A Guide to Depression Medication
One of the most common ways to treat depression is with medication. Depression is a disorder classified by a variety of prolonged symptoms that may include sadness, hopelessness, emptiness, lack of interest in normal activities, aches and pains, crying, anxiety, and more. In order for symptoms to be classified as depression, they must occur for longer than two weeks. There are three different types of depression medication. The first and most commonly prescribed are called SSRIs.
SSRIs -- The acronym SSRI stands for selective serotonin reputake inhibitor. These medications work by interacting with and affecting the level of serotonin in the brain. Many experts think that one cause of depression is an imbalance of serotonin. One new modification of the SSRI is the SNRI, which affects both serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Examples of SSRIs and SNRIs include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Lexapro and Cymbalta. Potential side effects of these drugs may include headache, agitation, nausea and sexual side effects.
Tricyclics -- Tricyclic antidepressants were first used in the 1950's and are rarely used today due to potentially dangerous and undesirable side effects. Examples of these drugs include Elavil, Tryptanol, Norpramin and Vivactil. In addition to the side effects, these drugs were found to be less effective than SSRIs and are basically obsolete these days. They are occasionally prescribed for certain conditions but are rarely used for depression because there are now safer and more effective choices available.
MAOIs -- MAOIs or monoamine oxidase inhibitors are another type of medication for depression that are not as common as the SSRI drugs but are sometimes still prescribed when SSRIs are not effective or desirable for whatever reason. One of the drawbacks to MAOIs are the wide variety of potentially dangerous interactions that may occur. Examples of MAOIs include Marplan, Nardil, Marsilid and Eldepryl.
When it comes to choosing depression medication, SSRIs or SNRIs are usually going to be your doctor's first choice. Always discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of any medication with your medical professional before making a decision. It is important to understand which side effects may accompany certain medications. Often with SSRIs and SNRIs, side effects are temporary and will subside after the body has become adjusted to the medication. If side effects become too problematic, your doctor may decide to try a different type of medication.
Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved
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