Types of Depression Medication

Depression medication can be a wonderful way to help people who are dealing with depression. Many misconceptions accompany depression medication. Contrary to popular belief, antidepressant drugs are not happy pills. They are only used to help in dealing with depression. They are not the only option for treatment; however research is available to prove that they do indeed help. They are prescription-only drugs that do have risks associated with their use, and one must remember that depression medication must be prescribed only by a doctor. When trying to decide what type of medication to prescribe, doctors have three main categories that depression medication falls into. They are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

One type of depression medication that doctors use is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors otherwise known as SSRIs. SSRIs are different than tricyclics and MAOIs because they work only on the neurotransmitter serotonin. These types of antidepressants also have fewer lingering effects than the other types of drugs used for treatment for depression. Some well known SSRI's that are used regularly include Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. Many times when a woman is dealing with postpartum depression, these are the types of drugs that are prescribed. Side effects of SSRIs may include nausea, insomnia, headache, and dry mouth. There is one thing to keep in mind when using depression medications within the SSRI category. It can take up to eight weeks for the full effects of the medication to be felt. They do not work overnight, but they do work if given the chance and are taken regularly.

Another kind of depression medication that is used frequently is the tricyclic group of antidepressants. Tricyclics have been around for a long time and have been known to help many a person who is dealing with depression. Tricyclics work with various body chemicals that include the serotonin that the SSRIs interact with. Examples of well known tricyclics include Norpramin and Aventyl.