Depression is a serious disease that affects nearly 20 million people in the United States, reports the National Institutes of Health. With medication used to treat depression and talk therapy of some kind, most people can be treated to reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Function
Depression typically is treated with antidepressants, the National Institute of Mental Health reports. The drugs serve to balance neurotransmitters in the brain that affect emotional responses and mood.
Types
The most common antidepressants are selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and seratonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). Common brand names include Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor and Cymbalta.
Effects
Common side effects of medication used to treat depression include headache, nausea, drowsiness and sexual dysfunction.
Benefits
SSRI and SNRI drugs have replaced older antidepressant medications because they are effective in treating depression and have fewer side effects than older drugs.
Considerations
Once antidepressants are in the system, patients must be weaned off the medications. They cannot quit taking the drugs without experiencing additional side effects that include increased irritability and recurrent depression.
Warning
The Food and Drug Administration requires antidepressant manufacturers to warn patients about possible severe side effects of taking the drugs that can lead to an increased risk of suicide, especially in children and adolescents.
