Serotonin is a hormone that regulates mood, memory, learning, appetite, sleep and muscle contraction. If there is not enough of the hormone available for nerve cells, you may feel depressed and anxious. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,...
Antidepressant drugs are often the choice for people who suffer from anxiety disorders. Anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines are also used, but they can be habit-forming. Antidepressants work to alter the brain chemistry and take several...
People who experience both depression and social anxiety can benefit from the same medication in many cases. Antidepressant drugs developed for depression also work successfully in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, also...
Trichotillomania, which is also referred to trich or TTM, is a compulsive behavior disorder that is characterized by hair loss caused by the impulsive pulling or twisting of the hair. People with this disorder may pull out hair from the scalp,...
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy occurs in 16 percent of people with diabetes mellitus. This condition in diabetics causes a significant impact on the quality of life and work productivity due to the pain of the peripheral neuropathy. Cymbalta, a...
The causes of depression and anxiety disorders are not fully known, but it is believed that electrochemical processes in the brain are involved along with the psychological factors. Depression may be involved in an abnormal process delivering...
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that "obsessive-compulsive disorder [or compulsive obsessive anxiety] is an anxiety disorder in which people have thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions) or behaviors that make them feel...
Migraines are a debilitating condition that affect approximately 11 out of 100 people. Women are affected more often than men, and most people get their first migraine attack between the ages of 10 and 46. They tend to run in families. Migraine...
The Prozac story began in 1987, when the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical corporation released a drug aimed at fighting depression. The drug, whose trademark name is fluoxetine, had an unexpected, but serendipitous side-effect. Unlike other...
When a patient has an anxiety disorder, she has uncontrolled worry, which impacts her mental health. Anxiety Disorders Association of America states that a person can be diagnosed with one of five types of anxiety disorders. Each anxiety disorder...
Choosing the right antidepressant is an important part of treating depression, and the possible side effects of a medication can be a deterrent. The Mayo Clinic adds that "bothersome side effects can make it difficult to stick with treatment."...
In cases of severe depression, medication can be helpful in managing symptoms. Antidepressants work by targeting specific neurotransmitters linked to mood and increase their levels in the brain. The first choices of medications for severe...
There are several medications available for treating depression. Medications serve to improve symptoms and in many cases attempt to replace chemicals in the brain that are not balanced, thus causing the symptoms. Antidepressants are the general...
It's impossible to understand how antidepressants work without a clear understanding of the functions of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are released in the brain. They enable impulses from one nerve cell to pass to another...
Depression and anxiety are two common psychiatric problems that are often treated with medications, including a class of drugs known as SSRIs. There is no evidence that SSRIs interact with caffeine. However, caffeine can result in increased...
Depression is a psychological disorder characterized by extremely low or sad moods that affect both physical and social activities. It is commonly believed that depression may be caused by an imbalance of chemicals, such as serotonin,...
A mood neurotransmitter, serotonin is linked to a person's emotions and is also used by the brain to function. When there is an imbalance of serotonin in the brain, it can cause serious medical problems. If the brain has less than normal levels of...
Huntington's disease, a genetically linked disorder, progressively destroys nerve cells and results in damage to specific areas of the brain. As a rule, genes code for the construction of proteins. and the gene involved in the development of...
Typically, anxiety is a normal feeling that can present itself during times of high stress. However, anxiety can turn into a disease called generalized anxiety disorder. Symptoms of this disorder include fatigue, restlessness, irritability,...
Anti-anxiety drugs include fast-working benzodiazepines and slow-working serotonin and norepinephrin inhibitors. Benzodiazepines, the most well known of which are the muscle relaxant Valium and the neuro-retarding chemical Xanax, quickly reduce...
Antidepressants work by affecting three different molecules in the brain that play a role in mood regulation. These chemicals, or monoamines, are called serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Each antidepressant medication is classified according...
Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. According to the Mayoclinic.com, hormones, work overload and sexual abuse are among the factors that may increase a woman's risk of depression.
Medications for depression are divided into major classes including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. These medications are available...
Depression is a complex mental health condition characterized by persistent low mood and sadness. It may be caused by a variety of factors, including chemical imbalances and certain health conditions. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are...
Depression is a term used to describe a wide variety of conditions involving low mood. Major, atypical and bipolar depression are among the many forms of the disorder, each causing unique physical and emotional symptoms. Depending on the type of...
Male impotence is a condition in which a man is unable to have a normal erection. In this disorder, a man may be unable to have an erection or maintain one long enough to satisfy sexual intercourse. Male impotence is also referred to as erectile...
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...
Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder characterized by depressed mood or loss of interest in activities accompanied by insomnia or sleeping too much, fatigue, changes in appetite or weight, feeling hopeless or worthless, difficulties with...
Some doctors recommend that teenagers try therapy before turning to medication unless the teen is experiencing major depression because of possible side effects and increased risk of suicidal thoughts. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants...
Fibromyalgia, FM, is a disorder of tactile allodynia and come-and-go pains, with symptoms varying greatly from day to day. Learn about fibromyalgia, including treatments and symptoms, in this health video.
Chronic fatigue syndrome covers a group of poorly understood diseases of the central nervous system leading to fatigue. Learn about chronic fatigue syndrome, including treatments and symptoms, in this health video.
