Effective Medications For Depression

Q: Medications Tricyclic antidepressants or TCAs were among the first developed antidepressants. They have more side effects than the SSRIs and newer antidepressants, but are more effective for certain patients.

A:MAOIs are another older type of antidepressant. If you are taking an MAOI, you will have to follow certain dietary restrictions to prevent hypertensive (high blood pressure) crisis. MAOIs include Marplan (isocarboxazid), Nardil (phenelzine), and Parnate (tranylcypromine). Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed medication for depression today. Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline) Celexa (citalopram) and Luvox (fluvoxamine) are the most commonly prescribed brand names. Compared to other antidepressants

types, SSRIs have fewer side effects. SSRI medications should not be prescribed in conjunction with the older MAOIs due to the potential for a dangerously high level of serotonin to build up (serotonin syndrome). One medication should be allowed sufficient time to clear from the system before another is began. There are also newer antidepressants which do not fit into the above categories such as Desyrel (trazodone), Effexor (venlafaxine), Remeron (mirtazapine), Serzone (nefazadone), and Wellbutrin (bupropion). These have fewer side effects than the older antidepressants. Serzone and Wellbutrin.are reputed to have fewer sexual side effects, which is a common problem with SSRI's.