Medication for depression

Medication for depression

 Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)are medications that

increase the amount of the neurochemical serotonin in the brain. People with

depression often have low serotonin levels in the brain, and as their name

implies, the SSRIs work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin so it stays

around. They are called selective because they mostly impact serotonin and

not other neurochemicals. SSRIs have fewer side effects than many of the

older generation antidepressants, such as the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

and serotonin systems and are called “dual-action.” These drugs seem to be

very helpful, especially for the more severe and chronic cases of depression.

Venlafaxine (Effexor), Duloxetine (Cymbalta), and Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) are

three of these dual-action compounds.

 Mirtazapine(Remeron, NaSSA). Although Mirtzazpine is primarily an

antidepressant for major depression, it also has been found beneficial for

anxiety and insomnia. It may stimulate the appetite and thus cause weight

gain for some at higher doses.

 Atypical antidepressantsare so named because they work in a variety of

ways. Examples of atypical antidepressants include Bupropion (Wellbutrin),

 Tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs) were developed in the 1950s and 1960s to

treat depression. They work mainly by increasing the level of norepinephrine

in the brain. TCAs are safe and generally well-tolerated when properly

prescribed. However takeN in excess, TCAs can cause life-threatening heart-

rhythm disturbances. Examples of tricyclic antidepressants are amitriptyline

and desipramine.

 Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)are the earliest developed

antidepressants. MAOIs can interact with over-the-counter cold and cough

medications to cause dangerously high blood pressure. Because of these

potentially serious drug and food interactions, MAOIs are usually only

Methylfolate (Deplin), a folate (B vitamin) supplement.

Medicaon for Anxiety

Medicines used to treat anxiety disorder may be especially helpful for people

whose anxiety is interfering with daily functioning. The medications most often

used to treat anxiety are:

 Benzodiazepines. These medications are sometimes referred to as

"tranquilizers," because they may leave you feeling calm and relaxed.

Common benzodiazepines include Alprazolam (Xanax), Chlordiazepoxide

(Librium), Diazepam (Valium), and Lorazepam (Ativan).

 Antidepressants, such as Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil), Sertraline