• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Login

Staying Healthy

Everything you want to know about your health and those you love

  • Adults
  • Children
  • Conditions
  • Education/Training
    • Health Education and Training Blog
    • Health Degree Programs
    • Health Short Courses
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Mental Health
  • Pet Health
  • Health Store

Curing Depression with Medication: Is it Possible?

Leave a Comment

Depression is a psychiatric diagnosis classified by the DSM IV as a mood disorder. A depression is characterized by different symptoms, the two main characteristics are a depressive mood and anhedonia , which means loss of the capacity to enjoy or experience pleasure.  Other symptoms include insomnia, gaining or loosing weight, tiredness and thought about dead or suicide.

This article will point out the options for curing depression.  In most cases the choice for treatment is between antidepressant medication and cognitive therapy. In a mild or moderate depression both forms of treatment show the same success rates. In this article we will focus on medication. For severe depressions antidepressant medicines are first choice for treatment. If both forms of treatment fail, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be an option.

Antidepressant medication can be subdivided in two groups, the tricyclic antidepressants (TCA’s), also called classic antidepressants, and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), or new generation antidepressants. This second group, the SSRI’s, has fewer side effects than TCA’s and is for that reason the best option to treat mild to moderate depression. A severe depression is treated with TCA’s.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter; it functions as a messenger between nerves. During a depression there is a lack of serotonin in the brain. The effect of SSRI’s is that the serotonin reuptake is less so there is more serotonin available. Examples of SSRI’s are Citalopram (Celexa or Cipramil), Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Paroxetine (Seroxat). Important to know is that it takes about 4 to 6 weeks till the positive effect of the medication can be evaluated. However, the side effects of the medication can be present from the day you start the medication, this is important to realize because otherwise patients will not longer be motivated for the treatment. Side effects you can expect from SSRI’s are intestinal problems like nausea and diarrhea, headache, weight loss and loss of appetite and agitation

Tricylic antidepressant medicines work in the same way as SSRI’s. When treatment with SSRI’s has no effect or the depression is severe, TCA’s are a good option.  Examples of TCA’s are Nortriptyline (Aventyl), Amitriptyline (Elavil) and Clomipramide (Anafranil). Side effects you can expect from TCA’s are a dry mouth, constipation, vision problems, sedation, orthostatic hypotension and gaining weight.

If treatment with both SSRI’s and TCA have no success, it is possible to start with Lithium addition. Lithium is a mood stabilizer that, when uses as augmentation, have proved to be a successful cure for depression.

If the depression turns out to be resistant for therapy with antidepressant medication and Lithium, electroconvulsive therapy is an option. ECT is done under general anesthetic. With electric pulses a seizure is induced.  Side effects are contemporary memory loss, stiffness and headache.

Related

You might also like:

Default ThumbnailHerbal Remedies for Depression: A Natural Alternative to Antidepressant Drugs Default ThumbnailMental Health Benefits of Amber Colored Lenses Default ThumbnailBenefit of Adderall on ADHD and Depression Default ThumbnailWarning Signs of Depression and Treatment Options Default ThumbnailNatural Depression Cures Default ThumbnailGetting Help for Your Depression Symptoms

Filed Under: Depression Tagged With: Curing Depression, depressive mood

What are Your Views on This? Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Search This Website

Health Topics

Pet Health

Girl and Dog

Can I use Neosporin on my Dogs?

Dogs are considered to be one of the most loved animals in the world. In fact, dogs are the most common house pet all across the globe. Aside from … [Read More...]

More Posts About Pet Health

Electronics in Health

mother breastfeeding baby

Breastfeed Your Baby: Electronic Breast Pumps

Feeding your new baby breast milk is a choice a new mother has to make one way or another. It can be a great way to make sure your baby gets the best … [Read More...]

More Posts from Electronic Category

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

Copyright © 2023  Staying Healthy