Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

A Look at the Different Depression and Anxiety Medications


While it may be easy to recite the various brand names and generalize their benefits enough to know they put us (or are supposed to put us) in a better mood, for lack of a better term, the drugs themselves can all be categorized individually, each working in a slightly different way.

The following is a list and very brief description, by category, of depression and anxiety medications currently prescribed by physicians.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs, which are fairly new to the arsenal of depression and anxiety medications, have gained immense popularity among prescribing psychiatrists within the past 10 years. They are usually prescribed during the early stages of depression, if a person has sought help and behavioral and/or psychotherapy has not proven effective enough. With appropriate dosage, SSRIs can "catch" depression before it becomes severe. Although they do not work for 20% to 40% of people who try them, their ability to work for people with minor (and even major) depressive illnesses makes them attractive enough to prescribing psychiatrists to try them first before moving on to more serious depression and anxiety medications and methods, if need be. SSRIs work on serotonin, one of the brain's three neurotransmitters.

SSRIs Brand name (chemical name)

Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MOAIs)

MAOIs are the type of depression and anxiety medications that work for people who are mildly depressed, develop mild depression over a long period of time, are overly sensitive to their environment, or who are easily able to emerge from periods of depression. People who demonstrate an excess of a particular activity (ie, overeating, oversleeping, emotional overreaction) as compensation with stress can benefit from MAOIs, which work on the three neurotransmitters (called monoamines) found in the brain: norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. These are usually only prescribed when a person hasn't responded to any of the other types of depression and anxiety medications.

A strict diet must be followed if taking an MAOI, because in conjunction with certain foods, the body can react with elevated blood pressure, headaches, fluctuating blood sugar (for people with diabetes), and in more severe cases, brain hemorrhage. Because of these risks, MAOIs were taken off the American market for a while, but were reintroduced for patients who haven't had luck with any other depression and anxiety medications.

MAOIs Brand name (chemical name)

Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine)

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Tricyclics have been available longer than any other depression and anxiety medications. In 1958, the first tricyclic, imipramine (Tofranil), was released to help combat major depression, and physicians saw a 70% positive response within their patients. Previously the only treatments for severely depressed patients were amphetamines and electroshock therapy. TCAs increase the brain's supply of serotonin and norepinephrine, two of the brain's three neurotransmitters, but it also affects some of the brain's other nerve impulses as well, and this allows for more side effects.

Severely depressed and/or hospitalized patients see the most benefit from taking TCAs because of its sedative effect. In the past, patients were usually prescribed tricyclics before anything else, but with the movement of psychiatrists (and patients!) toward heading off depression before it becomes severe and/or chronic, TCAs are now usually only prescribed if the other types of depression and anxiety medications don't work.

TCAs Brand name (chemical name)

Adapin (doxepin), Anafranil (clomipramine) , Elavil (amitriptyline), Endep (amitriptyline), Ludiomil (maprotiline), Norpramin (desipramine) , Pamelor (nortryptyline), Pertofrane (desipramine), Sinequan (doxepin), Surmontil (trimipramine), Tofranil (imipramine), Vivactil (protriptyline)

Non-specified or "Other" depression and anxiety medicationsBecause their chemical make-ups do not fit into any of the other categories, the following list of depression and anxiety medications can only be termed as "other." Wellbutrin, Desyrel, Remeron, and Effexor are prescribed most. Each of the four drugs affects at least one of the brain's three neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine), and as a result, each has its own particular set of side effects. As a result, psychiatrists are much more likely to prescribe one of the other types of depression and anxiety medications (SSRIs, MAOIs, TCAs) before switching to one of these. In some instances, a patient's regimen is augmented by combining an SSRI or TCA with an"other" depression and anxiety medications, but because of an MAOI's particular chemical make-up and dietary requirements, it is prescribed alone.

Brand names (chemical names) of Non-specified depression and anxiety medications

Buspar (buspirone), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Desyrel (trazodone) , Effexor (venlafaxine), Edronax, Vestra (reboxetine), Remeron (mirtazapine), Serzone (nefazodone), Wellbutrin (bupropion).

In August of 2004, the FDA approved the investigational drug Cymbaltaâ?¢ (duloxetine HCl), which demonstrated rapid relief of anxiety symptoms associated with depression that was sustained for the length of the study period, according to new data published in the journal Depression and Anxiety. In clinical studies, researchers attribute the medication's effect on a broad spectrum of depression symptoms, which include emotional and painful physical symptoms as well as anxiety, to its dual reuptake inhibition of both serotonin and norepinephrine.

