Although depression usually disappears without taking any medication, some individuals who might have fallen deeper into a more severe form of depression and desperation may need to seek professional help; which in most cases, prompt mental health professionals to prescribe one or a combination of anti-depressants.
Most anti-depressants act upon increasing the serotonin level. Despite state-of-the-art technology, science has not come to a definitive conclusion that a drop in the level of serotonin in the brain is in fact the main factor that triggers depression. What makes serotonin interesting at this point is that medications that increase serotonin level in the brain do make a depressed person feel improvements. The most uncomplicated way to explain serotonin is to give it a very apt nickname, the “happiness juice” of the brain.
Responses to medications may differ and prescriptions in effect are ‘trial prescriptions’. One of the most common medications for depression is SSRIs and stands for Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors which affect serotonin level in the brain. Based on the popularity of the medications classified under this list, it is apparent that doctors commonly decide that SSRIs be the primary choice to help ‘fight depression’; the reason probably lies in the fact that medications classified under SSRIs exhibits lesser side effects compared to others. Below is a depression medication list.
The following are examples of SSRI’s:
Fluoxetine - a popular version of Fluoxetine is Prozac. It is likely to be the most prescribed medication for first-time users of anti-depressants. As with any other mood-altering medications, an individual taking Prozac should be carefully assessed and needs to be around other supportive individuals as taking this medication may actually increase suicidal tendencies on initial administrations. Deeper probing is needed to check if an individual has taken anti-depressants in the past. Prozac should not be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs, a type of medication that is also used to treat depression and behavioral or mood disorders. An individual needs to be clear of MAOIs two weeks before and after administration to avoid any life threatening drug reactions. Prozac could lower attentiveness and focus of an individual and may cause drowsiness to some, thus activities that require full alertness should be avoided during treatment.
Fluvoxamine - or Luvox is another anti-depressant that is more likely to be exclusive to adult patients; Luvox should not be administered to adolescents and young children to treat depression as further studies are needed to establish its safety and efficacy among young patients. Luvox is meant to treat depression and another condition, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), that is worthy of a separate discussion. Although Luvox is not advisable for young patients with major depressive disorder, it can be prescribed to young individuals with OCD. Luvox should be taken with a full glass of water and should not be chewed. It should also be taken at a given time and patients should not miss taking the tablet. If a dose has been missed, the next dose should be taken; patients should be careful not to take the missed dose and the one that is due at the same time. It is always wise to consult your doctor for missed doses. Luvox should not be stopped abruptly either, especially if an individual has been taking this medication at a 200mg level. Just like Prozac, Luvox should not be taken while traces of MAOIs are still in the patient’s system. Since there is no predictable effect of this medication on the level of alertness of an individual, it is best to observe the effect of this medication before resuming activities that require sharpness.
Citalopram – an example of which is Celexa, have the same suicidal effects as Prozac. Young individuals, children to young adults, may require greater care and closer supervision while taking this medication as they may develop suicidal tendencies and behaviors; the need to eliminate depression must outweigh the possible side effects and risks that come with the administration of this medication. Initially, Celexa should be administered at a minimal dosage of 20mg once daily. It may be increased by increments of 20mg to as much as 60mg per day, but must not be increased in less than a week after the last dosage alteration has been done. Celexa, as with Prozac and Luvox should not be combined with MAOIs. Depressive symptoms must be closely monitored to check if condition worsens. Cessation for this type of medication should never be abrupt and must be reversed by increments to lessen risk of recurrence.
Some of the common side effects of SSRIs are directly linked to the digestive system as almost 80% of serotonin in our body is in the intestines, regulating normal functions. A patient taking any of the medications classified as SSRIs may experience nausea, change in weight, dry mouth, and opposite digestive side effects like diarrhea or constipation. Because it is mood altering, it may also cause insomnia, anxiety attacks, and restlessness. Physical signs like sweating may be observed. Patients may also feel dizziness, drowsiness, headache, and fatigue. Decreased sex drive and loss of sexual functions may also be seen in most individuals who are well within the treatment period.
Applicable to all forms of oral medications, extra precautions should be taken to check the liver and kidney functions before proceeding to treatment. Careful probing should also be applied by mental health professionals to gather enough information about the patient’s lifestyle and other medication and substance intake, as even over-the-counter and herbal preparations can directly affect the action of SRRIs in the body. Misinformation or information withheld by patients could even be fatal.
Altering brain levels of serotonin by administration has proven to be effective to almost all patients. Because behaviors differ from one individual to another, there is no fixed dosage and no single definitive medication for depression. There is a long list of medications that are available which are meant to treat depression and ‘trial prescriptions’ are carefully calculated and prescribed by professionals with deep understanding of pharmacology, drug interactions and human physiology.
Reaction to treatment could be entirely different from one individual to another. The brain is still a complex machine, an endless frontier that is yet to be explored; with complexities that inventors of robots and computers, and top neuro-surgeons and doctors, have no explanation for. An individual’s prognosis or his ‘fighting chance’ still depends entirely on his will to bounce back and become part of the productive, happy world again. The bottom line is ‘there is no better doctor or wonder drug that could beat the power of the human mind’.