gain, sweating, decrease in sexual ability and desire, muscle twitches, weakness, nausea and vomiting may be experienced. It should be noted, however, that tolerance to these effects often develops if treatment is continued, and side effects can be lessened by initiation with a with low dose.

MAOIs can produce hazardous dietary and drug interactions. Their use, in most cases, is contraindicated and selection of this antidepressant medication is often a last resort.

Your doctor will carefully weigh any risks against potential benefits befo

You may be wondering about the efficacy of antidepressant drugs and whether their use would bring about relief of depressive symptoms in your case. If your doctor has recommended treatment, you will be considering benefits and risks of taking prescription medicine.

How do these medicines treat depression? Are they safe and what side effects, if any, may arise from their use?

Psychopharmacological research has been ongoing and has yielded different types of psychotropic preparations. Antidepressant medication is a valuable ally in the war against depressive symptoms and different drugs may be called on in treating the disorder.

SSRIs (Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, among others) are used to treat depression in its early stages. They have been designed to allow the neurotransmitter serotonin to be utilized more efficiently by inhibiting its reuptake. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a preferred treatment choice because they do not present the severity of side effects that can be experienced with other antidepressant drugs.

Tricyclics (Elavil, Norpramin, Pamelor, to name a few) may be chosen if a patient has tried other preparations with no tangible improvement. It is believed that tricyclics work by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine, or serotonin by nerve cells. They are still considered effective but have been increasingly replaced by SSRIs and other antidepressant medication.

MAOIs (Nardil, Marplan, Parnate) may be called on as a last resort. Their use is indicated if a person does not respond to other medicines. MAOIs affect the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. They also affect dopamine.

Common side effects experienced with use of SSRIs include nausea, drowsiness, headaches, tremors or sweating, changes in appetite or increased feelings of anxiety or depression. Cases of sexual dysfunction can manifest; however, in most cases dysfunction problems disappear without stopping use of SSRI antidepressant drugs.

Tricyclic use may cause dry mouth, blurred vision, and gastro-intestinal difficulties, which lead to constipation. Drowsiness, anxiety, memory difficulties, increased appetite with weight gain, sweating, decrease in sexual ability and desire, muscle twitches, weakness, nausea and vomiting may be experienced. It should be noted, however, that tolerance to these effects often develops if treatment is continued, and side effects can be lessened by initiation with a with low dose.

MAOIs can produce hazardous dietary and drug interactions. Their use, in most cases, is contraindicated and selection of this antidepressant medication is often a last resort.

Your doctor will carefully weigh any risks against potential benefits befo

gainst depressive symptoms and different drugs may be called on in treating the disorder.

SSRIs (Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, among others) are used to treat depression in its early stages. They have been designed to allow the neurotransmitter serotonin to be utilized more efficiently by inhibiting its reuptake. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a preferred treatment choice because they do not present the severity of side effects that can be experienced with other antidepressant drugs.

Tricyclics (Elavil, Norpramin, Pamelor, to name a few) may be chosen if a patient has tried other preparations with no tangible improvement. It is believed that tricyclics work by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine, or serotonin by nerve cells. They are still considered effective but have been increasingly replaced by SSRIs and other antidepressant medication.

MAOIs (Nardil, Marplan, Parnate) may be called on as a last resort. Their use is indicated if a person does not respond to other medicines. MAOIs affect the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. They also affect dopamine.

Common side effects experienced with use of SSRIs include nausea, drowsiness, headaches, tremors or sweating, changes in appetite or increased feelings of anxiety or depression. Cases of sexual dysfunction can manifest; however, in most cases dysfunction problems disappear without stopping use of SSRI antidepressant drugs.

Tricyclic use may cause dry mouth, blurred vision, and gastro-intestinal difficulties, which lead to constipation. Drowsiness, anxiety, memory difficulties, increased appetite with weight gain, sweating, decrease in sexual ability and desire, muscle twitches, weakness, nausea and vomiting may be experienced. It should be noted, however, that tolerance to these effects often develops if treatment is continued, and side effects can be lessened by initiation with a with low dose.

