Depression Learning

How do Medications Work

Depression medication works in a variety of ways depending on the severity of the depression diagnosis of the individual involved. All of the known depression drugs or antidepressants fall into three main categories, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOI’s, tricyclics or TCA’s and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI’s. All of these medications aid in fighting depression, but in various degrees.

The class of antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs is usually prescribed as a final and last resort when the medical physicians conclusion shows other medicines for depression have not succeeded in a positive outcome. The patients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors are exclusive candidates for a very strict diet because of the rare yet potentially fatal interactions with certain foods. This can and does open the opportunity for a chemical imbalance that could potentially be dangerous. The more recent additive of a skin patch is more applicable and has fewer side effects to the patient.

Neurotransmitters are responsible for mood, primarily norephinephrine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are monoamines. Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme which breaks down these substances. These inhibitors do the work they are implied of doing which is to inhibit the enzyme. Another acknowledged depressant medication, used widely among patients are tricyclics, of which the formal name is heterocyclic’s. This came into wide use during the 1950 has and is still widely used within the medical community today. Tricyclics inhibit the nerve cells ability to reuptake serotonin and norephinephrine, therefore allowing a greater amount of these two substances to be available for use by nerve cells.

The SSRI is by definition stand for Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. This is generally because the side effects of the medications involved in the SSRI class of antidepressants are generally more tolerable than are those of other types of antidepressants, and they also generally work well. Some of the more advanced medications used are :

• Fluoxetine, which is Prozac and sarafem
• Paroxetine, which is Paxil
• Sertraline, which is Zoloft
• Citalopram, which is Celexa
• Escitalopram, which is Lexapro

There are many medications on the market today for individuals that are trying to fight depression and this is fine. The best help to receive of course is through a medical physician. The medical physician trained to take care of the entire person, not just the healing mind and therefore much better equipped to serve the patient. There is also the religious community that all individuals can turn in time of need. However, they will not have the ability to diagnose and offer treatment, but they do offer wisdom through listening. A compassionate ear can sometimes work miracles when an individual is feeling lonely, depressed, but that would depend upon the cause of the depression.

However, the multitude of medications though the individual needs to be careful and make notes of any side effects. This will help with the next visit with the medical physician because they can either increase or decrease the medication. The medical physician might ask you to stop taking what you had and prescribe a new medication. The idea is to aid in the progress of the individual to a healthier emotional state than when the patient first came to the physician’s office. Individuals suffering from depression still need to talk with a close family member, a member of the religious community, or any friend they hold near, and dear. The idea is to talk and try to understand why this is happening. The medications will help for a time to get the patient back on their feet, but the person must gain a clear understanding.

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