Some antidepressants may cause weight loss, according HelpGuide.org. Make dietary changes to prevent weight loss if it is unwanted. If weight gain is significant, talk to your health care provider about whether your weight poses health risk. Your...
Depression comes in many guises. It may be mild or severe. It may be treatable with mild or standard medications or with psychotherapy, or with a combination of these. After your doctor has tried several of these without success, she may move on...
Xanax (generic name alprazolam) is a drug known as a benzodiazepine, which is used to treat anxiety. It is not an antidepressant, which is what an MAOI drug is.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors--also known as MAO inhibitors or MAOIs--are a group of drugs first developed in the late 1950s for the treatment of major depression. These drugs inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which is present in high...
Depression is an illness, and antidepressants are often prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of the disease. These medications work on chemicals in the brain and are grouped into classes depending on their mechanism of action and the chemicals...
Anxiety is a feeling that everyone goes through from time to time. When it appears in small doses, it can actually be beneficial. For example, experiencing anxiety right before a sporting event can help give you motivation to be at your best. But...
A variety of different medications are available to help those suffering from the symptoms of an anxiety disorder. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that approximately 40 million American adults suffer from an anxiety disorder...
A variety of over-the-counter sleep aids are available, usually with the antihistamine diphenhydramine as the active ingredient. Beside treating allergies and the common cold, the drug can be used as a treatment for rashes, itching, insect bites,...
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, were the first kinds of antidepressants available, back in the 1950s, according to the Mayo Clinic. Monoamine oxidase breaks down the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine in the brain,...
According to Medline Plus, dextromethorphan is the generic name of a drug used to temporarily relieve cough caused by the common cold, flu or other conditions. Dextromethorphan will treat a cough, but it does not offer cure for the underlying...
Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder where the patient has "repeated, unexpected attacks of intense fear," according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). When a patient is having an anxiety attack, she can have chest pain,...
According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 40 million adults in the United States (about 18 percent) suffer from anxiety disorders every year. There are six different types of disorders and accompanying...
Brimonidine is an opthalmic (eye) medication used to treat ocular (eye) hypertension (high blood pressure) and glaucoma (disease of increased high pressure). According to MedlinePlus, it belongs to the class of medicines called alpha adrenergic...
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are antidepressant medications used to treat depression. The Mayo Clinic says these medications can also manage headaches and panic disorders. Specifically, MAO inhibitors interfere with monoamine oxidase, a...
It's natural to feel both angry and anxious from time to time. This is especially true if you are going through stressful life events such as relationship or financial problems. Sometimes anger can provoke feelings of anxiety. It's also possible...
Adipex is a stimulant medication that doctors may prescribe to help obese individuals lose weight. Although the medication may benefit obese individuals, it can produce undesirable or dangerous effects when taken at the same time as certain other...
More and more Americans are seeking alternative forms of medicine to help improve their health. While these supplements may seem harmless, some can interact with prescription medications. You should discuss the use of dietary supplements with your...
MAOI refers to a category of antidepressant drugs known as "monoamine oxidase inhibitors" that alleviate depression by stopping (inhibiting) the monoamine oxidase enzyme from metabolizing chemical messengers (neurotransmitters)...
Antidepressants are medications for treating anxiety and depressive disorders. They work by interfering with the neurotransmitter levels in the brain, thus improving the patient's mood and decreasing the symptoms of the mood disorder. Multiple...
People with depression, anxiety and panic disorders benefit from counseling, but usually need medication to control symptoms as part of their overall treatment. Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that causes unexpected and severe anxiety...
Cymbalta, also known by its generic name of duloxetine HCl, is an oral medication for the treatment of major depressive disorder. It belongs to the class of drugs known as selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). SSNRIs...
Pharmaceutical companies have developed several classes of antidepressant medications over the years. The earliest antidepressants suffered from many side effects, some potentially harmful. Newer medications are more sophisticated, can target...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has divided all prescription drugs into five categories based on harm to the fetus when used by pregnant women: Class A, B, C, D and X . These classes range from A, where there is no harm to the fetus...
It's normal to worry, feel preoccupied or nervous about big decisions or a problem in a relationship or at work. If these feelings interfere with your daily life, it's possible you may be suffering from anxiety symptoms that may require medical...
Drugs to help suppress anxiety are usually prescribed along with psychotherapy. Patients receive medication for short-term or long-term treatment. Sometimes doctors need to change dosages or medications to find the right treatment for each...
Sexual side effects from antidepressants depend on each patient and the dosage taken. The side effects may disappear when the body adjusts to the particular medication. Certain antidepressants may increase the risk of having sexual side effects,...
The brain chemical that antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) affect is the exact brain chemical that LSD, PCP and other psychedelic drugs mimic in order to create their hallucinogenic effects. SSRIs...
Lexapro---the brand name for escitalopram oxalate---is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. Lexapro is prescribed to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder, a condition characterized by excessive worry and tension that...
Guarana berries come from the plant Paullinia cupana, native to South America. People use guarana supplements for increasing energy or losing weight. The active ingredient is caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant. Guarana berries have more...