Antidepressants

Defining Anti Depressants
Antidepressants are medicines prescribed for the treatment of depression. They relieve the symptoms of depression; most people with depression get better with treatment that includes these medicines. First developed in the 1950s and have been used regularly since then. Almost thirty different kinds of antidepressants are available today; they can be categorized in four major types:

Tricyclics

MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors)

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

SNRIs (Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors

Product Use
Antidepressants are very handy in cases of moderate to severe depressive illness. They also provide relief from severe anxiety and panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorders, chronic pain, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder. Do not take antidepressant without your health care provider's consent.

Working Procedure
Antidepressants alter the working procedure of certain chemicals in our body. These chemicals are known as neuro-transmitters, they pass signals from one brain cell to another. Neurotransmitters are needed for normal brain function. During depression some of the neurotransmitter systems, particularly those of Serotonin and Noradrenaline, don't work properly. Antidepressants help people with depression by making these natural chemicals more available to the brain. Some common Antidepressants in use are Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Citalopram etc.

How Taken
Antidepressants are usually taken for at least 4 to 6 months. Wait for them to work, they don't work straight away. Most people find that they take 1-2 weeks to start working and maybe up to 6 weeks to give their full effect. In some cases, patients and their doctors may decide that antidepressants are needed for a longer time.

Adverse Effects
The side effect of anti depressants generally depends on their types, if you face any problem using any type of antidepressant contact you doctor immediately. Below is the list of side effects you might experience with the different types of antidepressant:

Tricyclics
The use of Trycyclics can cause common adverse effects like dry mouth, a slight tremor, fast heartbeat, constipation, sleepiness, and weight gain. In older people, they may cause confusion, slowness in starting and stopping when passing water, faintness through low blood pressure, and falls.

SSRIs
SSRI's can cause common side effects like feeling of sickness and more anxiety. They can also lead to nasty indigestion, but you can usually stop this by taking them with food. More seriously, they may interfere with your sexual function. Problems with urinating, difficulty in remembering, falls, confusion - are uncommon in healthy, younger or middle-aged people. It is common, if you are depressed, to think of harming or killing yourself.

The side effects of SNRI's are similar to SSRI's.

MAOIs
MAOIs are really dangerous; they can give you a dangerously high blood pressure if you eat foods containing a substance called Tyramine. Consult your doctor before opting for MAOI's.

Other Useful Information
Do not engage yourself in work after taking antidepressants, hey can you sleepy and slow down your reactions. Some can be taken if you are driving. Remember, depression itself will interfere with your concentration and make it more likely that you will have an accident. In case of doubt or confusion contact your doctor.