 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Antidepressant medications are
the cornerstone of treatment of major depression and often play a role
in the treatment of less severe depression. Indications for the
use of antidepressant medications are usually straightforward and involve the presence of depressive mood, thoughts, behaviors, and physical symptoms.
Sometimes
depressions are hidden, or “masked”- patients may complain
of pain such as headache, backache, or stomachache instead of sadness;
or they may insist that they feel fine, but fail to go to work or look
quite upset.
They may
first notice panic attacks or phobias (fears they recognize as
unreasonable); or they may become obsessed with fears or pestered by compulsive
rituals; or they may abuse alcohol or other drugs in attempts at
self-treatment of depression. Depression may also be signaled by
other “atypical” physical or emotional complaints.
Diagnose Your Depression First
The accurate diagnosis of depression is a necessary step in the process of selecting appropriate medications or other treatments. A thorough history is essential and a physical examination and lab tests are often necessary to select the depression treatment. The clinician should consider the patient’s past history of depression and response to earlier treatments, family history of depression and treatment response, concurrent medical problems and their treatments, occupational and social impairment, severity of depression, risk of suicide, age, importance of speedy recovery, patient reliability, and preference for treatment.
The accurate diagnosis of depression is a necessary step in the process of selecting appropriate medications or other treatments. A thorough history is essential and a physical examination and lab tests are often necessary to select the depression treatment. The clinician should consider the patient’s past history of depression and response to earlier treatments, family history of depression and treatment response, concurrent medical problems and their treatments, occupational and social impairment, severity of depression, risk of suicide, age, importance of speedy recovery, patient reliability, and preference for treatment.
The Depression Medication Classes
Several different classes of antidepressant medications are available. Tricyclic antidepressants and newer drugs with different chemical structures but similar effectiveness are the major antidepressant medications. They are often referred to as cyclic antidepressants because they contain one or more cyclic rings in their structure (a tricyclic has 3 such rings). Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s) make up the other main class of medications for treatment of depression. Lithium, used primarily in the treatment of mania and depression when those two disorders occur together or in sequence, may also be effective in cases where depression is the only problem. A number of other medications are sometimes added to the three main classes of medication (cyclic antidepressants, MAOI’s, Lithium).
Several different classes of antidepressant medications are available. Tricyclic antidepressants and newer drugs with different chemical structures but similar effectiveness are the major antidepressant medications. They are often referred to as cyclic antidepressants because they contain one or more cyclic rings in their structure (a tricyclic has 3 such rings). Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s) make up the other main class of medications for treatment of depression. Lithium, used primarily in the treatment of mania and depression when those two disorders occur together or in sequence, may also be effective in cases where depression is the only problem. A number of other medications are sometimes added to the three main classes of medication (cyclic antidepressants, MAOI’s, Lithium).
Depression Medication Side Effects
Antidepressant medications are generally safe and effective when used as directed. But all medications are double edged swords with unwanted side effects as well as beneficial main effects. Most antidepressant side effects are minor annoyances and many side effects decrease in severity as patient’s bodies grow accustomed to the medication. When depression is treated with medications, there is almost always some minor cost in terms of side effects to pay for the major benefit of relief of depression. Keeping the costs low and the benefits high is important and can almost always be accomplished in a cooperative relationship between patient and doctor.
Antidepressant medications are generally safe and effective when used as directed. But all medications are double edged swords with unwanted side effects as well as beneficial main effects. Most antidepressant side effects are minor annoyances and many side effects decrease in severity as patient’s bodies grow accustomed to the medication. When depression is treated with medications, there is almost always some minor cost in terms of side effects to pay for the major benefit of relief of depression. Keeping the costs low and the benefits high is important and can almost always be accomplished in a cooperative relationship between patient and doctor.
Types Of Depression Medication:
Copyright 2006-2007 www.stopdepressiontoday.com