Learn more about treating depression at http://www.e-mentalhealth.com

Charles E. Donovan

Author

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression


MORE RESOURCES:

Depression - Google News

J&J CEO Weldon gets 11 pct 2009 raise, to $25.6M - BusinessWeek


J&J CEO Weldon gets 11 pct 2009 raise, to $25.6M
BusinessWeek
... Associated Press calculations, while the health giant cut thousands of jobs and saw its annual revenue decline for the first time since the Depression. ...
J&J CEO Weldon gets 11 pct 2009 raise, to $25.6MThe Associated Press
J&J CEO's Total Compensation Value Rose To $30.8M Last YearWall Street Journal
Damn the Torpedoes! J&J CEO's $31M Pay Packet Is Up While Everything Else Is DownBNET

all 66 news articles »

Study links bullying to cognitive deficits, brain changes - Seattle Times


Study links bullying to cognitive deficits, brain changes
Seattle Times
Mental-health problems, such as depression, are also more common. Vaillancourt suspects they will also have a smaller hippocampus, a part of the brain ...

and more »

Antidepressants Good For Physically Ill Too - TopNews United States


TopNews United States

Antidepressants Good For Physically Ill Too
TopNews United States
It has been revealed through intense studies that depression patients who are suffering from any kind of physical illness can also be treated effectively by ...
Antidepressants can help people with physical illsReuters
Antidpressants benefit physically ill tooTimes of India

all 57 news articles »

3 histories receive Bancroft Prize - The Associated Press


3 histories receive Bancroft Prize
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Biographies of Abigail Adams and Depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange are among the winners of the prestigious Bancroft Prize for history. ...

and more »

Why Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett Can't Stop Crying! - E! Online (blog)


E! Online (blog)

Why Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett Can't Stop Crying!
E! Online (blog)
Kendra said there's lots to look forward to in the new season of her E! show, including how she overcame her postpartum depression and her Super Bowl ...
Kendra Wilkinson not diagnosed with depressionSan Francisco Chronicle (blog)
Kendra Wilkinson Is Done With PlayboyAceShowbiz (blog)
The Girls Next Door: Kendra Wilkinson Dishes on 'Suicidal' Teenage YearsBuddyTV
Monsters and Critics.com -Examiner.com -Contactmusic.com
all 122 news articles »

Eagles cut former Pro Bowl OL Shawn Andrews - USA Today


The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com

Eagles cut former Pro Bowl OL Shawn Andrews
USA Today
He played just two games in 2008 when he battled depression, but was a Pro Bowler in 2006 and 2007. "We appreciate the efforts and contributions of Shawn ...
Philadelphia Eagles release Shawn AndrewsESPN
Eagles release ex-Pro Bowl G Shawn Andrewsmsnbc.com
Eagles finally release one-time star Shawn AndrewsphillyBurbs.com
Delaware County Daily Times -6abc.com -National Football Post
all 83 news articles »

Children suffer with a depressed parent - San Francisco Chronicle (blog)


Los Angeles Times

Children suffer with a depressed parent
San Francisco Chronicle (blog)
The LA Times ran an insightful story on parents and depression earlier this week. It reports on the growing number of studies revealing that children of ...
Depressed parents' negative effects on kids are combatableLos Angeles Times

all 2 news articles »

Following the Money on the Deficit - CBS News


Following the Money on the Deficit
CBS News
And if he had not stepped in, you would be living through the greatest depression ever. If the current healthcare bill goes through, you will see the ...

and more »

7 Ways to Beat Depression for Seniors - Huffington Post (blog)


7 Ways to Beat Depression for Seniors
Huffington Post (blog)
Roughly a quarter of people age 65 or older suffer from depression. More than half of doctor's visits by the elderly involve complaints of emotional ...

Study Of Combined Depression-Alcoholism Treatment Shows Higher Abstinence Rate - Associated News Today (blog)


MSN Health & Fitness

Study Of Combined Depression-Alcoholism Treatment Shows Higher Abstinence Rate
Associated News Today (blog)
... naltrexone improves the likelihood that people with both major depression and alcohol dependence will be able to stop drinking, US researchers report. ...
Study Of Combined Depression-Alcoholism Treatment Shows Higher Abstinence RateMedical News Today (press release)
Combination Treatment May Help Depressed AlcoholicsBusinessWeek

all 12 news articles »

DietRight Domain Is For Sale - $10,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.DietRight.biz 2010

home | site map | links

 

eXTReMe Tracker