Effexor and acupuncture can work together to relieve depression

While Effexor helps many patients overcome feelings of sadness, some patients need additional assistance. A common option is to treat depression with counseling. Talking through feelings can be a great supplement to this medication that helps people overcome that down-in-the-dumps feeling. However, new research has shown that acupuncture may be just as useful.

What professionals found
A randomized control study was conducted at the University of York to compare results of both on individuals who had been diagnosed with depression. This is important, as some people wish for alternate means for easing their suffering. After the research was completed, doctors indicated that acupuncture could very well be a reasonable means for helping individuals with depression.

There were 755 patients who had been diagnosed with depression that were included in this study. Randomly, these individuals were split up into one of three groups with different treatments: acupuncture, counseling and "usual" depression care. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire at three months and with a 12-month follow-up, the effects of each were assessed by researchers.

Both acupuncture and counseling showed significantly better results than that of usual care. However, there was no indication that one of these two was better than the other. So, researchers concluded that based on their findings, acupuncture could be just as useful in treating depression as counseling. And when paired with antidepressants such as Effexor, patients may experience even greater results.

"For people who have depression, who have tried various medical options, who are still not getting the benefit they want, they should try acupuncture or counseling as options that are now known the be clinically effective," Hugh MacPherson, lead author of the study, said in a statement.

Recommended actions for patients
It's important for Effexor users to understand and recognize that different things work for different people. The authors of this study urged people to acknowledge the fact that this evidence does not mean that either acupuncture or counseling should be used as a replacement for medications. However, one of the two methods of treatment could be used in conjunction with antidepressants that are purchased from an online pharmacy.

"Clearly acupuncture is a new option," MacPherson acknowledged. "This is the first evidence that acupuncture really helps."

With that in mind, patients who are taking Effexor should talk to their doctors if they are considering adding either acupuncture or counseling to their treatment regime. If one doesn't work, perhaps it's time to try the other.