Current Medicinal Depression Treatment Reviewed

For

Depression Medication in Use

by: Alexander Matis, MSc

Unlike occasional moods of sadness, tiredness and discouragement that are a normal part of life and normally pass very quickly without special treatment depression is a mental disorder that has more serious implications. Depression comes in various forms. However, what is common to them all are the following symptoms: Despair, lethargy, loss of sex drive, poor appetite, deep sadness, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, irritability and tiredness. In the worst instances the depressive patient totally looses attachment to his environment and herself even to a stage where suicide seems an option and may be conducted. Whatever its cause - stress, an illness, side effects of some medical treatment or a pure malfunction of brain chemistry - depression always has a huge and painful impact on the patient and his family, and depression treatment is a must. 

Depression affects millions of people worldwide and in recent years the number of sufferers seems on the increase globally. However, there are various effective treatments for depression available nowadays that work very effectively and get people with depression back to a normal and joyful life.

Main depression treatment are depression medication (i.e.: antidepressants) and psychotherapy. 

Available Drug Depression Treatments

In general the various types of depression medication act by increasing the level of neurotransmitters in the brain of the depressive patient, thereby countering the main biochemical source of depression - a lowered level of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters, such as Serotonin and Norepinephrin (noradrenaline), are chemicals in the brain, which affect mood by stimulating brain cells. 

There are four groups of drug treatments for depression on the market:

First, Tricyclics Antidepressants (TCAs), are types of depression medication that block the re-uptake and indirectly the destruction of Norepinephrin and Serotonin and thus increase their levels in the brain: Adapin (doxepin), Anafranil,(clomipramine), Elavil (amitriptyline), Endep (amitriptyline), Ludiomil (maprotiline), Norpramin (desipramine), Pamelor (nortryptyline), Pertofrane (desipramine), Sinequan (doxepin), Surmontil (trimipramine), Tofranil (imipramine), Vivactil (protriptyline).

Second, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), antidepressants that block the re-uptake only of Serotonin : Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline).

Third, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), a depression treatment which acts by blocking the breakdown of neurotransmitters such as Nardil (phenelzine), and Parnate (tranylcypromine).

Fourth, Serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), types of depression medication including venlafaxine (tradenames Effexor XR , Efexor ), nefazodone (tradename Serzone ), milnacipran (tradename Dalcipran / Portugal; Ixel / France), desipramine (tradenames Norpramine, Pertofraneis), duloxetine (tradename Cymbalta).

In the market, there are also drug depression treatments available that do not fall in the above categories, such as buproprion (Wellbutrin), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), venlafaxine (Effexor), and mirtazapine (Remeron).

How Depression Medication Affects You

The positive effect of antidepressants usually starts after 10 to 14 days treatment and it may take up to two months before the full effect is seen. Todays drugs for depression treatment are highly effective. On the downside certain side effects may happen when using those depression treatments - often faster then the positive effect. TCAs can cause drowsiness, blurred vision, and a dry mouth. SSRIs can lead to nausea and vomiting, headache and at the onset of treatment anxiety. MAOIs may, especially in conjunction with certain foods, lead to a dramatic rise in blood pressure, headache and vomiting. 

It has to be stressed that side effects do only affect a small number of patients consistently. Usually patients are not affected at all or the side effects pass away over time. The advantages of drug depression treatment far outweigh the disadvantages!

Alternative and Additional Treatments for Depression

Especially for light cases of depression, but also as support to antidepressants in severely depressed patients alternative treatments for depression such as St. John's Wort and certain fish oils are helpful. Proper nutrion and activities such as sports are also important factors in effectively fighting depression.

Besides drug treatments and alternative depression treatment psychotherapy or talk therapy can also be of help to depressed individuals. It includes short-term therapy sessions, usually from ten to twenty weeks. Positive results for the depression patients will generally be showing up after one or more sessions of psychotherapy. This type of depression treatment actually helps the individuals by slowly making them open up about their feelings, the root of their problems, most important of all, the root of their depression. 

Conclusion