Drug Options for Treating Depression
If you are depressed, working with a skilled medical professional allows you to determine which class of medications or combinations work best for you while minimizing side effects.
There are several drug options for treating depression. Consider the options and consult your provider.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
This type of drug is usually the first option because they typically produce very few side effects. They include:
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (Pexeva)
• Paroxetine HRI (Paxill)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
• Vilazodone (Viibryd) i
Serotonin and Norepinephrine reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
This type of drug affects chemical messages sent between brain cells. They include:
• Desvenlafaxine (Khedezla, Pristiq)
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
Tetracyclic antidepressants
These antidepressants are some of the oldest. They work by increasing the number of specific neurotransmitters in the brain. These options typically have more side effects, so they are not used until other options are tried. They include:
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Desipramine (Norpramin)
• Doxepin
• Imipramine (Tofranil)
• Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
•Protriptyline
•Trimipramine
Atypical Antidepressants
As the name suggests, this group of antidepressants usually acts in unique ways. They include:
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL)
• Mirtazapine (Remeron),
• Trazodone
•Vilazodone (Viibryd)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
This type of drug stops the breakdown of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain. People taking these medications must follow a strict diet, including avoiding wine, pickles and specific cheeses. They include:
• Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
• Phenelzine (Nardil)
• Selegiline (EMSAM)
• Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Antagonist
This drug encourages the liver to eliminate specific products in the bloodstream. It is also used with some Alzheimer’s patients. The most common example is Esketamine (Spravato).
With so many choices and combinations of options, working with a skilled provider is vital. Contact us today to get started. As your provider will explain, quitting an antidepressant drug abruptly is never a good idea. Feeling depressed is not necessary, and you can enjoy life once you receive the treatment that is right for you, but you must take the first step. Contact American Behavioral Clinics Here Today.
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