Prescription medications can help improve symptoms of depression and in many cases attempt to restore the balance of chemicals in the brain that were imbalanced and often the cause of symptoms. Several medications are useful in treating the symptoms of depression. The Mayo Clinic indicates that antidepressants are the first treatment choice for people with moderate to severe symptoms of depression. HealthCommunities.com indicates that 80 percent of people who take antidepressants report that their symptoms improve significantly.
Tricyclic and Tetracyclic Antidepressants
The tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressant medications commonly used to treat depression symptoms have been in use since the 1950s. The Mayo Clinic notes that these two older classes of medications are no longer the best choice for treatment due to their common side effects. However, they may be used effectively in people who report no improvement of symptoms with newer classes of medication. The tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants block brain chemicals norepinephrine and serotonin, which have been found to cause the symptoms associated with depression. Typical antidepressants include amitriptyline, imipramine and nortriptyline.
SSRIs and SNRIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are a newer class of antidepressant. According to the Mayo Clinic, this group of medications is first choice in newly diagnosed depression patients. SSRIs and SNRIs impact the serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain in much the same way that the tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants do. However, the newer medications are reported to have less severe side effects. Patients are cautioned about the potential for overdose with this class of medications. Careful physician monitoring is beneficial for best therapeutic results in treating depression. Citalopram, paroxetine and duloxetine medications in these categories that are commonly prescribed for depression.
Atypical Antidepressants
Atypical antidepressants are the newest class of drug currently in use for treating depression. According to the Mayo Clinic, this class is commonly used when the other options offer no relief. Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that targets norepinephrine and dopamine brain chemicals in addition to targeting serotonin in the brain. Bupropion is unique in this way due to the primary brain chemical of dopamine being targeted. Common side effects with atypical antidepressants include dry mouth, sleepiness and nausea. Bupropion may cause seizures, so dosage requires careful monitoring. Other atypical antidepressants include mirtazapine and nefazodone.
