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Depression Medication for Men

Depression is an equal-opportunity disease with men being as susceptible to it as women. Thankfully though, there are multiple prescription drug and holistic treatments available today to help treat this condition.

  1. Cause

    • Aside from low levels of the hormones serotonin, dopamine and epinephrine, some other causes of depression in men include lower-than-normal testosterone levels, alcohol and drug abuse, emotional trauma, prescription drug side effects and excessive stress.

    Prescription drug intervention

    • The two types of antidepressant medications include MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) and SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Prozac, Luvox, Paxil and Zoloft are all within the family of SSRI medications. Parnate, Marplan and Nardil are some of the medications in the MAOI classification.

    Holistic treatment

    • One particular holistic treatment for depression called EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) created by Gary Craig, a minister with Southern California's Universal Church of God; utilizes repetitive tapping of points on the body much the same way that acupressure puts pressure on these points as well.

    Side effects

    • Two of the most common side effects that men suffer while taking antidepressants include delayed orgasm and decreased libido.

    Expert insight

    • Dr. Peter Schlegel of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York believes that some SSRI antidepressants can "negatively impact erectile function and ejaculation" in men who take them. For this reason, Dr. Schlegel encourages men to talk in depth with their physicians about different treatment options.

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