Live Life Team
What is depression,
Depression can be defined as mental health disorder that will affect the way a person sleeps, eats, what he or she feels about oneself and his or her views on other things. Without proper treatment, depression can continue for a long time period.
Types of depression
Depression can be any one of the following types;
Major depression
Dysthimia
Bipolar disorders
Major depression can be manifested by the following symptoms:
Interference in working ability, eating, sleeping, study or enjoy oneself.
Dystimia is less severe with lesser symptoms at a less severe level.
Bipolar depression , or maniac depression as it is commonly known, is characterized by mood swings. It affects one’s thinking ability. If this is not properly treated, it will leave the person in a world completely out of his reach.
Symptoms of depression
Few of the popular depression symptoms are:
Exhaustion on waking
Disrupted sleep
Early morning waking and difficulty getting back to sleep
Difficulty concentrating during the day
Improved energy as the day goes on
Becoming emotional or upset for no particular reason
Shortness of temper, or irritability
What exactly are antidepressant drugs,
Antidepressant drugs are those which are used in the psychiatric medication of dysthimia or major depression. Drugs such as Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors generally fall into this group.
These are now commonly prescribed by the psychiatrists and physicians. Antidepressants usually work over a longer time. It is usually taken over a number of weeks or even years. Antidepressants are also used for treating the following conditions:
bipolar disorders
anxiety disorders,
eating disorders,
chronic pain
obsessive compulsive disorder
as well as
for symptomatic treatment of dysmenorrheal
hormonal imbalances.
How do antidepressant drugs work,
There are certain chemicals in human brain called as neurotransmitters. These are chemicals which pass the signals between the brain cells. It act as a transmitter. Normally during depression, these chemicals do not perform their duty normally. The antidepressant drugs act by changing the level of neurotransmitters. Antidepressants enhance the activity level of these neurotransmitters.
How is the treatment for depression given,
The treatment for depression usually begins with a course of Tricyclic antidepressants or Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. It starts its action in about two or three weeks and becomes fully effective in four to six weeks. For an elderly person, it may even take eight weeks for the drug to be fully effective.
Side effects of using antidepressant drugs
Some of the common side effects of using various antidepressant drugs can be listed out as below:
Dry mouth
Urinary retention
Blurred vision
Constipation
Sedation (can interfere with driving or operating machinery)
Sleep disruption
Weight gain
Headache
Nausea
Diarrhea/gastrointestinal disturbance
Abdominal pain
Inability to achieve an erection
Inability to achieve an orgasm (men and women)
Loss of libido
Agitation
Anxiety
