Medications for Depression
Medicine (SSRIs)
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. It’s one of the chemicals that your brain uses to carry signals from brain cell to brain cell. People with depression tend not to have enough of it in their brains. These drugs block your brain from absorbing it back up so fast. That’s the “reuptake inhibitor” part means. Since your brain isn’t reabsorbing it as quickly, more of it is free to float around doing its job. You have healthier brain function as a result, and that can ease the symptoms of the depression.
Most likely, you’ll be prescribed these medicines for about six months, if this is your first time being treated for depression. It can take a month or two for the effects to be felt. Over the course of the treatment, your doctor will probably be checking in to make sure you’re doing alright in terms of side effects, and to see if the medication is working. A good doctor will be careful here. Antidepressants can be extremely helpful, but any time you’re messing around with your brain chemistry, it makes sense to be careful.
What drugs might I take?
There are a few drugs you may be prescribed. You might know them by their brand names, but you might also be described a generic version of the drug, so seeing the proper names can help. All of these drugs have been approved to treat depression by the FDA: Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), Sertraline (Zoloft), and Vilazodone (Viibryd).
All of these drugs will affect people differently. What works for one person might just cause irritability in another. It can take a little time to find a medicine that actually works for your depression, and that’s fine. That time investment is worth it if it helps you feel better in the long run.
There are a few side effects, some of them more serious than others. They include blurred vision, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, headaches, insomnia, nausea, nervousness/agitation/restlessness, and sexual problems, including decreased libido. Again – different medicines affect people different ways, and if the side effects are hurting more than a medicine is helping, you have lots of other options to try.
Did you know...
- Does your job make you stressed? We all know that stress is psychologically bad for you, but it also has an effect on…your allergies? A Harvard Medical School study has shown that stress causes your allergies to become worse because your body's defense response loses efficacy when repeatedly triggered by stress. Then, when you really need to physically fight something off, you're less able to!
- Just saying the words "thank you" can measurably improve your mood. Researchers can actually measure happiness and changes in brain structure when people practiced regular "grateful thinking." This included things like writing thank you notes, writing gratitude journal entries, mindfully counting their blessings, and thanking friends. It may be helpful in overcoming depression!
- Do you know what the strongest muscle in your body is? No, it’s not your biceps or your thighs. It’s actually in your head. The masseter is a muscle in the jaw that is used when chewing. When all of the muscles of the jaw work together, they can exert a force as strong as 200 pounds on the molars. That’s some serious pressure.
- Are you currently or often tired? As contradictory as it may sound, one of the best things you can do is exercise! It gives you more energy by improving your blood flow and increasing your oxygen throughout your body. You don't need to do much; a brisk walk is all it takes!
- Starting to feel claustrophobic? The smells of apples may help keep your claustrophobic feelings at bay according to a 1995 study by Dr. Alan Hirsch. Green apples, specifically, helped people change their perception of their space. Maybe they thought of expansive apple orchards? Cucumbers and barbecue made the feelings worse.