Types and side effects of anti-depressant medicine

Depression is the increasing mental disorder worldwide and it is increasing in western countries. Mostly the teenagers and the young crowd are getting affected by this disorder. But the most relieving thing is it is curable with numerous treatment options. The most common and time tested treatment method is the use of anti-depressant drugs. Though it is the not the silver bullet but you can use it to get relieve from the symptoms of depression. Apart from anti-depressant drugs there are other alternative treatments also available to treat depression and other mental disorders. Anti-depressant drugs have been of great help to young adults to cure depression. But you should know that these are not the “happy pills” which you can take without medical consultation and thinks that you need them. One should consult with the doctor about the symptoms and severity of it. According to the severity of the symptoms, your doctor will give you the right kind of anti-depressant drug as there many types of medicines available at drug store.

Types of anti-depressant

medicines There are mainly four kind of anti-depressant drugs available. These are listed below
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) – This is the most popular type of anti-depressant drug as it has least side effects. These drugs increase the level of serotonin which is a chemical in the brain that helps to reduce depression.
• Serotonin – norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) – It has the similar mode of action as of SSRIs type of anti-depressant drugs but these acts only on serotonin and norepinephrine. The common example is the Generic Cymbalta.
• Tricyclic anti-depressant – These are the older anti-depressant drugs which have some serious side effects because of which they are selectively prescribed.
• Other anti-depressant medicines include MAOIs etc.

How anti-depressant medicines works?

The types of anti-depressant medicines that are listed above have many common things in their mode of action. They all work by increasing the level neurotransmitters in the brain. MAOIs do this by inhibiting the enzymatic breakdown of the neurotransmitters. Tricyclic anti-depressant or TCA inhibits the reuptake of various neurotransmitters. SSRIs and SNRIs like Generic Cymbalta works by selectively preventing the re-uptake of specific neurotransmitters. These anti-depressant drugs may show up some side effects. It is kind of normal as all medicine comes up with less or more side effects. These side effects depend on the type of anti-depressant drug is being used for the treatment and they may vary from person to person. All anti-depressant drugs shows positive effect after a certain time period of treatment therefore it is necessary to take them consistently over a longer period of time as directed by your doctor.

Treatment with anti-depressant medicines

Anti-depressant medicines are useful to treat several mental disorders like depression and anxiety disorders but one should take them regularly for a longer time. These drugs may develop side effects and they can become worse over duration of time. It is because many anti-depressant drugs are effective only in 50% of the sufferers and in remaining it causes side effects. The most common side effect of the anti-depressant drug is the increase in the suicidal thoughts. Because of this it is not considered as a silver bullet in the treatment of mental disorders. In some cases it shows severe side effects without any improvement and in some fewer side effects has been observed. The side effects of anti-depressant medicine like SSRIs and SNRIs include stomach upset, nausea, fatigue, headache, tremor, insomnia, sexual problems and weight gain. The other type of anti-depressant has side effects like constipation, dry mouth, difficulty urinating, weight gain and drowsiness. Despite of these side effects of anti-depressant, they are widely used in the treatment of depression.