The Types of Antidepressant Pills

Antidepressant medications can work wonders for people who suffer from moderate to severe depression. They can improve not only your mood but your sleep, appetite and level of concentration. There are a wide variety of antidepressants that may work for you, but it may take some experimenting to find the best one.

Trial and Error

• Until you try an antidepressant you won't know if it's suitable for your condition and/or body chemistry. Your doctor can narrow the list of medicinal options by collecting detailed information about your emotional symptoms as well as other medical conditions or concerns you may have.

Blood Tests

• A blood test may be conducted to help identify any genetic issues that could impact your body's response to various types of antidepressants. While the test can't guarantee that a specific medication will work, it can provide clues as to which drugs may not be effective.

Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's,) norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs,) and norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs) all work equally well for many mental health patients.

  Since these drugs tend to have fewer side effects than some other kinds of antidepressants, they are often the first to be prescribed.

  All three types work in a similar fashion by blocking the re-absorption (reuptake) of neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine or domapine) by specific nerve cells in the brain.

  Some commonly prescribed SSRIs include Celexa (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline.)

  SNRIs include Cymbalta (duloxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine) and Pristiq (desvenlafaxline.)

  Wellbutrin (bupropion) is the most commonly prescribed NDRI.

Tetracyclic & Tricyclic Antidepressants

• Tetracyclic antidepressants take a slightly different approach to improving the mood of a depressed person. They stop neurotransmitters from connecting to what's called alpha-2 nerve-cell receptors. This indirect approach may lift depression as it works to raise the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain.

  Among the tetraclyclic antidepressants are Asendin (amoxapine), Ludiomil (maprotiline), Remeron (mirtazapine) and Tecipul (setiptiline).

  Tricyclic antidepressants restrain the brain cells' ability to reabsorb (reuptake) serotonin and norepinephrine. TCAs also have a minor influence on the reabsorption of dopamine. TCAs were one of the pioneering antidepressants and continue to be spopular treatment for depression.

  Commonly prescribed tricyclics include Adapin (doxepin), Elavil (amitriptyline), Norpramin (desipramine) and Pamelor (notryptyline).

MAOIs

• The oldest type of antidepressant medication, called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), date back some 50 years. Nowadays MAOIs are generally used only when all of the newer antidepressants have failed to be effective.

  MAOIs tend to be avoided because they can cause an assortment of serious side effects including low blood pressure, blurred vision and shakiness. They also can have dangerous interactions with some medications, foods and beverages.

  The MAOIs most often prescribed are Nardil (phenelzine) and Parnate (tranylcypromine).

MAOIs of the New Millennium

• Since MAOIs continue to relieve some forms of depression, a new means of dispensing the medication may help eliminate some of its debilitating side effects An MAOI patch has been developed that you stick on your skin rather than swallowing a pill.

Antidepressants Take Time to Work

• Once you begin taking an antidepressant, it may be a few weeks before you notice a positive effect. At the onset of treatment, you may experience sleep problems, nausea or fatigue. These symptoms tend to disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.

  Make sure you keep taking your medication even if your symptoms improve. When and if you go off your antidepressants, it's important to do so under the care of your doctor.