Important Depression Drugs
The fact that it is hard to come up with effective depression
drugs is rooted in the variety of causes that underlie
depression. A number of different physiological and
social/environmental factors collectively cause depression and
so it is hard to come up with a single drug that can cure all
depression cases. Still, some depression drugs have been found
effective in treating a large number of similar cases of
depression.
Types of Depression Drugs
Drugs used for depression are collectively called
antidepressants. Appearing in the late 1950s, these drugs are
now of three main types: tricyclic drugs, elective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors, and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
Tricyclic Drugs (TCAs)
These drugs are commonly available as Amitriptyline and
Imipramine. They are used for treating depression and other
disorders like panic, obsessive-compulsive, post-traumatic
stress, and chronic pain.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
These depression drugs appeared in the 1980s and are the most
commonly prescribed drugs toady for treating depression.
Besides depression, they are used in the treatment of panic,
obsessive-compulsive, bulimia, and social phobia. Commonly sold
brand names for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors include
Prozac, Paxil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, and
Celexa.
All these reuptake inhibitors alleviate the symptoms of
depression by inhibiting the reuptake of certain
neurotransmitters, especially of serotonin and norepinephrine.
Bupropion (sold as Wellbutrin) is another one of the SSRIs. It
acts by blocking the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors generally have fewer
side effects than other types of antidepressants and hence are
more popular prescription for depression.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
MAOIs can be prescribed for any type of depression, especially
for those cases when certain symptoms like anxiety, overeating,
and excessive need of sleeping are present with the depression.
Three types of Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are prescribed for
depression: (1) Phenelzine, sold as Nardil, (2) Isocarboxazid
and Tranylcypromine sold as Parnate, and (3) Moclobemide.
Efficacy of Depression Drugs
So far, studies reveal that antidepressants are effective in
treating depression in one third of people who take them. In
one third of cases, partial success is reported, and in the
same number of people, antidepressants fail to cause any
relief. On the other hand, cognitive therapy for depression is
reported to be successful in 70 % cases and curbing depression
for good.
Antidepressants and Relapse
While antidepressants do bring relief for some time, they are
not the ultimate cure for depression. To do away with
depression, the patient has to learn the ways to avoid
depression in the first place rather than depending on
depression drugs which, when stopped taking, lead to a
relapse.
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