The management of depression in a person may include behavioral therapy, psychological therapy, personal counseling and treatment with antidepressant medication. On some occasions, it may be sufficient to talk to the affected person to change life style and outlook. Foe some, medication may be necessary. There are various categories of antidepressants to treat several mental illnesses.

Benefits of Antidepressant Medications

These medications are very helpful in giving relief to people who are suffering from depressive symptoms such as gloominess, unhappiness, indifference, insomnia or hypersomnia, excessive self-reproach, low self-confidence, cognitive difficulties, etc. These medications are also useful in treating anxiety disorders such as GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), dietary disorders, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), phobia, etc.

These medications will make a person get relief from symptoms, but they are not mood elevators. They will not change personal disposition. These antidepressant medications only give benefit to the extent that a person can feel a sense of ease while dealing with others because of reduced anxiety and tension. These are not ‘feel good’ medications. Antidepressants do not make a person ecstatic. A modicum of mood stability coupled with increased self-confidence may make a person to become ’high’. These medications only make a person to take things easy that were worrisome earlier.

There are several aspects to understand the antidepressant medication. These are:

• Succor from medication

These medications only bring relief from symptoms, but they do not cure illness. Effective relief from these medications and sustenance of relief from symptoms can only be possible when other treatment and therapy methods are also followed. A particular psychological therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is very effective in treating because it helps a person face things and the ways to deal with stressful situations.

Categories of Antidepressant Medications

There are several categories of medications that are suited to treat different mental illnesses. A medication is selected based upon a person’s symptoms and disease analysis. Tricyclic antidepressants are the most prescribed medications for major depressions. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) were often employed for "atypical" depressions in which there are symptoms like panic disorders, phobias, etc. Several other reuptake inhibitors medications that are available are SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs, combined inhibitors and receptor blockers.

Seek Professional Advice

While seeking succor from symptoms of depression, one should be clear about what one expects from the treatment. A medical professional will consider all aspects of age, body weight and physiological factors before deciding the type of medication and dosages to be prescribed. A patient should check the type of food items, drinks, or activities that one must avoid during the treatment. One should also check with possible adverse effects.

Adverse Effects of Antidepressants

There are several types of antidepressants and some of the symptoms are very specific to those medications. Here are some common adverse effects of different antidepressants:

• Dehydrated mouth
• Urinary withholding
• Hazy sight
• Bowel irregularity
• Sleepiness
• Sleep disturbances
• Weight increase
• Cephalalgia
• Nausea
• Gastrointestinal disturbance
• Stomach cramps
• Sexual disorders
• Uneasiness
• Anxiety

Precautions with Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants should not be given to people with glaucoma, prostate problems, and certain heart diseases. The tyramine factor is responsible for blood pressure. People should avoid taking pickled herring, chicken liver, and seasoned cheese. People with uncontrolled epilepsy should not be treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are to be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) should not be taken along with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). This will result in high serotonin levels which may prove fatal. Norepinephrine dolapine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs) will affect blood pressure causing them to rise suddenly which may become life threatening. Trazodone may affect a person with priapism, a condition where painful erections will be persistent without any reason. Sometimes surgical intervention may be needed to correct the situation. In some cases, nefazodone may severely affect liver.

Antidepressant Medications

The various medications belonging to different categories of antidepressants are:

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): Amitriptyline, clomipramine, amoxapine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, dothiepin, trimipramine, etc.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): The MAOI medications are phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, selegiline, moclobemide, cimetidine, etc.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, etc. are some of the SSRIs.

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): Venlafaxine, duloxetine, etc. are some of SNRIs.

Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs): Bupropion is the medication presently available. Radafaxine is still in clinical trials

Combined reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers: Trazodone, Nefazodone, Maprotiline, etc. are some of these combined antidepressants.

General Withdrawal Symptoms

The general withdrawal symptoms are: Insomnia and increased dreaming, headache, sweating, chills, nausea, diaphoresis, restlessness, giddiness, weakness, fatigue, body pains, abdominal cramps, malaise, anxiety, irritability, EKG changes, delirium, severe depression, mania or hypomania, acute psychosis, cognitive deficiency, anorexia, lethargy, lack of energy, persistent motion sickness, vomiting, fever, hot flashes, crying spells, suicidal thoughts, muscle and skeletal pains, aggression, blurred vision, diarrhea, memory problems, paresthesias, numbness, ov er-activity, confusion, lowered mood, motor disorders like tremors, loss of balance, muscle stiffness, and abnormal movements.