Antidepressants

Antidepressants are prescription medicines for depression and other mental health conditions like anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Depression is a mood disorder that makes an individual feel sad, with a reluctance toward the activities s/he once enjoy. Depression hampers one’s memory, motivation, thoughts, appetite, and sleep cycle. Mental health disorder often starts in early childhood. The symptoms are more evident in women than in men, but that doesn’t mean they are limited to a specific age or gender. Individuals beyond the limitations of age or gender can fall victim to depression. Antidepressants work by balancing neurotransmitters, which are substances in the brain. The medications work well to reduce the symptoms of depression.

Antidepressants were invented in the 1950s. The medicine intake is one type of treatment method to cure depression. Although the drug relieves the symptoms of depression, it doesn’t necessarily deal with the underlying issues. Medical professionals often prescribe psychotherapy accompanied by antidepressants. Later, researchers developed several other drugs.

Conditions that Antidepressants treat

• Clinical depression and other depressive disorders
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Bulimia Nervosa (An eating disorder)
• Bipolar Depression
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
• Persistent Depressive Disorder (dysthymia)
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
• Panic disorder

Different antidepressants function differently, and the side effects are also different.  Remember, sometimes doctors prescribe antidepressants to treat other health conditions, but this is not the correct use of the medication. Doctors occasionally prescribe antidepressants for migraine, sleeplessness, and chronic pain.

Types of Antidepressants

According to mental health experts, certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters are linked with depression – serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, in particular. Antidepressants relieve depression by working on the neurotransmitters, which are known as chemical messengers. Each medication treats the neurotransmitters in different ways.

Antidepressants are available in many types – 

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs include paroxetine, fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and escitalopram. Compared to other antidepressants, SSRIs often have fewer side effects and issues, even at greater dosages.

• Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

SNRIs include antidepressants like duloxetine, venlafaxine, levomilnacipran, and desvenlafaxine. 

• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) 

MAOIs are effective when other medicines don’t work. Doctors must be cautious when suggesting these antidepressants. The medication may have serious interactions with foods that contain tyramine. The medicines cannot be taken simultaneously with SSRIs again due to the high level of interaction. The antidepressants include tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, selegiline, and phenelzine. 

• Tricyclic Antidepressants 

Tricyclic antidepressants have been recorded to cause more side effects than the new antidepressants. Typically, doctors won’t give these depressants unless you’ve tried other antidepressants that didn’t work. The class medicines include imipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, desipramine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, amoxapine, and doxepin. 

• Atypical Antidepressants 

These antidepressants are termed atypical as they don’t fit into other antidepressant categories. The most commonly prescribed medicines are trazodone, vilazodone, mirtazapine, bupropion, and vortioxetine. 

• Serotonin Modulators 
• N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) 

How to take Antidepressants?

Antidepressants typically come in tablet or pill forms to be taken orally. You take the pills with water. Your doctor will initially prescribe the smallest amount of antidepressants necessary to alleviate your symptoms.  If required, the doctor may gradually raise the dosage.  You won’t notice an internal improvement for weeks or months.  Your doctor can suggest medication if you have severe or chronic depression in order to maintain long-term mental stability.

Antidepressants: Side Effects

Each class of antidepressant has its own set of possible side effects. It’s essential to talk to your doctor about the potential side effects of the specific medicine you would take. However, the common side effects include,

• Gastronomical Symptoms: Diarrhoea, Constipation, Loss of Appetite, Indigestion
• Nerve Concerns: Agitation, shakiness, feeling of nervousness
• Fast heartbeat and palpitations
• Vision Problems: blurry vision
• Unexpected weight loss or weight gain
• Sexual dysfunction
• Lack of sleep, disturbed sleep

The recipients may experience some, many or none of these side effects. You must talk to your healthcare provider if you experience these odd side effects. The doctors could change the medication or modify the dosage.

Potential Risks of Antidepressant Intake

As per the studies, the effects and benefits of antidepressants depend on the seriousness of depression. The more severe the depression, the more the treatment will be. Doctors prescribe antidepressants to treat moderate, severe, and chronic depression effectively. These high-dose medications do not usually treat mild depression. 

• Serotonin Syndrome

Serotonin syndrome occurs when the hormone level gets too high, especially when it happens under the influence of combined antidepressant medicines. The symptoms are seizures, confusion, irregular heartbeat, unconsciousness, or twitching in muscles. 

• Hyponatremia

Hyponatremia refers to low sodium in the blood. It occurs when there is a drastic drop in salt levels in the body. It is mostly experienced by older adults who are on antidepressants. Muscle aches, headaches, convulsions, and disorientation are among the symptoms.

• Suicidal Thoughts 

Individuals, primarily young individuals, who begin taking antidepressants, consider harming themselves. The symptoms can occur at different dose intakes. Medical attention is an immediate need. If you or anyone close to you suffers from the symptom, you must consult a doctor or visit the nearest medical clinic. 

• Diabetes 

People who take antidepressants are more likely to get type 2 diabetes.

Compared to the regular adverse effects of antidepressants, the health dangers are less frequent. The symptoms worsen into severe conditions where you can receive support from a doctor or a mental healthcare expert. 

Overdose of Antidepressants

In case one takes antidepressants at a dose more than required, it’s considered to be an overdose. The toxicity of the medicine varies. It is essential to talk to your healthcare provider about the risk of an overdose before intake. Take your medicine as prescribed and keep the medicine safe and out of the reach of children and pets.

Tricyclic antidepressants pose the highest risk if you take the medicine in overdose. Seek medical assistance immediately if you suspect a medication overdose. Symptoms to suspect an antidepressant overdose include,

• Fast heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• High blood pressure
• Drowsiness and dizziness
• Rigid muscles
• Mental confusion
• Coma

Different classes of antidepressants come with various sets of overdose symptoms. You must talk to your doctor about the overdose signs and symptoms of the specific category of antidepressant medicine. For instance, an SSRI overdose leads to high blood pressure.

Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome

When you abruptly stop taking an antidepressant after taking it for at least six weeks in a row, you may have antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. The discontinuation symptoms include:

• Flu-like symptoms – headache, body ache, fatigue, excessive sweating
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Tingling, burning, and shock-like sensations
• Anxiety and irritability
• Nausea
• Insomnia

Never discontinue your antidepressant medication without a doctor’s approval. It needs safety considerations before you stop the medicine. It takes at least four weeks for the symptoms to go away when the dosage is reduced.

Health Considerations

When it comes to treating depression, medication options may vary from person to person. Choosing the right medication for depression takes patience. In order to determine the ideal dosage for you, your doctor may start you on the lowest dose of any depression medication and gradually increase it.

Consult your doctor about the recommended dosage and duration of the treatment. You must report to your doctor what medicines you are currently on and what health issues you have. You must inform us whether you have specific health issues. In that case, the doctor may advise another medication that is more effective in relieving depression.

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