Antidepressant
Depression is an emotional disorder, that is manifested with distress, helplessness, guilt, self-criticism, and decreased interest in external activity. These manifestations are expressed by impairment of mental and physical activity, indifference to the environment, fatigue, reduced sexual ability, lack of appetite, constipation, insomnia (especially in the mornings). In some types of depression insomnia and lack of appetite can be replaced onto drowse and overeating.
The right depression treatment depends on many factors such as: the type of depression and its symptoms , history of illness, concomitant diseases. It is necessary to give a right diagnosis before beginning the treatment. The treatment can include corresponding psychotherapy , depression medications(antidepressants) or their combination. Sometimes antianxiety medications can be used along with antidepressants to make the treatment more effective.
There are a lot of antidepressants used to treat depressive disorders. They can be divided into several groups according to their action:
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
- Tricyclic antidepressants
It is important to try different antidepressant medications in precise dosages in order to find the most successful treatment. Antidepressants should be taken regularly during 3 or 4 weeks , in some cases even 8 weeks. Usually the improvements manifest in the first few weeks.
The doctor should monitor the patients condition during the whole treatment. Some antidepressants can cause suicidal thoughts or actions in some teenagers, children, or young adults when the drug is first started. Therefore you should talk with your doctor prior to taking any antidepressant medication.