Articles written by Sergio Silva, M.D.

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About me - Sergio Silva, M.D.

I am a Board-certified psychiatrist with almost 15 years of experience diagnosing and treating mental illness. Psychiatrists are physicians, so I did go to medical school and complete a four-year postgraduate residency training program. While obviously I subscribe

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Health & Fitness > Prescription & Medication Factors to consider in choosing anti-depressant medication: 1 of 14
The most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants today are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the so-called "Prozac family" of medications, of which Prozac was the prototype, but which also includes Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Celexa, and Lexapro. They are widely prescribed because they are very safe and gen... More..
Health & Fitness > Healthy Living & Wellness How to give yourself the gift of sleep: 2 of 18
How to Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene Insomnia is a common complaint in any doctor's office and by far one of the most common complaints in psychiatry. While there are various medical conditions to be ruled out (such as obstructive sleep apnea), the vast majority of cases are either mood- or stress-related, or else have n... More..
Health & Fitness > Therapy & Counseling Choosing a therapist: 1 of 9
How to Pick A Good Therapist More people than ever are seeking professional counseling services in one form or another. Thankfully, the stigma of seeing a mental health professional is waning and people are becoming better educated regarding the various options available to them. Needless to say, psychotherapy can be ex... More..
Health & Fitness > Depression Antidepressants and weight gain: What you should know: 3 of 18
One of the most alarming and universally unacceptable of medication side effects is that of permanent weight gain, and it is not an uncommon one. This article focuses on weight gain as a side effect of psychotropic medication, which falls under the area of my expertise, but the general principles are applicable to weight ... More..
Health & Fitness > Addiction Understanding Addiction: 1 of 5
How To Know If You're Addicted The notion of addiction is one that includes more than just chemical dependency. Today we are aware that a person can be physically or psychologically addicted to a number of things; drugs, food, sex, and gambling are among the most common. What all addictions have in common is impulsiv... More..
Health & Fitness > Therapy & Counseling How psychotherapy helps: 2 of 6
How to Engage in Meaningful, Successful Psychotherapy More people than ever before are seeking professional counseling services. Thankfully, the stigma of seeing a mental health professional is waning and people are becoming better educated regarding the various options available to them. Needless to say, psychotherapy ca... More..
Health & Fitness > Depression Depression: Prescribed drugs versus natural remedies: 1 of 2
How To Know If You Need Prescription Medication for Depression We've all experienced depression that comes and goes: mild, spontaneously low moods that get better all on their own and more moderate depressive episodes that are the result of traumatic life events (physical illness, loss of a job, the death of a loved one, ... More..
Health & Fitness > Sleep Disorders What you need to know about sleeping pills: 1 of 2
How to Make Your Sleeping Pill Keep Working Prescription sleep aides are among the most commonly administered of medications, and they can be a Godsend for many patients. Although once only approved by the FDA for brief trials, recently the FDA approved Ambien for long-term use. In actuality, any prescription sleeping ... More..
Health & Fitness > Pharmaceuticals (Other) How to avoid the sexual side effects of psychotropic medications: 1 of 1
The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, such as Prozac and Zoloft) are the safest and most widely prescribed antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications available and a real boon to millions of patients worldwide. They are highly effective, non-addictive, and they save lives. Unfortunately, among the most common... More..
Health & Fitness > Prescription & Medication How to avoid medication side effects: 1 of 1
The frequency and intensity of side effects are directly proportional to the amount of medication taken (dosage, especially relative to an individual's body weight) and the rapidity with which it is absorbed. The more milligrams you take at one time and the faster you absorb them, the greater the potential for side effects. ... More..