All You Need to Know About Anti-Depressants » anti-depressants

Most Popular Anti-Depressants

Anti Depressant — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:10:42 +0000

Here are some of the more popularly used anti-depressants:

1. Zoloft: This drug has fewer side effects and a much smoother transition period for new users. It is generally prescribed for patients dealing with disorders such as anxiety and mood swings. It works by rebalancing the serotonin levels in the brain.

2. Lexapro: Used to treat major depressive disorder and anxiety in adults, Lexapro has proven successful in reducing the symptoms of depression without leaving the patient feeling unemotional or depressed.

3. Prozac: Prozac also rebalances the serotonin levels though in this case it focuses specifically on serotonin in the body. There is now a newer form of the drug that needs only to be taken once a week to maintain serotonin levels.

4. Cymbalta: This drug is used to treat anxiety, diabetic nerve pain, fibromyalgia and major depression through increased activity of chemicals that travel between the brain and spinal column. The way Cymbalta works is not as clear as with other anti-depressant drugs used for anxiety and depression. However, it is thought to be caused by increases in serotonin and norepinephrine, two chemicals that the body produces on it’s own but which are often ineffective in those who experience these health conditions.

5. Wellbutrin: Wellbutrin slowly dissolves over the course of the day, allowing it to stay effective over the course of the day by maintaining a consistent level of therapeutic medicine over that time. It is one of the drugs least likely to affect body weight. It is also least likely to produce negative sexual side effects for the patient and to cause other common side effects of anti-depressants.

Interesting Statistics and Facts About Anti-Depressant Use in the US

Anti Depressant — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:07:31 +0000

Antidepressants are given to patients suffering from a variety of depression and anxiety issues that are so deep rooted they require medication to regulate. Here are a few facts and statistics about the use of anti-depressants.

The rate of Americans who use anti-depressants has doubled since 1996.
Women are 2 times more likely to use anti-depressants than men.
Antidepressants are most commonly prescribed for adults between the ages of 50 and 64.
Roughly 18.8 million US citizens are suffering the effects of depressive and anxiety disorders.
As many as 4% of preschoolers are now considered to be clinically depressed and are being given anti-depressants for treatment.
While it’s thought that anti-depressants help by helping to regulate the level of serotonin and other chemicals in the brain, the truth is the reason these drugs work isn’t actually clearly defined.
Children and adolescents who take anti-depressants are more prone to suicidal and depressive thinking.
Eating Disorders can and often are, treated with anti-depressants.
People under the age of 24 are most likely to experience suicidal thoughts while on anti-depressants.
There are studies that find the risk of developing breast cancer is higher for women who take anti-depressants.

History of Anti-Depressants in the US

Anti Depressant — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:04:37 +0000

Antidepressants were first used in 1957 with the first MAOI Iproniazid, a drug that was discovered while trials were being done to evaluate new tuberculosis drugs. While the drug was effective in treating depression, it also came with many side effects that often proved dangerous for those who took them. This remained true with many of the MAOIs that came along after it and so treatment with these medications was considered a mixed blessing. Depression had been linked to chemical imbalances and not just situational depression as it had been before. These drugs were also far less damaging than the electroshock therapy that was a common form of therapy before these drugs were developed.

The first SSRIs came in 1987 with the development of Prozac. Over time, more of these SSRIs were developed that began to evade some of the issues that came up with Prozac’s side effects. As SSRIs became more common and better understood, regular doctors were able to treat depression with prescriptions for these drugs while previously this was the domain of psychiatrists. As this became more common, depression became more commonly diagnosed and the rate of anti-depressant prescription rose with it.

In the late 2000s, the effects anti-depressants had on children and adolescents who were prescribed these drugs became clearer. This caused a black box warning to be placed on these drugs warning about the suicidal thoughts and depression that could be arise in those who were younger than 24. Now a fresh look is being taken on the effectiveness of these drugs for less serious cases of depression (more serious cases seem to be helped a great deal by the drugs).

Associations with Anti-Depressants

Anti Depressant — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:01:38 +0000

There are several conditions associated with anti-depressants. Here are a few of the most prominent of these conditions:

Diabetes: Some patients experience an increased craving for sweets and a fluctuation in insulin levels while they are on anti-depressants. Statistics indicate the risk of developing diabetes as a result of 2 years or more of being on anti-depressants is much higher than that of a person who hasn’t taken the drug.

Depression: While many of the side effects of anxiety and depression are resolved by the use of anti-depressants, for some individuals, these thoughts and feelings can worsen and require further treatment. This is especially true when the patient is first taking the drug and adjusting to the changes in their body and mind brought on by the drug.

Suicide: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have proven a major boon in the process of preventing suicide among people of all ages. This is despite the suicidal thoughts often associated with anti-depressants in the early stages of taking the drugs and with children and adolescents who take them. As a result, any negative of suicidal thoughts should be reported to a doctor so the patient can be monitored for safety.

Breast Cancer: There are some studies that link the use of anti-depressants to growth of breast tumors and lumps, which are thought to feed off of the drugs.

Side Effects: Symptoms such as dizziness, lowered sex drive, drowsiness and weight gain are commonly associated with anti-depressants and often cause patients to avoid them or change prescriptions to lessen their effects.