Anti Depression Drugs
Unlike popular belief antidepressant drugs are not ‘happy pills’ and they are not a placebo. They are prescribed by a medical professional and carry with them risks as well as benefits, and like all prescription medication they should be taken under the supervision and exactly as directed by your family doctor.
Which antidepressant medication is appropriate, and whether or not anti depression drugs are even necessary ultimately depends on how severe the individual’s depression actually is, also coming into play is the age of the person and their preference in how they would like to be treated. This being said most people with depression respond best to a combination of anti depression therapy drugs.
There are numerous types of antidepressants on the market however there are two main types that get used the most and these include:
- SSRIs – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
- Tricyclic(s) Antidepressants
Anti-depressant drugs like the ones mentioned above work essentially by slowing down certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals consist of serotonin and norepinephrine and are referred to as neurotransmitters which are needed for every day normal brain function such as mood control, eating, sleeping etc.
Antidepressant drugs help people suffering with depression by creating more of these natural neurotransmitters in the brain which restores the brains chemical balance and therefore relieves the symptoms and suffering of depression.