Depression is a mood disorder that affects many people. Its symptoms can range from lack of motivation, low moods, lack of concentration, apathy, social withdrawal to despair.
- Symptoms: The symptoms of depression can vary among individuals but commonly include:
Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness.
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed.
Changes in appetite and weight.
Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or excessive sleeping.
Fatigue or loss of energy.
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.
Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things.
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). - Prevalence: Depression is a widespread mental health condition, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 264 million people worldwide experience depression (World Health Organization, 2020). The prevalence of depression can vary across countries and populations.
- Causes and Risk Factors: The exact causes of depression are complex and can involve a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing depression, including a family history of depression, traumatic life events, chronic medical conditions, substance abuse, and certain medications (Kessler et al., 2003; National Institute of Mental Health, 2021).
Antidepressants are medications that are helpful in some people with depression.
SSRI’s
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. The work on the brain inhibits the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This is thought to increase levels of serotonin in the brain. This neurotransmitter is involved with happiness and mood.
SSRIs include:
fluoxetine / Prozac
sertraline / Zoloft
citalopram / Celexa
escitalopram / Lexapro
paroxetine / Paxil
fluvoxamine / Luvox
CAUTION
May Come with Side Effects
Common side effects of SSRIs include nausea, insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, akathisia, restlessness, tremors, and shaky limbs, as well as sexual problems.
SNRI’s
SNRIs are Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. These are other commonly prescribed antidepressant medications.
SNRIs help with serotonin and norepinephrine levels in your brain.
These drugs include:
Venlafaxine / Effexor XR
Duloxetine / Cymbalta
Desvenlafaxine / Pristiq
Levomilnacipran / Fetzima
CAUTION
May Come with Side Effects
Common side effects of SNRI’s include nausea, drowsiness, fatigue, constipation, dry mouth, and sometimes paranoia.
Tricyclics
for Depression
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are usually prescribed only when SSRIs or other antidepressants don’t work.
Some TCA’s include:
clomipramine / Anafranil
Desipramine / Norpramin
Imipramine / Tofranil
Nortriptyline / Pamelor
trimipramine / Surmontil
CAUTION
May Come with Side Effects
Common side effects of TCAs can include constipation, dry mouth, fatigue, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.
MAOI’s for Depression
MAOIs are Monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These drugs are for treating depression. They are sometimes prescribed off-label for anxiety disorders.
They work by increasing the number of neurotransmitters that regulate mood.
Some MAOI’s include:
Isocarboxazid / Marplan
Phenelzine / Nardil
Selegiline / Emsam
Tranylcypromine / Parnate
CAUTION
May Come with Side Effects
MAOIs are older drugs that typically cause more side effects than newer drugs. MAOIs also come with certain restrictions such as avoiding cheese for example.
Certain medications, including SSRIs, birth control pills, pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, cold, flu, and allergy medications, and herbal supplements can also react with MAOIs.
Using an MAOI with certain foods or medications can dangerously increase your blood pressure and cause other potentially life-threatening side effects.
Wellbutrin to Treat Depression
Wellbutrin is a medication that is used for depression, and sometimes ADHD. It works on the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. It is mild dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake blocker.
CAUTION
May Come with Side Effects
Some side effects may occur when you start Wellbutrin. These include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, constipation, blurred vision, and more.
If you think your symptoms are dopamine and norepinephrine related. You might want to consult your physician about this medicine. You can alternatively go directly to mytelemedicine.com.
If you are unsure you can go to the Neurotransmitters section to find out more about how dopamine and norepinephrine affect mental health.
It is important to note that depression is a serious condition, and individuals experiencing symptoms should consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and support.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Koretz, D., Merikangas, K. R., … & Wang, P. S. (2003). The epidemiology of major depressive disorder: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). JAMA, 289(23), 3095-3105.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Depression. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
World Health Organization. (2020). Depression. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
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