Antidepressants: Medicine for Depression
What are antidepressants?
Antidepressants are medicines
used to help people who have depression. Most people with
depression get better with treatment that includes these
medicines.
How do antidepressants work?
Most antidepressants are believed
to work by slowing the removal of certain chemicals from the
brain. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters are needed for normal brain function.
Antidepressants help people with depression by making these
natural chemicals more available to the brain.
How long will I have to take an
antidepressant?
Antidepressants are typically taken for at least 4 to 6
months. In some cases, patients and their doctors may decide
that antidepressants are needed for a longer time.
What are the different kinds of
antidepressants?
Antidepressants are put into
groups based on which chemicals in the brain they affect.
There are many different kinds of antidepressants,
including:
- Selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- citalopram (brand name:
Celexa)
- escitalopram (brand name:
Lexapro)
- fluoxetine (brand name:
Prozac)
- paroxetine (brand names:
Paxil, Pexeva)
- sertraline (brand name:
Zoloft)
These medicines tend to have
fewer side effects than other antidepressants. Some of the
side effects that can be caused by SSRIs include dry mouth,
nausea, nervousness, insomnia, sexual problems and
headache.
-
Tricyclics
-
amitriptyline (brand name:
Elavil)
-
desipramine (brand name:
Norpramin)
-
imipramine (brand name:
Tofranil)
-
nortriptyline (brand name:
Aventyl, Pamelor)
Common side effects caused by
these medicines include dry mouth, blurred vision,
constipation, difficulty urinating, worsening of glaucoma,
impaired thinking and tiredness. These antidepressants can
also affect a person's blood pressure and heart
rate.
Some common side effects caused
by these medicines include nausea and loss of appetite,
anxiety and nervousness, headache, insomnia and tiredness. Dry
mouth, constipation, weight loss, sexual problems, increased
heart rate and increased cholesterol levels can also
occur.
Some of the common side effects
in people taking NDRIs include agitation, nausea, headache,
loss of appetite and insomnia. It can also cause increase
blood pressure in some people.
Common side effects of these
medicines are drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea and dizziness. If
you have liver problems, you should not take nefazodone. If
you have seizures, you should not take
maprotiline.
MAOIs are used less
commonly than the other antidepressants. They can have serious
side effects, including weakness, dizziness, headaches and
trembling. Taking an MAOI antidepressant while you're taking
another antidepressant or certain over-the-counter
medicines for colds and flu can cause a dangerous
reaction. Your doctor will also tell you what foods
and alcoholic beverages you should avoid while you are taking
an MAOI. You should not take an MAOI unless you clearly
understand what medications and foods to avoid. If you are
taking an MAOI and your doctor wants you to start taking one
of the other antidepressants, he or she will have you stop
taking the MAOI for a while before you start the new medicine.
This gives the MAOI time to clear out of your body.
Will antidepressants affect my other
medicines?
Antidepressants can have an
effect on many other medicines. If you're going to take an
antidepressant, tell your doctor about all the other medicines
you take, including over-the-counter medicines and herbal
health products (such as St. John's wort). Ask your doctor and
pharmacist if any of your regular medicines can cause problems
when combined with an
antidepressant
