According to Psychology Information Online, depression is a condition characterized by a person's inability to carry on with daily tasks and enjoy activities he once enjoyed participating in. He will appear sad, and these traits will continue for a period of more than two weeks. Depression can range in severity from mild to severe, with all types being treatable. A variety of medications exist to help someone suffering from depression; it is simply a matter of finding the right medication for your condition.
Tricyclic Antidepressants
According to the experts at Mayo Clinic, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were among the first medications developed to treat depression. They work by blocking the neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain responsible for your mood. These include your serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Since the release of newer antidepressants with less severe side effects, TCAs are now prescribed as a last resort. Some of the medications in this group include Amitriptyline, Amoxapine, Tofranil, Pamelor and Vivactil. The side effects associated with these drugs include headache, low blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, blurred vision, constipation, weight gain and nausea.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
According to HealthyPlace.com, MAOIs were developed shortly after TCAs, working almost identically. The major difference is that MAOIs included another neurotransmitter--dopamine. While beneficial due to their ability to increase the monoamine levels in your brain, thus enhancing your mood, the drugs also increase another chemical in your brain--tyramine. Excess amounts of this chemical can be life-threatening, because it can increase your blood pressure to the point where blood vessels in your brain burst. Aside from this side affect, some of the others associated with MAOIs include blurred vision, constipation, insomnia, weight gain, increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, weakness and trembling. Medications in this class include Nardil and Parnate.
SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
According to the doctors at Mayo Clinic, it is not clear how SSRIs improve depression. What is known is that they block certain brain cells from reabsorbing serotonin; this leaves more serotonin available in the brain to help elevate the mood of the person being treated. Some types of SSRIs are available in an extended-release or controlled-release formula, meaning a single dose can last for a day or up to a week. Some of the more commonly prescribed SSRIs include Celexa, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. The more common side effects include nausea, headache, insomnia, drowsiness, rash, diarrhea, nervousness, agitation and sexual dysfunction.
