Anti Depressant Medications

Anti depressant medications can be a godsend to those suffering from depression. Starting in the early 1990s newer anti depressant medications were developed that were as effective as the older anti depressant medications such as the tricyclics or MAOs but had many fewer side effects.
These fall into two main groups: the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs and the serontonin and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors or SBRIs. You can impress your friends by spitting out one of these phrases.

You're feeling blue but how do you know it's time to see a Dr. to talk about anti depression medications? If you suffer from the first or second on the following list and five of the remaining you have major clinical depression and you need to see a doctor with the same urgency that you would have if you suspected heart disease.

-Depressed or irritable mood most of day
-Loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
-Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
-Agitation or restlessness nearly every day
-Tiredness or loss of energy
-Often feels worthless or guilty
-Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
-Frequent thoughts of death or suicide

If you have had a number of these symptoms for two to three weeks you should not continue to suffer. Anti depressant medications are very effective for most people in lifting depression.

The SSRIs have the fewest side effects and your doctor will probably start you on one of these. The following are the current SSRIs:

-Celexa
-Lexepro
-Luvox
-Paxil
-Prozac
-Zoloft

Each of these inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin but each works in different way so that what is effective for one person might not be for another. Your doctor may try you on two or three SSRI medications. The major side effect of these drugs is a drop or absence of libido. If the SSRI medications don't work your doctor will probably try one of the SNRIs which are:

-Cymbalta
-Effexor
-Wellbutrin

Someone who has seizures should not take Wellbutrin and it may in rare cases cause seizures in someone who has never had them before. In addition to inhibiting serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, Wellbutrin inhibits the reuputake of dopamine. Unlike most anti depressant medications, Wellbutrin does not impair libido.

Cymbalta and Effexor seem to be well tolerated but they have not been studied as thoroughly as the older SSRI medications. They also may lower libido.

Remeron is in a class by itself. It works by stimulating the release of norepinephrine and serotonin. It too is fairly new and has not been studied widely. It does not affect libido.

Don't give up on your anti depressant medications. Most take from four to six weeks to kick in and if one doesn't work there are many more to try.
Anti depressant medications can be a godsend to those suffering from depression. Starting in the early 1990s newer anti depressant medications were developed that were as effective as the older anti depressant medications such as the tricyclics or MAOs but had many fewer side effects.
These fall into two main groups: the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs and the serontonin and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors or SBRIs. You can impress your friends by spitting out one of these phrases.

You're feeling blue but how do you know it's time to see a Dr. to talk about anti depression medications? If you suffer from the first or second on the following list and five of the remaining you have major clinical depression and you need to see a doctor with the same urgency that you would have if you suspected heart disease.

-Depressed or irritable mood most of day
-Loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
-Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
-Agitation or restlessness nearly every day
-Tiredness or loss of energy
-Often feels worthless or guilty
-Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
-Frequent thoughts of death or suicide

If you have had a number of these symptoms for two to three weeks you should not continue to suffer. Anti depressant medications are very effective for most people in lifting depression.

The SSRIs have the fewest side effects and your doctor will probably start you on one of these. The following are the current SSRIs:

-Celexa
-Lexepro
-Luvox
-Paxil
-Prozac
-Zoloft

Each of these inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin but each works in different way so that what is effective for one person might not be for another. Your doctor may try you on two or three SSRI medications. The major side effect of these drugs is a drop or absence of libido. If the SSRI medications don't work your doctor will probably try one of the SNRIs which are:

-Cymbalta
-Effexor
-Wellbutrin

Someone who has seizures should not take Wellbutrin and it may in rare cases cause seizures in someone who has never had them before. In addition to inhibiting serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, Wellbutrin inhibits the reuputake of dopamine. Unlike most anti depressant medications, Wellbutrin does not impair libido.

Cymbalta and Effexor seem to be well tolerated but they have not been studied as thoroughly as the older SSRI medications. They also may lower libido.

Remeron is in a class by itself. It works by stimulating the release of norepinephrine and serotonin. It too is fairly new and has not been studied widely. It does not affect libido.

Don't give up on your anti depressant medications. Most take from four to six weeks to kick in and if one doesn't work there are many more to try.