Nature of Antidepressants

Antidepressants are treatment medicines for depressed people which will lift patients from depression. These medications provide relief from the symptoms of depression such as moodiness, gloominess, lack of attention, dejection, etc. These medications can also be used for treating other illnesses such as neurosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, menstrual disorders, persistent pain, dietary disturbances, suicidal tendencies, etc. Antidepressants don't necessarily treat the cause of the depression or take it away completely. These only give relief to sufferers.

There are many types of antidepressants that have side effects. Though there are common side effects of antidepressants, some antidepressants have side effects that are typical to them.

Antidepressant medications may be categorized as:

• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs)
• Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors(NDRIs)
• Combined reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are the next generation of medications after monoamine oxidase inhibitors. They help in increasing the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine in the brain. The TCA drugs consist of tertiary amines such as Imipramine, amitriptyline, trimipramine, clomipramine, doxepin, and metabolized secondary amines such as desipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, etc.

Side Effects of TCAs

The most common side-effects are: parched mouth, muscle twitching, tachycardia, irregular bower movement, drowsiness, constipation, weight gain, perspiration, hazy sight, giddiness, difficulty in urination, loss of sex drive, light sensitivity, nervousness, impatience, insomnia, loss of concentration, etc.

Common side effects of these medications are: parched mouth, insomnia, low blood pressure, heart palpitations, sweating, strong anticholinergic effects (blocking the effects of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine), mild sleepiness, difficult urination, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, exhaustion, anxiety, confusion, headache, nightmares, dietary changes, weight changes, frequent urination, sexual impairment, buzzing in the ears, pain, numbness in hands or feet, general anxiety, heavy-headedness, irregular bowel movement, urinary retention, exhaustion, hypotension, muscle spasms, sexual impairment, light and heat sensitivity, memory loss, spasms, sleeplessness, irregular bowel movements, urinary retention, mild hypotension, faintness, dizziness, drowsiness, increased appetite, weakness, unpleasant taste, etc.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors retard the action of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase that is associated with destroying neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, and also dopamine, whose insufficient supply in brain cause depressive symptoms. Tranylcypromine, Phenelzine, and Moclobemide are some of the MAOIs.

Side Effects of MAOIs

The common side effects are: giddiness, sleepiness, diabetes, sexual difficulties,

rashes, weight gain, high blood pressure, sweating, headaches, irregular heart beats, neck rigidity, , light sensitivity, etc.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitorsare nextof medications which have lesser side effects than tricyclics. These SSRIs obstruct serotonin and norepinephrine re-absorbance by message sending brain neurons, thus helping availability of serotonin to increase the levels of these neurotransmitters to come to normal levels. Citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, etc., are some of the SSRI medications.

Side Effects of SSRIs

These include: Insomnia, abdominal problems, headaches, sexual dysfunction, rashes, joint and muscle pain, nausea, or diarrhea, etc. tremors, obsessive thoughts, nightmares, heart palpitations, helplessness, weight gain, etc. These SSRIs will also cause reduced blood clotting and this may cause stomach or uterine bleeding.

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs )

These are also a type of antidepressant medications that inhibit reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. These are sometimes called dual reuptake inhibitors.

Side Effects of SNRIs

Common side effects are mouth dryness, nausea, loss of appetite, anxiety, insomnia, irregular bowel movements, headache, flatulence, weight loss, abnormal dreams, sweating, sexual problems, tachycardia, etc. Sometimes cholesterol levels may also increase.

Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)

Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs) are a category of antidepressant medications that elevate the levels of both norepinephrine and dopamine by inhibiting their reuptake in the brain.

Side Effects of NDRIs

These include: Loss of appetite, weight loss, pain in head, mouth dryness, sweating, skin rash sweating, nervousness, stomach pain, constipation, anxiety, giddiness, ear noises, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, tachycardia, throat problems, frequent urination, etc.

Combined reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers

These are dual action antidepressants. These medications act in two ways: they inhibit re-absorption neurotransmitters and by obstructing nerve cell receptors. The availability of these chemicals increases. This leaves more of these neurotransmitters available in the brain, thereby increasing the mood of elation and excitement. The medications are Trazodone, Nefazodone, Maprotiline, etc.

Side Effects of Dual Action inhibitors / Blockers

These include: Dry mouth, giddiness, sleepiness, nausea, constipation, headache, confusion, Lightheadedness Nervousness, weariness, blurred vision, etc.

Serious implications are indicated for trazodone. It is indicated in priapism, an unrelenting and usually painful erections that are not connected to sexual arousal. Immediate medical attention is called for in such cases. In many such cases, surgical intervention was made to solve the problem, affecting erectile function forever.