What does depression medication do

Older adults usually start with lower doses, and the dose is increased at a slower rate. Understanding psychiatric medications: Antidepressants PDF For more information on medications, contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Back to top. Your donation will fund the groundbreaking mental health research that is helping people on the path to recovery.

Keep your finger on our pulse — latest CAMH news, discoveries and ways to get involved delivered to your inbox. To unsubscribe at any time click the link in our mailing or email: unsubscribe camh. Overview Antidepressant medications are most commonly used to help relieve the distress of depression or anxiety. Do I need this treatment? What does Antidepressant Medications do?

Side effects of Antidepressant Medications All medications can have side-effects. Your doctor may: encourage you to wait a little longer for the side-effects to fade adjust your dose suggest you take the medication at a different time of day prescribe other medications to help control side-effects change your medication stop medication treatment and suggest a different type of treatment approach.

You can help to control possible side-effects on your own by: getting regular exercise and eating a low-fat, low-sugar, high-fibre diet e.

Do antidepressants increase the risk of suicide? Types of Antidepressant Medications There are several classes of antidepressants; within each class there are many individual medications. SSRIs This group of drugs, including fluoxetine Prozac , paroxetine Paxil , fluvoxamine Luvox , citalopram Celexa , escitalopram Cipralex and sertraline Zoloft , is usually the first choice for treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.

Common side-effects are jitteriness and insomnia. NaSSAs Mirtazapine Remeron , the medication available in this class, is the one of the most sedating antidepressants, making it a good choice for people who have insomnia or who are very anxious.

Common side-effects are drowsiness and weight gain. Nonselective cyclics This older group includes amitriptyline Elavil , , imipramine Tofranil , desipramine Norpramin , nortriptyline Aventyl , trimipramine Surmontil and clomipramine Anafranil. Frequently Asked Questions How long should I take antidepressants? Are antidepressants addictive? How do I cut down or stop taking antidepressants? Will antidepressants interact with other medications?

What if I drink alcohol or coffee while taking antidepressants? What if I use street drugs while taking antidepressants? Will antidepressants affect my ability to drive safely?

Will antidepressants affect my sex drive and function? Is it safe to take antidepressants while pregnant or breastfeeding? Can children and teens use antidepressants?

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My gift is in memory or honour of someone. These drugs fight depression symptoms by decreasing serotonin reuptake in your brain. This effect leaves more serotonin available to work in your brain. Common side effects of SSRIs include :. SNRIs help improve serotonin and norepinephrine levels in your brain. This may reduce depression symptoms. These drugs include:. In addition to treating depression, duloxetine may also relieve pain.

This is important because chronic pain can lead to depression or make it worse. In some cases, people with depression become more aware of aches and pains. A drug that treats both depression and pain, such as duloxetine, can be helpful to these people. Common side effects of SNRIs include :. Common side effects of TCAs can include :. Learn more: Tricyclic antidepressants.

Tetracyclic antidepressants, like Maprotiline Ludiomil , are used to treat depression and anxiety. They also work by balancing neurotransmitters to ease symptoms of depression. Common side effects of this drug include :. Dopamine reuptake blockers, like Bupropion Wellbutrin, Forfivo, Aplenzin , are a mild dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake blockers.

They are used for depression and seasonal affective disorder. They are also used for quitting smoking. Common side effects include :. It works by balancing serotonin levels and other neurotransmitters. This drug is rarely used as a first-line treatment for depression. Side effects can include :. Two 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, nefazodone Serzone and trazodone Oleptro , are used to treat depression. These are older drugs.

They alter chemicals in your brain to help depression. The 5-HT3 receptor antagonist vortioxetine Brintellix treats depression by affecting the activity of brain chemicals. MAOIs are older drugs that treat depression. They work by stopping the breakdown of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. MAOIs also have many side effects. Certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and noradrenaline, are linked to mood and emotion. Neurotransmitters may also affect pain signals sent by nerves, which may explain why some antidepressants can help relieve long-term pain.

While antidepressants can treat the symptoms of depression, they do not always address its causes. This is why they're usually used in combination with therapy to treat more severe depression or other mental health conditions.

Research suggests that antidepressants can be helpful for people with moderate or severe depression. Studies have shown that they're better than placebo "dummy medicine" for people with these conditions. They're not usually recommended for mild depression, unless other treatments like therapy have not helped.

Antidepressants are usually taken in tablet form. When they're prescribed, you'll start on the lowest possible dose thought necessary to improve your symptoms. Antidepressants usually need to be taken for 1 or 2 weeks without missing a dose before the benefit starts to be felt. It's important not to stop taking them if you get some mild side effects early on, as these effects usually wear off quickly.

If you take an antidepressant for 4 weeks without feeling any benefit, speak to your GP or mental health specialist. They may recommend increasing your dose or trying a different medicine. A course of treatment usually lasts at least 6 months. Some people with recurrent depression may be advised to take them indefinitely. Can't sleep? Try daytime exercise Hidradenitis suppurativa wound care Celiac disease Celiac disease: Can gluten be absorbed through the skin?

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