|
|
AntiDepressants Medications
AntiDepressants
Depression is a common and disabling disorder. The World Health Organisation has ranked depression fourth in a list of the most urgent health problems world wide.
- Depression has major effects on economic productivity, individual well being and social functioning, around the globe. It is a huge burden on individuals, families, and society.
- The lifetime risk for major depression has been estimated to be 7%-12% for men and 20%-25% for women.
Antidepressant, any of a wide range of drugs used to treat psychic depression. They are given to elevate mood, counter suicidal thoughts, and increase the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Before the introduction of such drugs in the late 1950s, most patients with major depression had no recourse but hospitalization; only 45% improved after one year. In contrast, 80–90% of such patients can expect significant relief from depression with one of the medications now prescribed. Antidepressants act on the flow of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, serotonin, and norepinephrine across neural synapses.
Common antidepressants include monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The newer serotonin increasers as fluoxetine (Prozac) and
sertraline HCL (Zoloft). The choice of antidepressant often has more to do with its side effects (variously sedation, constipation, hypotension, tachycardia) than efficacy, as they are generally regarded to be equally effective. The newer drugs, especially fluoxetine, are tolerated better and are currently by far the most widely prescribed.
According to the Biogenic Monoamine theory of Schildkraut (1965), depression results due to impairment or dysregulation of aminergic transmission. Others suggest that though noradrenaline and serotoninergic systems are involved, the specific impairment that underlies depression is unclear and is likely to vary among patients.
Medical treatment for depression favors prescription antidepressant drugs that work by increasing neurotransmission for one or more of the monoamines-serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine. Before 1980, antidepressant treatment consisted primarily of the tricyclics antidepressants (TCADs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), and lithium. The antidepressant properties of these medications are attributed to modulation of noradrenergic and serotonergic function, but they also have many side effects due to binding to multiple unrelated receptors. The tricyclics antagonize muscarinic, H1 histaminic, and a1 adrenergic receptors causing constipation, urinary retention, dry mouth, sedation, and postural hypotension. In addition to these, the monoamine oxidase inhibitors have the added risk of potentially severe hypertensive crisis due to pressor effects of dietary tyramine, which requires dietary restrictions.
This risk is much lower with the newer reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase. Both the tricyclics and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors can be lethal in overdose, and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors interact dangerously with several over the counter and prescription drugs.
In the late 1980's a important class of antidepressant was introduced, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Hence, one of the most important goals in the pharmacological treatment of depression is to provide the patients with highly efficacious drugs that have few side effects, low or no toxicity and a high level of tolerability.
How to Order Online :
- Select Power and Quantities of AntiDepressant Medication.
- Submit your FREE online consultation and place your order for
AntiDepressant Medication.
- Receive AntiDepressant Medication the next business day!
(after approval by one of our board certified physicians)
|
