those offered by www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/blackpool/, examined 209 control trials with an average of 70 participants in each. This discovered ‘limited but promising’ results for ingredients like lavender, zinc, folic acid, Rhodiola, lemon balm and tryptophan. Researchers still recommended further evaluations, however.

Potential Risks

The risk of health issues related to actual OTC treatments is generally low, but there can be problems if someone chooses to forgo traditional treatments and help in favour of shop-bought alternatives. This could delay them receiving the most effective care as well as waste their time and money.

Many experts agree that more studies are needed into OTC treatments and depression, and these should focus on personalised nutritional interventions and not just look at what single supplement is the ‘best’. This is because the impact of supplements can vary across different people.