Depression treatment varies by individual patient factors

Patients diagnosed with depression may receive entirely different prescriptions based on a variety of individual factors. According to Dr. Nguyen Viet Chung, Head of Mental Health at E Hospital, treatment must be personalized rather than based solely on a diagnosis.

Key variables influencing medication choice include specific symptoms—such as insomnia and weight loss versus excessive sleep and weight gain—as well as age, underlying medical conditions, and current medications. For instance, doctors must consider weight gain risks for diabetic patients, blood pressure implications for those with hypotension, and sedation risks for individuals in professions requiring high alertness.

Medical professionals emphasize that because of these complexities, patients should never self-medicate using prescriptions intended for others, even if their symptoms appear similar.