Depression Pills
What is the Use of Depression Pills?
Depression Pills are drugs used by the people who suffer from depression in order to reduce it. These pills help people in recovering from depression. These pills are prescription-only drugs and not happy pills or a panacea and thus should only be taken on a recommendation by your doctor or medical professional.
Depression pills are also used for many more purposes like headache, eating disorders, bed-wetting; because of the “Neurotransmitters” which is involved in many other functions such as sleep, eating, and pain, drugs.
How these Depression Pills work?
Most of the depression pills work by slowing down the removal of certain chemicals from the brain. These chemicals are naturally present in the brain and are called neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and norepinephrine). Neurotransmitters is responsible for the normal function of brain and are involved in the control of mood and in other responses and functions including drinking, eating, sleep, pain, and thinking.
Depression pills make these natural chemicals more available to the brain and help in restoring the brain’s normal chemical balance and thus reduce and even relieve the symptoms of depression.
What is the Recommended Duration of Taking Depression Pills?
Depression pills are normally taken for four to six months. But in some sever cases; doctors may decide to prescribe these depression pills for a longer duration.
How many Types of Depression Pills are available?
Many different types of depression pills are available in markets for the treatment of depression. In the recent years, scientists have introduced many newer depression pills which are safer and more effective with fewer side effects as compared to the older depression pills. But still all depression pills including the newest and most popular ones may cause certain risks and can still cause side effects. So it is a good idea to educate yourself in order to find the best option that’s right for you.
Classification of Depression Pills
There are three main classes of depression pills which are as follows:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),
- Tricyclics (TCAs), and
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Class of Depression Pills
This class of depression pills is the newest and probably most popular. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors depression pills increases the levels of serotonin in the brain which is a mood-related neurotransmitter.
- History of SSRI Depression Pills
Prozac® (fluoxetine) was the very first SSRI depression pill which was released in United States in 1988. And after that, a variety of SSRI depression pills have been introduced which includes Paxil® (paroxetine), Zoloft® (sertraline), Lexapro® (escitalopram), Celexa® (citalopram), and Luvox® (fluvoxamine).
- Side Effects of SSRI Depression Pills
Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) depression pills are not completely safe and free of side effects but the risk of side effects is normally much lower than any other type of depression pills.
- Most Bothersome Side Effects of SSRI Depression Pills
Weight gain and sexual dysfunction are the two most troublesome side effects caused by SSRI depression pills. It is very common for men taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors depression pills to become nearly incapable or women to gain extra weight of about 30 pounds.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) Class of Depression Pills
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) is the oldest class of depression pills. This class includes Elavil® (amitriptyline), Tofranil® (imipramine), and Anafranil® (clomipramine).
- Side Effects of Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) Depression Pills
TCA is not are not commonly prescribed because of their causing a number of side effects which includes:
- Dry mouth,
- Constipation,
- Bladder problems,
- Sexual dysfunction,
- Blurred vision,
- Dizziness,
- Drowsiness
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) Class of Depression Pills
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are now the most uncommon type of depression pills. Medical professional and physicians prefer other depression pills and even natural alternatives instead of prescribing MAOIs. MAOIs are considered to cause serious safety risks, sever side effects and require a restricted diet.
Are there any Natural Alternatives and Supplements for Depression?
Mostly, people prefer to go for natural alternatives to prescription depression pills just to avoid their spiteful side effects and expensive costs. Although most of the natural supplements are not of a very good quality and even do not affect as well as prescription depression pills; but still there are some high-quality natural depression supplements available. The ingredients of some of the best natural depression supplements have been proven to work as well as depression pills and with a fewer side effects.
Which is the Best Depression Pill?
All the depression pills are effective in their own way; but certain types of pills work best for certain forms of depression. For example:
- People who are agitated due to depression should take a depression pill that also calms them down.
- People who are withdrawn due to depression may benefit more from a depression pill that has a stimulating effect.
Are there any Interactions of Depression Pills with Other Medications?
Depression Pills can have an effect and may cause serious problems when taken together with many other medications you may be taking. If you are going to take a depression pill; you should 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). You should discuss the possible interactions of these depression pills with any of your regular medicines. It is better to avoid the following medications as they may cause serious complications when taken together with depression pills:
- ecstasy
- cocaine
- lithium
- St John's wort (Hypericum) - (which is a herbal antidepressant)
- diethylproprion - an amphetamine
- dextromethorphan - (this is found in many cough suppressants)
- Buspar (buspirone) – (it is used for anxiety)
- Selgene, Eldepryl (selegiline) – ( it is used for Parkinson's Disease)
- anti-epileptics - Tegretol, Carbium, Teril (carbamazepine)
- analgesics - pethidine, Fortral (pentazocine), Tramal (tramadol), fentanyl
- anti-migraine drugs - Naramig (naratriptan), Imigran (sumatriptan), Zomig (zolmitriptan)
- appetite suppressants - phentermine and fenfluramine
- tryptophan – (it is an amino acid)
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