MAOIs can produce hazardous dietary and drug interactions. Their use, in most cases, is contraindicated and selection of this antidepressant medication is often a last resort.

Your doctor will carefully weigh any risks against potential benefits befo

few) may be chosen if a patient has tried other preparations with no tangible improvement. It is believed that tricyclics work by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine, or serotonin by nerve cells. They are still considered effective but have been increasingly replaced by SSRIs and other antidepressant medication.

MAOIs (Nardil, Marplan, Parnate) may be called on as a last resort. Their use is indicated if a person does not respond to other medicines. MAOIs affect the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. They also affect dopamine.

Common side effects experienced with use of SSRIs include nausea, drowsiness, headaches, tremors or sweating, changes in appetite or increased feelings of anxiety or depression. Cases of sexual dysfunction can manifest; however, in most cases dysfunction problems disappear without stopping use of SSRI antidepressant drugs.

Tricyclic use may cause dry mouth, blurred vision, and gastro-intestinal difficulties, which lead to constipation. Drowsiness, anxiety, memory difficulties, increased appetite with weight gain, sweating, decrease in sexual ability and desire, muscle twitches, weakness, nausea and vomiting may be experienced. It should be noted, however, that tolerance to these effects often develops if treatment is continued, and side effects can be lessened by initiation with a with low dose.

MAOIs can produce hazardous dietary and drug interactions. Their use, in most cases, is contraindicated and selection of this antidepressant medication is often a last resort.

Your doctor will carefully weigh any risks against potential benefits befo

rine. They also affect dopamine.

Common side effects experienced with use of SSRIs include nausea, drowsiness, headaches, tremors or sweating, changes in appetite or increased feelings of anxiety or depression. Cases of sexual dysfunction can manifest; however, in most cases dysfunction problems disappear without stopping use of SSRI antidepressant drugs.

Tricyclic use may cause dry mouth, blurred vision, and gastro-intestinal difficulties, which lead to constipation. Drowsiness, anxiety, memory difficulties, increased appetite with weight gain, sweating, decrease in sexual ability and desire, muscle twitches, weakness, nausea and vomiting may be experienced. It should be noted, however, that tolerance to these effects often develops if treatment is continued, and side effects can be lessened by initiation with a with low dose.

MAOIs can produce hazardous dietary and drug interactions. Their use, in most cases, is contraindicated and selection of this antidepressant medication is often a last resort.

Your doctor will carefully weigh any risks against potential benefits befo

gain, sweating, decrease in sexual ability and desire, muscle twitches, weakness, nausea and vomiting may be experienced. It should be noted, however, that tolerance to these effects often develops if treatment is continued, and side effects can be lessened by initiation with a with low dose.

MAOIs can produce hazardous dietary and drug interactions. Their use, in most cases, is contraindicated and selection of this antidepressant medication is often a last resort.

Your doctor will carefully weigh any risks against potential benefits before prescribing a medicine to treat your depression.

If you are concerned about side effects, your doctor may also mention natural supplements as a viable alternative treatment approach. Natural supplements are specifically formulated to address underlying causes of depression, working to correct neurotransmitter malfunctioning and imbalances.

Natural supplements have been shown to offer potent relief, treating depressive symptoms in a fashion similar to conventional antidepressant drugs, without unwanted side effects. Incorporating vitamins and minerals, enzymes and herbal extracts, calling on specialty supplements and amino acids, these preparations counter depression head-on. Ingredients act in specific ways. Valerian treats mood disorders and depression, chamomile reduces anxiety, ginkgo biloba enhances mental acuity and concentration and combats depression, tyrosine is a precursor for the synthesis of neurotransmitters norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine and can ease psychological stress.

It is always prudent to consult your doctor first before deciding on a treatment option. Your doctor may have felt your depression merited particular treatment with antidepressant medication.

It is important to recognize that depression is a serious condition that may not go away on its own. Appropriate evaluation and subsequent action will result in alleviation of symptoms. Whatever has been decided upon, antidepressant drugs or herbal preparations, you can emerge the victor, on the road to recovery.