Drugs for Severe Depression
Depression medication is the most common form of treatment for depression. Doctors usually prescribe medication before trying any other methods of treatment for depression. Other therapies, such as psychotherapy, are often used alongside drug treatment for severe depression.
How Does Depression Medication Work?
The first antidepressant medications were developed in the 1950s, after research uncovered a link between depression and certain neurotransmitters in the brain, namely:
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine (or “noradrenaline”)
- Serotonin.
Medical researchers currently believe that depression medication works by fine-tuning the balance of neurochemicals and neurochemical receptors in the brain. It generally takes several weeks for antidepressants to have an effect on a patient’s mood. Many patients prematurely quit taking their prescribed medications because they feel that they do not work.
Depression Medication List: The First Generation of Depression Medication
The first antidepressant medications developed were monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Both of these medications affect the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. Both, however, have very undesirable side effects, and are usually only prescribed if newer, more modern types of depression medication fail to have any effect on depression.
Depression Medication List: Improved Drug Treatment for Severe Depression
The second generation of antidepressants has fewer and generally more tolerable side effects. These may include
- Anxiety (mild to moderate)
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Reduced libido.
Often these side effects taper off as the body adjusts to the medication.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common antidepressant treatment for depression. SSRIs block the reuptake of serotonin. This allows more serotonin molecules to remain in the synapses longer than usual, which increases their chances of activating the neuron, positively affecting mood. Some SSRIs include:
- Citalopram (Celexa®)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro®)
- Fluvoxamin (Luvox®)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
- Paroxetine (Paxil CR®)
- Sertraline (Zoloft®).
Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) block the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine, and are the second most commonly-prescribed depression medication. Some SNRIs include:
- Desyenlafaxine (Pristiq®)
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor XR®).
Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs)
Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs) block the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine. Bupropion (Wellbutrin®) is an example of an NDRI.
Atypical Antidepressants
Atypical antidepressants don’t fit into any of the categories listed above. Two examples of atypical antidepressants are mirtazapine (Remeron®) and trazodone (Desyrel®).
Finding the Right Depression Medication
Finding the right depression medication is often a process of trial-and-error. It’s not uncommon for people to try several types of depression medication before finding one that is effective and produces minimal side effects. Some individuals take two or more types of depression medication to optimize the effects of the drugs. This is known as “augmentation.”
Once depression symptoms are under control, many people are able to decrease their depression medication dosage or stop taking it altogether. Other people need to continue taking their medication indefinitely in order to maintain control of their depression symptoms.
Resources
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Staff. (n.d.). Treatments for depression. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Staff website: www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Mental_Health_Information/ Depressive_Illness/dep_illness_treatments.html#biolog.
Lundbeck Institute Staff. (n.d.). Depression – treatment. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from the Lundbeck Institute website: www.brainexplorer.org/depression/Depression_Treatment.shtml.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2010). Treatment and drugs. Retrieved May 7, 2010, from the Mayo Clinic website: www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs.
National Alliance on Mental Illness Staff. (n.d.). Medication. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from the National Alliance on Mental Illness website: www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Depression&Template=/ContentManagement /ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=88724.
Nemade, R. et al. (n.d.). Depression: Major depression and unipolar varieties. Retrieved May 5, 2010, from the MentalHealth.net website: www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=438&cn=5.