Depression is not just a bad mood but is a serious medical condition that affects the mind and the body, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. Depression usually is a long-term condition that requires treatment with medication and therapy. Most family doctors can treat depression with medication, but patients can see a psychiatrist to receive a more-thorough diagnosis and proper antidepressant medication.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) affect the chemicals in the brain that become imbalanced. Common SSRIs that are prescribed to treat depression include Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft and usually are given in pill form. Doctors at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) report that SSRIs often are the first line of defense against depression. Common side effects include dry mouth, nausea, sleep disruptions and sexual dysfunction.
Tricyclics
Tricyclics (TCAs) such as Elavil, Tofranil and Pamelor are antidepressants that target specific brain transmitters that control anger and irritability, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic They inhibit the reabsorption of dopamine. TCAs typically are injected or taken in liquid form and mixed with water or juice. Tricyclics can affect heart rate and blood pressure and cause side effects such as blurred vision, dry mouth and difficulty urinating. TCAs also can worsen glaucoma and cause impaired thinking.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) were some of the first antidepressants developed in the 1950s, the Mayo Clinic reports. They prevent certain enzymes from metabolizing. Brand names include Marplan, Parnate and Nardil. While most MAOIs are delivered in pill form, a patch called Ensam is available that delivers the medication transdermally. Side effects are usually more serious than other antidepressants, which is why these drugs often are used only when others become ineffective, AAFP doctors say. Side effects can include headaches, trembling, weakness and dizziness.
Pristiq
Pristiq is a drug that was approved in 2008 for treating depression, doctors at the Mayo Clinic report. Prisitiq works by stopping the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. These neurotransmitters typically are out of balance to some degree in the brain of patients with depression. Side effects of Pristiq include many of the effects common to antidepressants such as dizziness, nausea, fatigue and sleep disruptions. It can cause anxiety, a decrease in appetite and sexual dysfunction.
Remeron
Remeron, which is the brand name for mirtazapine, is a drug that is used for patients with major depressive order, report doctors at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Major depression is diagnosed when patients present with at least five symptoms of depression that have been present continually for two weeks or more. Remeron works to correct the chemical imbalance in the brain that may be the cause of the depression. NAMI researchers report that side effects of Remeron typically are mild and dissipate within weeks of when the patient first started taking the medication. Common side effects include drowsiness, increased appetite and weight gain.
Wellbutrin
Bupropion, under the brand name Wellbutrin, is an antidepressant that often is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The drug is available in extended release and sustained release forms. Other types of depression treated with Wellbutrin include bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), report doctors at the National Institutes of Health. The drug works by increasing certain brain activities to counter depressive symptoms. Side effects of Wellbutrin include drowsiness, shaking, dry mouth and constipation. Serious side effects sometimes occur and can include fever, hallucinations, hives or seizures that require immediate medical attention.
