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List of Antidepressants Medications

Millions of people suffer from depression. It is a mental health condition that has many people wondering whether they will ever feel happy and mentally healthy again. Many antidepressants have been developed over the years designed to combat depression and help people live normal, healthy and happy lives. Several kinds of antidepressants are on the market today, and patients might need to be switched from one antidepressant to another to find the medication that works best for them.

  1. What is Depression?

    • Depression is a malfunction in the biochemistry of the brain. It is a real, clinical illness that should be taken seriously. There are three types of depression: bipolar, dysthymia and major depression. Bipolar is a disorder that allows a person to slip from extreme highs to extreme lows. Dysthymia is a lower scale of depression that many times starts in childhood and lasts for years. Though not as severe as major depression, it should be taken seriously and needs treatment. Major depression is typically a deeper depression and many times is brought on by a couple of factors, including a physical illness. It is typically a one-time, long-term depression that can last for a year. It also requires treatment.

    What is an Antidepressant?

    • Neurotransmitters are needed by the brain in order to keep the brain functioning. When neurotransmitters are of limited availability to the brain, depression can set in. Antidepressants are medications that increase the amount of excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain. A few types of anti-depressants are monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, which block monoamine oxidase in the nervous system. Tricyclic anti-depressants gather up the brain's supply of norepinephrine and serotonin, which are typically abnormally low in depressed patients.

    Antidepressants Drugs

    • Some of the most common antidepressants in the tricyclic family are Elavil, Asendin, Anafranil, Norpramin, Adapin, Sinequan, Vivactil, Surmontil, Aventyl and Pamelor. Other antidepressant medications are Wellbutrin, Paxil, Luvox, Zoloft, Elavil, Serzone, Lexapro, Surmontil, Tofranil and Celexa. These medications will fall either in the tricyclic category, SSRI category or the SSRI category. SSRI is a class of drugs that inhibits the depletion of seratonin levels.

    Side Effects of Antidepressants

    • Many side effects are noted with antidepressants, some of which can be quite severe and dangerous. Some of the side effects that are common to see with antidepressants are a severe increase in blood pressure, as well as muscle twitching, confusion, dizziness, insomnia, heart palpitations and memory impairment. There have also been reports of headaches, agitation, drowsiness, constipation and toxicity to the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. These medications should never be stopped abruptly. They require a doctor to help you wean off of them.

    Considerations When Taking Antidepressants

    • Most antidepressants are not recommended for children under the age of 18. Because there can be an array of side effects, and because many of these drugs do not react the same with younger people as they do with adults, it is not recommended that people younger than 18 take them as a means of treating depression. Also, antidepressants take time to work. Many individuals think that as soon as they start taking the medication their depression will disappear. Not true. Antidepressants need time to get into the system and work on slowing the removal of vital chemicals of the brain. This can take anywhere from three to five weeks.

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