Depression is a mental health issue which crosses all economic classes, social classes and races. It occurs in all cultural settings and in all countries. No one is immune to it. Prescription medications, termed antidepressants, are one therapeutic approach to dealing with its debilitating effects.
The supply of three neurotransmitters found in the brain, dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, plays a direct role in depression. Prescription medications to treat the illness work by increasing the level of these neurotransmitters in the brain. Precisely how they work is unknown, but it is possible that higher levels of neurotransmitters enhance the sending of nerve impulses and, in doing so, elevate mood.
There are many antidepressants available on the market through a doctor's prescription. Each has different properties that make it effective for different patients. While a particular type may work for one person, it is ineffective for someone else.
Tricyclics date to the 1950s and work by limiting the ability of brain cells to reuptake norepinephrine and serotonin. This allows larger amounts of these neurotransmitters to be available for use by brain cells. The medications Elavil and Tofranil are in this group.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) are also among the earliest antidepressants developed. MAOIs block an enzyme, monoamine oxidase, which is responsible for breaking down both serotonin and norepinephrine. This causes their levels in the brain to increase. Nardil and Parnate are examples.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) were introduced in the 1980s. They are now the most common class of prescription medication used to treat depression. SSRIs work by blocking the serotonin transporter receptors to increase serotonin levels. These drugs differ from other classes because they act directly only upon serotonin. Their effect on norepinephrine levels is indirect, as preserving serotonin also preserves norepinephrine. Paxil and Prozac are two common SSRIs.
Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), also called dual reuptake inhibitors, are a newer class of antidepressants. They work to increase the levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine by lowering their rate of reabsorption into brain cells. Cymbalta and Effexor are two examples available to treat depression today.
Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs), also dual reuptake inhibitors, work to increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine available to cells by inhibiting their reabsorption. In this group are Wellbutrin and Zyban.
Tetracyclic drugs work differently from other antidepressants. Instead of directly inhibiting reabsorption, they indirectly increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine by preventing these neurotransmitters from binding with nerve cell receptors. Two common types are Remeron and Tolvon.
Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs) increase the level of norepinephrine available to brain cells. Vivalan and Strattera are two medication in this class.
Prescription medications have become a vital part of the available tools used to improve mental health and the treatment of depression. Antidepressants are most frequently used to treat people suffering serious symptoms affecting their capacity to carry on daily activities.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 