Depression medications, or antidepressants, improve the patient's mood by altering the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While beneficial, depression medications do have multiple side effects.
Types
The HelpGuide website's article "Antidepressants: What You Need to Know About Depression Medications" notes that the most prescribed types of depression medication are SSRIs (Prozac and Zoloft) and atypical antidepressants (Wellbutrin and Cymbalta). Tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) are older forms of depression medications.
Mechanism
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) target the serotonin levels in the brain, according to the NIH, while other types of depression medications also increase the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine.
Side Effects
The side effects of depression medications, according to the HelpGuide article, are headaches, nausea, insomnia, constipation, anxiety, dry mouth, fatigue, sleepiness, restlessness, sweating, tremors, dizziness, weight change and decreased sex drive.
Suicide Risks
The FDA released a warning that adolescents taking antidepressants have an increased risk of developing suicidal thoughts and highly recommended close monitoring.
Considerations
The HelpGuide article recommends combining depression medication with psychotherapy for the best treatment results.
