Types of Depression Pills

More severe and debilitating than a simple bout of "the blues," depression is a chronic condition that requires the attention of a mental health professional. Typically, talk therapy in combination with drug therapy is your best option for returning to a healthy, normal lifestyle. Based on your specific symptoms and situation, your doctor may choose the antidepressant she feels will work best. Sometimes, it is "hit and miss" until the right medication is matched to the patient, but fortunately there is a wide array of effective antidepressants from which to choose.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

• SSRIs like Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft increase levels of serotonin in the brain and are very effective for treating depression. They are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants with typically few side effects.

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

• SNRIs such as Effexor and Cymbalta are similar to SSRIs, but they also work to balance levels of norephinephrine in the brain. Because they tend to have a stimulant effect, SNRIs can cause restlessness, insomnia and other similar side effects.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

• An older class of antidepressants, drugs such as Tofranil, Vivactil and Norpramin, work on three brain neurotransmitters--serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine--to relieve depression symptoms. However, because TCAs also block other cell receptors, they can cause a myriad of side effects.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

• Another older class of medications, MAOIs, which include Marplam and Parnate, while effective, can cause serious drug and food interactions. For this reason MAOIs are only used when other antidepressants fail to work.

Miscellaneous Drug Options

• Based on your particular symptoms, your doctor may prescribe another type of medication to be either taken alone or in combination with your antidepressant. Other types of drugs available include anti-anxiety drugs, antipsychotic drugs, stimulants or mood-stabilizers.

Disclosure

• Before you begin taking any type of antidepressant, it is vital that you disclose to your doctors any other medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, that you are using.