The Top Three of Depression Medications

Most people always think about depression medications or antidepressants when they suffer from depression. In fact, depression is treated not only by depression medications but also various techniques such as relaxation, diet therapy and so on. However, antidepressants are still the most favorable way out of depression since they are quick in lessen the symptoms.

Actually, there are three main types of depression medications: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, and Tricyclic Antidepressants. In recent times, the depression medications are also including Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin. Those drugs are now clinically prescribed categories of antidepressants.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Tricyclic Antidepressants, or TCAs are some of the earliest depression medications, which are still commonly used for treating depressive disorders. These drugs act by making the anti-depressant neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine) stay longer in the brain by preventing them from reabsorbing into nerve cells.

Recently, psychiatrists tend not to choose these drugs prescribe for patients of depression. This is because the health professionals has seriously criticised TCAs due to the many side effects of these drugs. TCAs has dangerous side effect that lead of increasing suicidal tendency in their users.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, or MAOIs, relieve depressive symptoms by blocking the activity of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme-cum-neurotransmitter that burns up monoamines (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine). It results the depletion of these natural antidepressant chemicals.

By preventing monoamine oxidase from destroying these neurotransmitters, MAOIs allow a greater supply of monoamines to the brain, providing relief from depression. The main problem with MAOIs is that they also raise the blood pressure of the patient, posing the risk of bursting blood vessels in the brain. Also, people taking MAOIs are expected to practice restraint in case of diets like cheese, cream, liver, some forms of meat, and sausages etc.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

By the late 1980s, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, came in use as depression medications. These antidepressants work by blocking particular sites (receptors) on nerve cells that reabsorb (reuptake) the neurotransmitter serotonin-the low supply of which influence depressive symptoms.

SSRIs cause a longer availability of serotonin in the brain, relieving depression by blocking these receptors selectively. While these are considered safer than other types of antidepressants like MAOIs and TCAs, SSRIs have their own side effects like nausea, headache, digestive problems, sleep disturbances, and nervousness etc.

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

The latest type of depression medications are Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors, or so-called SNRIs. They are almost same with SSRIs. The difference is that they also prevent the reuptake of norepinephrine in addition to serotonin. Furthermore, SNRIs have side effects that are also similar to SSRIs. SNRIs users probably experience blurred or double vision, tremors, gas, and any other abnormal effects

When you suffer from depression, keep in mind that depression medications are not the only answer. If you really have to use them, be careful and selective in choosing them since they have side effects that maybe harmful. However, combining depression medications with other alternative therapy is the best way. If you need more information, please explore links on this Depression Treatment Clinic site.