Antidepressants
Antidepressants are a group of medications
used to help people who have depression. Most people with depression
get better with treatment that includes antidepressants. The majority
of antidepressants work by slowing the removal of chemicals called
neurotransmitters from the brain. Neurotransmitters are needed
for normal brain function. Antidepressants help people with depression
by making these natural chemicals more abundant in the brain.
Antidepressants come in a wide variety of forms,
primarily serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants
(tricyclics or TCAs) and others. SSRIs include antidepressants
such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil)
and sertraline (Zoloft). These antidepressants generally have fewer
side effects than tricyclics. Some side effects that can be caused
by SSRIs include dry mouth, headache, nervousness, insomnia, nausea
and sexual problems. Tricyclics have been used to treat depression
for a long time. These antidepressants include amitriptyline (Elavil),
desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl,
Pamelor) and trimipramine (Surmentil). Some common side effects
caused by these antidepressants include dry mouth, blurred vision,
constipation, difficulty urinating, worsening of glaucoma, impaired
thinking and tiredness. These antidepressants occasionally affect
a person's blood pressure and heart rate.
There are other antidepressants that work differently
from SSRIs and tricyclics. Commonly used ones are venlafaxine (Effexor),
nefazadone (Serzone), bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron)
and trazodone (Desyrel). Less commonly used antidepressants are
the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like phenelzine (Nardil)
and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Antidepressants are usually taken
for at least 4 to 6 months. In other cases, patients and their
doctors may decide that antidepressants are needed for a longer
time.
Antidepressants related topics:
Depression, Antidepressants,
Mood Elevators, Natural
Antidepressants, Natural
Mood Elevators, Postpartum Depression,
S-Adenosyl-Methionine,
Sam e Depression, Serotonin
Antidepressants Nutraceutical Products:
Methylate
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