Uses for Antidepressants
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to ease the symptoms of clinical depression. Research says that individuals who suffer from depression have a chemical imbalance in their brain. A chemical imbalance means there are low levels of the brain chemical serotonin. This is said to lead to depression. The purpose of an antidepressant medication is to bring the brain’s serotonin back to a normal level. Medication, when used in conjunction with counseling, can successfully help individuals cope with their depression more effectively.
Symptoms of depression include negative thoughts and low energy levels. Some depressed individuals may even experience a significant amount of weight gain or have daily crying spells as found in a new mother suffering from postpartum depression. Depressed individuals can sometimes be found sleeping excessively more than the recommended eight hours a night. This is where antidepressants come into play.
Antidepressants are mood-altering drugs that help with the low energy and sadness. Popular brands include Wellbutrin, Budeprion, Zyban, Zoloft and Lexapro. There are other medications used as antidepressants even though they are not normally called antidepressants. These include benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. When a doctor prescribes antidepressants and particularly benzodiazepines, the patient is taking the risk of becoming physically dependant. This is why it is extremely important for patients to take their medicine as described whether they are feeling better after starting treatment or a little worse than usual.
Although they are called antidepressants these drugs can also be used in the treatment of other illnesses. Some of these afflictions include mood disorders like bipolar disorder, eating disorders like anorexia, and hormonal sicknesses like dysmenorrhea. Other afflictions treated with typical depression medications include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and chronic pain.
In many cases, those who are taking medication for depression are likely to be taking medication for some other health issue. One must remember there are dangers when mixing drugs. Some antidepressants can interact with other prescription and over-the-counter drugs (OTC). On the other hand, medications like Tegretol an anticonvulsant drug used to treat seizures are also being used alongside antidepressants to treat depression safely. This is why it is critical to talk to a doctor about all drugs presently being used whether prescribed or OTC.
