The American Psychiatric Association recommends a thorough diagnosis and treatment of depression with psychotherapy and medication. Antidepressants are the standard types of medication for depression because they normalize levels of chemical messengers in the brain known as neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, that are associated with depression, according the National Institute of Mental Health. Brands of antidepressant medications are among the most popular medicines today.
Size
IMS Health, a health information company, estimates there were 168.7 million prescriptions for brand antidepressants in the United States in 2009. The rate of antidepressant medication prescriptions among people ages 6 years and older in the United States increased from approximately 6 percent, or 13.3 million, to 10 percent, or 27.0 million, between 1996 and 2005, according to a research published in the August 2009 "Archives of General Psychiatry."
Classes
There are three classes of antidepressants. The first, newest and most widely prescribed class today is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors; these are commonly called SSRIs and SNRIs, respectively. These medications are the antidepressants most often prescribed in brands because they have fewer side effects than the two older classes, tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors that are primarily prescribed under their generic names.
Types
The various brands of SSRIs work similarly to maintain normal levels of serotonin in the brain. Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro and Celexa are popular brands of SSRIs. Prozac was the first SSRI developed and introduced to the market in 1986 by Eli Lilly. Pfizer developed and manufactures Zoloft. Forest Labs manufactures Lexapro and Celexa.
Cymbalta and Effexor are popular brands of SNRIs that work similarly to maintain levels of norepinephrine in the brain. Eli Lilly developed and manufactures Cymbalta. Wyeth Labs developed Effexor. Pfizer acquired Wyeth and now manufactures Effexor and Effexor XR, an extended release formulation in once a day dosage.
In a study analyzing head-to-head randomized clinical trials and comparing SSRIs and SNRIs in treating major depressive disorder, SNRIs demonstrated statistical but not clinical significance when compared with SSRIs, according to research published in the April 2010 "Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics."
Warning
Brands of antidepressant medications have an FDA required "black box" warning on the product labels. The warning emphasizes the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and adolescents taking antidepressants and the need for physicians to closely monitor patients prescribed these medications.
Time Frame
It can take two to three months for brand antidepressants to realize the full effects of the medications, even though symptoms can be improved during the first two weeks. The National Institute of Mental Health and The American Psychiatric Association mandate that patients take dosages as prescribed by their physician for at least several weeks or the duration of symptoms, and continue for up to six or more months after symptoms have subsided to prevent withdrawal symptoms or a relapse of depression. Some patients with chronic depression may need to take their medication indefinitely.
References
- American Psychiatric Association: Depression
- National Institute of Mental Health: How Is Depression Detected and Treated?
- IMS Health: Top Therapeutic Classes by U.S. Dispensed Prescriptions
- "Archives of General Psychiatry"; National Patterns Antidepressant Medication; Olfson, M.; Aug. 2009
- "Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics"; Comparison of SSRIs and SNRIs; Machado, M.; April 2010
