Depression is the number one mental disorder in the western world with an ever increasing number of patients. Luckily there are many different types of depression medication and other treatments for depression available nowadays that are effective and allow for an alleviation or even cure of depression. Among the treatments for depression prescription anti depressants are by far the ones most commonly used. Given a broad lack of knowledge among many depressed patients about what these drugs actually do and what to expect when one takes them a review of those types of depression medication is well warranted. In principle one can distinguish four types of depression medication, though a few medicinal prescription treatments for depression do not directly fall into one of the four categories: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Tricyclics Antidepressants (TCAs), Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), and Serotonin/Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

All of those types of depression medication have many commonalities with regards to their mode of action. They all work by increasing the level of neurotransmitters in the brain. MAOIs do this by inhibiting the enzymatic breakdown of neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine trough monoamine oxidase; TCAs prevent the uptake of various neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine; and SSRIs and SNRIs, as their name implies, selectively prevent the reuptake of specific neurotransmitters. Also, all mentioned treatments for depression may have serious side effects, although these side effects vary depending on the kind of anti depressant used. Furthermore, all types of depression medication start to have a positive effect on the depressed patient only after a treatment period of several days to weeks. They also need to be taken consistently over months and sometimes years before drug levels may be reduced or the drugs may not be needed any more by the patient. While the effect of anti depressants on neurotransmitter levels is well documented, how they actually work to lower depression is not definitely known. Some theories claim that the excessive levels of neurotransmitters induced by anti depressants over time lead to a down-regulation of neurotransmitter-receptors, which has a positive effect. Others believe that anti depressants also have positive longer term effects such as neurogenesis or altered gene expression patterns. Whatever the exact causes of the anti depressive effect of these types of depression treatment, they obviously work in many, though certainly not all, cases of depression as has been demonstrated in various clinical studies. Consequently, together with psychotherapy, anti depressants are the treatments for depression of choice for most medical professionals. Unfortunately all named types of depression medication are also known to produce tolerance, leading to the need to increase dosage or to switch to another depression treatment. In addition withdrawal effects are often seen when the patient is taken off medication, leading to a long-term dependence on the drugs used.

All in all the classic types of depression medication certainly have their merits. On the other hand due to the possibility of side effects, the induction of tolerance and the potential danger of establishing dependency on the drugs these treatments of depression should not be taken lightly and in no case without guidance and supervision from a medical professional. Also, the depressed patient should generally work on bettering her condition besides through taking drugs. A healthy nutrition, potentially including nutritional supplements, sports and outdoor activities as well as mental training, such as meditation are all supportive treatments for depression that should be applied to help the depressed patient fight against depression.



Thanks to Alex Matis for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

Chronic Anxiety And Depression

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding bipolar disorder and bipolar treatment that sufferers can expect to receive. One of the reasons for this is too many people feel equipped to talk about people who are bipolar without actually fully understanding the types of bipolar treatment that are available. In fact talk to most people and ask them to name a bipolar treatment and it is likely that they will reply with a one word answer such as “Prozac”. Whilst Prozac can and is used to treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder this drug is just the tips of the iceberg when it comes to bipolar treatment as there is much more out there from medication to alternative therapies.

When someone is diagnosed as being bipolar it is easy to think that a simple pill each day will rid them of their symptoms and life will return to normal in a few days. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case and this is why it takes some time for some individuals to get the correct bipolar treatment which will work well for them.

As previously mentioned Prozac can work well as a form of bipolar treatment, it works by encouraging the production of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a natural chemical which when produced lifts the mood and this helps as a form of bipolar treatment as it can stabilise the mood of a sufferer. This type of medication (and others) is in the group of SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) which are often prescribed to combat the symptoms and feelings that bipolar disorder produces. Another group of medication that is also used as a bipolar treatment are tricyclic medications which work along the same lines as SSRIs. Lithium can also be used as a bipolar treatment as this too works as a mood stabiliser and this is one of the most well known and ‘popular’ treatments for bipolar disorder.

Cogitative behavioural therapy can be extremely useful as an additional bipolar treatment and many psychiatrists recommend it to people suffering from bipolar disorder. CBT works so well because it helps those with a bipolar diagnosis to recognise the ‘triggers’ that tend to signal the start of a bipolar high or low. Once these triggers are recognised a person who is bipolar is then able to put into practice some of the self help methods and techniques which have been shown to them in CBT sessions.

Some people also advocate a change in diet as a secondary bipolar treatment, as many believe that a healthy diet that is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial for those with bipolar disorder. Complementary therapy’s such as yoga, meditation and acupuncture can also be used as these can play a large and important role in the emotional wellbeing of a person and can also help to lift the mood. Exercise can also help as a bipolar treatment as exercise releases endorphins, the body’s own ‘feel good’ chemicals and these can boost the mood significantly.



Thanks to Lina Smith for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

List Of Antidepressants

If you are overweight and have been prescribed an antidepressant to provide you with the lift that you need to get your body and life back in order then you may be doing yourself more harm than good. The irony is that almost all antidepressants and anti-psychotic medications have weight gain as a side effect. The few antidepressants that do boast extreme weight loss as a side effect also usually have “or extreme weight gain” on the same label.

There are several ways that antidepressants can cause weight gain.

Antidepressants can slow down your metabolism and reducing your caloric intake or exercising will not jump-start it again. Antidepressants can cause hormonal changes that increase the appetite. Some antidepressants can sedate and individual and make them more sedentary; they are cheery but less motivated to do anything. Antidepressants can cause mood swings that make it difficult for an individual to stick to a disciplined schedule. Some antidepressants (especially Celexa and Amytripyline) seem to cause unexplained food cravings. Side effects such as dizziness and low blood pressure can have a person living “minute too minute” and make it difficult to plan a disciplined exercise schedule.

Unexpected weight gain can increase the difficulties associated with psychiatric and seizure disorders by further aggravating mood instability and low self-esteem.

Perhaps the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the world are the SSRIS - the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) This includes Celaxa, Prozac, Luvox, Paxil and Zoloft. Initially these drugs were marketed as weight loss aids until it was realized that after a week or so of initial weight loss that the body would start steadily gaining weight. The average weight gain that is expected after taking these drugs is fifteen to twenty pounds. Of them all, Paxil is thought to cause the most unexplained weight gain.

However the weight gain caused by SSRIs is peanuts considered to the pounds you can acquire by taking a tricyclic antidepressant. These include drugs such as Elavil, Asendin, Anofril, Petrofrane, Aventyl, Vivactil and Sinequan. If you take any of these drugs, which are prescribed for pain and sleep disorders as well as depression your physician will usually warn you that you can expect to gain at least twenty pounds during a course of treatment.

Another antidepressant that can cause weight gain but is not classified in either group is Mitrazapine. This drug has also been associated with significant weight gain. Wellbutrin, Nova Trazadone and Effexor which are not classified as SSRIs are among the antidepressants that can cause either extreme weight loss or weight gain. So if you take any of these you take your chances as to which direction your metabolism is going to swing - faster or slower.

To avoid the weight gain, lack of motivation to exercise and food cravings that both these types of antidepressants can cause your best course of action is to avoid taking them altogether. If this is not possible then you might find the entire weight loss process to be a very frustrating and uphill climb. However, never stop taking any medication that your health care practitioner has prescribed for you. If you feel that you are gaining too much weight, discuss this with your doctor and he/she may find an alternative for you.



Thanks to Patricia Zelkovsky for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

How To Treat Depression