What does depression pills do

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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs. Products and services. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs This commonly prescribed type of antidepressant can help you overcome depression. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again.

Show references Depression: FDA-approved medications may help. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed Aug. Depression basics. National Institute of Mental Health. Revisions to product labeling. Suicidality in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications. Gabriel M, et al. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. What is pharmacogenomics? Genetics Home Reference. Mental health medications. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs information.

Hirsch M, et al. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Pharmacology, administration, and side effects. Celexa prescribing information. Allergan; Accessed Sept. Lexapro prescribing information. Prozac prescribing information. Eli Lilly and Company; Paxil prescribing information. Apotex Corp. Tetracyclic antidepressants, like Maprotiline Ludiomil , are used to treat depression and anxiety. They also work by balancing neurotransmitters to ease symptoms of depression.

Common side effects of this drug include :. Dopamine reuptake blockers, like Bupropion Wellbutrin, Forfivo, Aplenzin , are a mild dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake blockers. They are used for depression and seasonal affective disorder. They are also used for quitting smoking. Common side effects include :. It works by balancing serotonin levels and other neurotransmitters.

This drug is rarely used as a first-line treatment for depression. Side effects can include :. Two 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, nefazodone Serzone and trazodone Oleptro , are used to treat depression. These are older drugs.

They alter chemicals in your brain to help depression. The 5-HT3 receptor antagonist vortioxetine Brintellix treats depression by affecting the activity of brain chemicals. MAOIs are older drugs that treat depression. They work by stopping the breakdown of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.

MAOIs also have many side effects. These can include :. Mirtazapine Remeron is used primarily for depression. It alters certain chemicals in your brain to ease depression symptoms. These are called atypical antidepressants. Depending on your condition, your doctor may prescribe one of these alternatives instead. Ask your doctor if an alternative drug treatment is a good choice for you.

They can tell you more. Keep reading: Depression medications and side effects. Medications to treat depression generally come with side effects. These health risks happen less frequently than common side effects of antidepressants.

They are all serious conditions for which you can get support from a doctor or mental health professional. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed for a number of medical diagnoses, including :. In addition, research from and has looked at the off-label uses for drugs for depression. While street drugs such as marijuana or cocaine may have some effects that seem to make you feel better for a while, mixing the effects of these drugs may make your situation worse.

Street drugs may also interact with your medication, for example, by interfering with its effectiveness or by worsening side-effects. Depression itself can lead to fatigue and concentration problems, affecting your ability to drive. Antidepressant medications may also cause drowsiness, especially in the early stages of treatment, before your body has adjusted to the medication.

If you feel drowsy, do not drive a car or operate machinery. Alcohol, sedatives and antihistamines cold and hay fever medication will worsen the problem.

Antidepressants, especially those that increase serotonin activity, can also negatively affect sexual function. Sexual side-effects of antidepressants can include delayed ejaculation and the inability to experience an orgasm.

Many factors affect your sexuality. When antidepressants bring relief from the distress of depression or anxiety, this may help you to focus more on your partner and to feel more desire. If you think your medication affects your sexual function, your doctor may be able to help by changing your dose, switching medication or adding other medications. For any pregnant woman with a history of depression, the question of whether to take antidepressants during pregnancy usually comes down to a risk-benefit analysis.

When treatment with an antidepressant helps to avoid a relapse or to reduce distress, the benefits of continuing the medication may outweigh the risks. Antidepressants are relatively safe to use during pregnancy. When they are used close to delivery, newborns may be restless and irritable, and may have sleeping, feeding and breathing difficulties.

These problems resolve within three days to two weeks. Antidepressants do not increase risk for birth defects. The amount of antidepressant passed through breast milk is very small and is not considered to be a risk to the baby, especially when weighed against the benefits of breastfeeding.

If you decide to stop taking medications during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, it is a good idea to see your doctor more often, to help you monitor for a return of symptoms.

Most antidepressants are not officially approved for use by children and teens. However, when distress is so severe that non-drug approaches are not possible, or when they do not work, antidepressants may be considered.

Studies of children and and young people who take antidepressants suggest an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour, but not death by suicide. Antidepressants are an effective treatment for depression in adults over 65 and are known to decrease the risk of suicide in this population.

However, due to the increased sensitivity of the older body, older adults are more vulnerable to side-effects. As older adults often take multiple medications, they are also more vulnerable to drug interactions.

Older adults usually start with lower doses, and the dose is increased at a slower rate. Understanding psychiatric medications: Antidepressants PDF For more information on medications, contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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Keep your finger on our pulse — latest CAMH news, discoveries and ways to get involved delivered to your inbox. To unsubscribe at any time click the link in our mailing or email: unsubscribe camh. Overview Antidepressant medications are most commonly used to help relieve the distress of depression or anxiety.

Do I need this treatment? What does Antidepressant Medications do? Side effects of Antidepressant Medications All medications can have side-effects. Your doctor may: encourage you to wait a little longer for the side-effects to fade adjust your dose suggest you take the medication at a different time of day prescribe other medications to help control side-effects change your medication stop medication treatment and suggest a different type of treatment approach.

You can help to control possible side-effects on your own by: getting regular exercise and eating a low-fat, low-sugar, high-fibre diet e. Do antidepressants increase the risk of suicide? Types of Antidepressant Medications There are several classes of antidepressants; within each class there are many individual medications. SSRIs This group of drugs, including fluoxetine Prozac , paroxetine Paxil , fluvoxamine Luvox , citalopram Celexa , escitalopram Cipralex and sertraline Zoloft , is usually the first choice for treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.

Common side-effects are jitteriness and insomnia. NaSSAs Mirtazapine Remeron , the medication available in this class, is the one of the most sedating antidepressants, making it a good choice for people who have insomnia or who are very anxious. Common side-effects are drowsiness and weight gain.

Nonselective cyclics This older group includes amitriptyline Elavil , , imipramine Tofranil , desipramine Norpramin , nortriptyline Aventyl , trimipramine Surmontil and clomipramine Anafranil. Frequently Asked Questions How long should I take antidepressants? If at any time you experience difficulties, consider spending more time at your current dose before attempting any further reductions.

Authors: Melinda Smith, M. Howard, P. Antidepressant Drugs. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 44 5 , — Davies, J. A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based? Addictive Behaviors, 97, — Coupland, C. Antidepressant use and risk of adverse outcomes in people aged 20—64 years: Cohort study using a primary care database.

BMC Medicine, 16 1 , Zhou, X. Comparative efficacy and acceptability of antidepressants, psychotherapies, and their combination for acute treatment of children and adolescents with depressive disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7 7 , — Ferguson, James M. Jha, M. American Journal of Psychiatry, 12 , — What Causes Depression? Harvard Health Publications. Going off antidepressants — Steps to minimize or avoid the discontinuation symptoms that can occur if medications are withdrawn too quickly.

Harvard Health Publishing. Food and Drug Administration. Mayo Clinic. Suicide and Antidepressants — Learn more about studies linking suicidal behavior and antidepressants. In the U. Australia : Call Lifeline Australia at 13 11 This holiday season alone, millions of people will turn to HelpGuide for free mental health guidance and support.