Drugs That Treat Depression
Posted: Saturday, November 21, 2009
by EMMA WANJIKU
EMMALIFETIPS.com
Depression is a serious illness that calls for effective medication. Depression medications are called antidepressants. These drugs should be strictly administered by trained professionals who will provide the expertise needed to get rid of the disease. These drugs mainly work by availing or increasing certain brain chemicals responsible for improved emotions. These brain chemicals are called neurotransmitters. The following is information on the common types of antidepressants that are used to manage people with this illness or those with associated symptoms. According to WebMD resources, the following drugs treat depression.
These drugs have been found highly effective to treat the disease. They affect two kinds of neurotransmitters which are serotonin and norepinephrine. These drugs are however associated with many side effects and they are not usually used first when treating the condition. They affect the levels of the above named neurotransmitters. These drugs can be termed as some of the veteran drugs to be used for managing this condition.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
These antidepressants have also been around for quite some time. They are mainly administered to people who will not respond to other kinds of medications for depression. They have been found effective to other mental conditions a well. When taking these drugs, patients are on strict dietary restrictions that excludes consumptions of foods like cheese and wine. These kinds of foods can interact with the drugs causing harm. This is one of the reasons why all patients should get professional help and advice because these drugs need to be taken with utmost caution.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
These antidepressants are of the new age. They are designed to work by altering the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin. According to expert studies, the levels of this brain chemical will be lower in those who suffer depression. The levels of the chemical have therefore been found to be one of the keys to providing relief to patients.
Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
These antidepressants are also new and they basically work by increasing the availability of these two vital neurotransmitters.
All these drugs will come branded in different names and many that have a similar action will belong to the same class of antidepressants mentioned above. Some of the top drug names for TCAs include Anafranil, Adapin, Aventyl, Elavil, Norpramin Pamelor, Pertofrane, Sinequan, Surmontil and others. These drugs will have certain side effects and the following are just a few examples. Patients might experience a dry mouth, blurred vision, fatigue, sleepiness, weight gain, muscle tremors, constipation, dizziness, sexual problems and others.
There are so many factors that your doctor will take into account before they decide on the right medication for you. Again, the following point cannot be overemphasized. You should never self-medicate because you might end up causing more complications to your condition. Furthermore, only a specialized doctor can make a conclusive diagnosis of depression. This is just an overview of some of the top drugs that treat the illness.
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