What Anyone Must Know About Antidepressants
30th December 2011 by Depressed No CommentsAntidepressants are drugs that relieve the symptoms of depressive disorders. They form part of the treatment in moderate to severe depression, post-traumatic stress and anxiety and panic attacks. They may also be used in pain management and in certain psychological ailments like eating and obsessive-compulsive disorders . Some patients, however, may be resistant to the medications.
Types of Antidepressants
Every drug produces benefits and side effects different from the others due to its unique chemical makeup. Some may merely have a placebo effect on the patient rather than actual benefits. Antidepressants are likely to produce such side effects as anxiety and nervousness, dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia, weight loss/gain and headache in patients. Sexual problems associated with SSRIs and Tricyclics and tetracyclic drugs sometimes deter patients from taking them.
Below are the main types of antidepressants:
1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
These are usually prescribed to those who are taking antidepressants for the first time. SSRIs are known to have less side effects and safer when taken beyond the recommended dose. Examples of this type are Paxil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft and Celexa.
2. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
SNRIs are sometimes recommended because they go well with certain other medicines. In addition, their extended release-form proved to have lesser cases of nausea.
3. Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
These are commonly prescribed to patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or exposed to such substances as cocaine and nicotine. However, it should not be taken by patients who have a seizure disorder or bulimia.
4. Monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
MAOIs are effective but are not as commonly used as the other antidepressants. They trigger a dangerous reaction when taken along with another antidepressant or over-the-counter colds or flue medicines. Moreover, they can cause dangerously high blood pressure when taken with certain foods.
5. Tricyclics and tetracyclic antidepressants
These are rarely resorted to as primary choice for treating depression. It has several side effects such as constipation, difficulty urinating and sedation. They are not recommended for older patients or those who have low blood pressure or certain heart problems.
Factors taken into account when prescribing an antidepressant include the particular symptoms of the patient, the drug’s side effects or its negative effects when taken with other medications, pregnancy cases and other health conditions.
Managing Patients Unresponsive to Antidepressants
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website, there is no known single best approach for cases when patients are unresponsive to the medicine how to manage patients who are not responsive to medication. At this time, changing to another antidepressant or complementing current medication with non-antidepressant drug seemed to be the better option based on evidence at hand. Other options include prescribing additional antidepressants, using psychotherapy and initiating electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Risks in Medications
In its March 22, 2004 advisory, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required the manufacturers of certain drugs to include a Warning Statement in their labels recommending close observation of adult and pediatric patients treated with these agents for worsening depression or the emergence of suicidality. This is requisite to the following: Prozac (fluoxetine); Zoloft (sertraline); Paxil (paroxetine); Luvox (fluvoxamine); Celexa (citalopram); Lexapro (escitalopram); Wellbutrin (bupropion); Effexor (venlafaxine); Serzone (nefazodone); and Remeron (mirtazapine).
Recently, Paxil lawsuit were filed by patients who alleged that the drug exposed to them to certain risks. The efficacy and adverse effects of antidepressants remain a study in progress as information and technology are continuously updated and developed.
URL References:
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfoforall/problems/depression/antidepressants.aspx
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/HQ01069
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17137547
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/PublicHealthAdvisories/ucm161696.htm
