Antidepressant medications are commonly prescribed to help people deal with the many symptoms of depression. One hypothesis is that people with depression have an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, known as neurotransmitters. According to this hypothesis, the goal is to correct those imbalances so that the person will feel less depressed. Many medications are used to help treat the symptoms of depression.
SSRIs
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac (fluoxitine) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. They work by increasing the levels of the brain chemical serotonin. HelpGuide.org warns that doctors don't understand why SSRIs work, when they do alleviate depression. HelpGuide.org explains this point by using the analogy of aspirin for headaches: Even though aspirin might cure headaches, the cause of headaches is not necessarily an aspirin deficiency. No one knows for sure if serotonin levels are really causing depression.
Suddenly stopping SSRI medications may cause the patient an array of uncomfortable physical symptoms, according to the American Association of Family Physicians: headache, lethargy, diarrhea and nausea, insomnia, dizziness, tremors, aggression and anxiety, and numbness.
Atypical Antidepressants
Atypical antidepressants work on other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine as well as serotonin. It is thought that some depression symptoms might be relieved by working on multiple neurotransmitters. These medications include bupropion (Wellbutrin), venlafaxine (Effexor), duloxetine (Cymbalta), mirtazapine (Remeron), trazodone (Deysyrel), selegiline (Eldepryl), and nefazodone (Serzone). According to Depression-Help-Resource.com, Wellbutrin affects dopamine and norepinephrine, and Eldepryl works on dopamine receptors.
Stopping atypical antidepressants may cause the patient the same physical symptoms as stopping SSRIs, but in addition the person may experience electric shock sensations, low mood, and parasthesia (a pins-and-needles feeling in any body part).
Alternative Treatments
Some researchers believe that depression symptoms may be caused by lowered DHEA levels in middle-aged and older patients. A study conducted in 2005 and published in the Archives of General Psychiatry explored whether DHEA supplements could help alleviate depression symptoms, and participants reported significant improvements in their mood and symptoms. SAMe is another compound found throughout the human body that helps break down brain chemicals properly, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It works more quickly than prescription SSRIs. More research studies must be done before doctors begin to use SAMe in depression treatment.
References
- Antidepressants: What You Need to Know About Depression Medication from HelpGuide.org
- Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome from the American Association of Family Physicians
- A Basic Guide to Antidepressants from Depression-Help-Resource.com
- Dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA] Monotherapy in Midlife-Onset Major and Minor Depression. Archives of General Psychiatry
- S-adenosylmethionine [SAMe] from the University of Maryland Medical Center
