How To Handle Depression With Antidepressant Prescriptions

There are times in your life where you feel sorrow and pain, perhaps the death of a loved one or the breaking up of a relationship. Whilst all this is normal, prolonged sorrow or a stressed life and may ultimately lead to symptoms of depression.
Antidepressant medications has been invented to assist people manage their lives better by keeping stress and other psychological illness at bay. As the fast pace of modern life as increased our workload and burden, it is natural that we face overbearing strain at certain times. A sudden departure of a loved one, relationship difficulties or a huge challenge to overcome may also result in grave unhappiness which may affect our mental health. It is our duty to take care of ourselves by seeking medical attention to avoid such occurrence having a prolonged effect on our daily lives.

Over 17 million American adults experience some form of depression so there’s no need to feel as if you’re alone in suffering. As serious depression can interfere with a person’s normal lifestyle and causes problems with work, social and family living, it should be treated as soon as possible. There are many types of antidepressant medications that are available. However consulting with a trained mental disorders practitioner will reveal the best course of treatment for the sufferer.

While there are different types of antidepressant medications and medication for panic attacks available, some are more suited for various individuals than others. The side effects of each drug and the level of performance effectiveness can vary with each individual. The traditional medication for depression used to be tri-cyclic antidepressant medications which were named for their chemical structure. The side effects may include blurred vision, dry mouth, and weight gain, fatigue and weakness amongst others. Sometimes you may even experience symptoms that are similar to depression (examples being, fatigue and constipation).

Patients diagnosed with "Atypical" depression which is identified by symptoms like excessive sleep, overly worried or nervousness, sudden panics and baseless fears is usually prescribed Monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs. The more frequent side effects of consuming such drugs are similar to other antidepressant medication and may include dizziness and increased heartbeat. Patients have to be reminded that as severe consequences may result from consuming certain foods or drinks that may react with the drugs, they have to strictly adhere to a diet outlined by the doctor.

Breakthrough in medical technology and know-how has brought new antidepressant drugs and anxiety disorder treatment like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs which have been widely tested and is approved for use. SSRIs are available in several forms, namely, Prozac, Luvox, Paxil and Zoloft. Much of the effectiveness of these drugs lies in the reaction of the chemicals on serotonin in the brain despite the fact that all of these antidepressant drugs are essentially distinct chemically.

Despite the fact that antidepressant medication have proved to be largely successful in the treatment of depression, patients should never assume antidepressant are miracle drugs and be healed instantly. Only continuous consumption of appropriate medication would ensure a gradual recovery.

By Beth Kaminski
Published: 9/13/2008
 
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