Antidepressants for Depression

Depression is a problem that can be tough to get a hold on, but doctors and psychologists have become pretty expert at diagnosing its symptoms. There are many different ways of treating depression, including therapy as well as many other techniques. In this article, we'll focus on the use of anti-depressant drugs for treating depression. We'll explain what some of the mainstream drugs are, as well as what they can do for helping to heal those who have developed a case of clinical depression in their lives.

One family of anti-depressant drugs that are commonly prescribed are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These types of drugs work to help those with depression by allowing serotonin to be present within the brain for longer periods of time. Serotonin is a type of neuro-transmitter that is produced by the body and is released when an individual is feeling happy. Those who experience a case of clinical depression may have inhibited neurotransmitter functioning, causing them to be unable to produce enough serotonin to be happy. SSRIs have shown to be of merit in helping to relieve the symptoms of clinical depression in approximately sixty to eighty percent of all cases. There are many different types of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and some that you may be familiar with are sold by the trade names Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, and Lexapro.

Tricyclic antidepressants are another family of drugs that can provide a solution to clinical depression and is sometimes used. They are a drug that was used for treating depression long before the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that we use today were created. As opposed to SSRIs, which work to allow the serotonin that is already present in the brain to stay there for longer periods of time, tricyclic antidepressants work to increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine that are produced. While this would be a pretty potent method of solving a case of depression, tricyclic antidepressants have some other effects on the body that are not as desirable. The drugs affect the nerve cells that are present in the brain in many different and sometimes unpredictable ways. However, for those who do not experience any beneficial gains to their depression when it comes to taking SSRIs, tricyclics can be a potent option. Some tricyclic antidepressants that you may have heard of include those with the trade names Asendin, Anafranil, Ludiomil, and Vivactil.

Now that you know some of the basics behind the drugs that are commonly used in order to treat cases of clinical depression, you'll be able to understand your options better when you are speaking with your doctor or therapist. Tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors both have their benefits and their consequences. Some people opt for no medication whatsoever, instead preferring to take a therapeutic approach to treating depression. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to take some form of action, as leaving the problem of clinical depression alone is not going to do you any good when it comes to getting over it.

More articles on depression can be found at http://4everyonegoodhealth.com/elderly_depression-noXphp/index.php, http://4everyonegoodhealth.com/depression_basic_php/index.php, and http://4everyonegoodhealth.com/Depression/index.html.

About the Author:
Mike Serovey is the owner and webmaster for http://www.mikeserovey.net where you can submit your articles for free.