Antidepressants

And last but not least...the antidpressants

Okay folks, the information you're all dying for…

SSRI's..and what are they? Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors…Meds under this category are the most commonly used anti depressants. SSRI's regulate neurochemical seratonin. When the brain is depressed, three neurochemicals come into play: seratonin, norepinephren, and dopamine. SSRI's selectively eliminate the reuptake of seratonin. This group of anti depressants is typically known to have fewer side affects other anti depressant families.

So here's a list of SSRI's.
Prozac
Paxil
Luvox
Celexa
Zoloft
Lexapro

Zoloft and Paxil do not last as long in the body as Prozac. So if you were to have an allergic reaction to either of them, they would be out of your body much quicker than Prozac, which can linger in the body for up to six week after one has stopped taking it. Another thing to keep in mind on these newer anti depressants is that the patents have not expired yet like they have on the older meds. You can get them much cheaper as a generic. But often the cost of the newer meds is very expensive.

SNRI's Seratonin Norepinephrine, Reuptake Inhibiters are a newer class of antidepressants. This class inhibits reuptake on both seratonin and norepinephrine. Seratonin has to do with mood and norepinephrine has to do with energy levels.

Cymbalta
Effexor
Pristiq

MAOI's Monoamine, Oxidase Inhibitors affect the seratonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. What's bad about these antidepressants is that a molecule called tyramine is also affected and this chemical has to do with increasing blood pressure. If you are on an MAOI make sure to really watch your blood pressure. This group is known to cause such a hike in blood pressure vessels burst in the brain.

Nardil
Parnate
Trycyclics or TCA's work on increasing the supply of seratonin and norepinephrine like SNRI. Unfortunately they also affect many areas of the brain's neural communication which manifests in side effects.

Adapin
Anafranil
Elavil
Endep
Ludiomil
Norpramin
Pamelor
Pertofrane
Sinequan
Surmontil
Tofranil
Vivactil

Others These meds listed below are from a group of five that do not fit completely in the other categories. They are a product of research done to find the perfect antidepressant.

Welbutrin—has an effect on dopamine
Trazodone—affects seratonin
Cymbalta and Remeron affect norepinphrin and seratonin.

I am personally on both Trazadone and Welbutrin. I've been on many antidepressants over the years in combination with my mood stabilizer, so I am somewhat biased as they work very well for me. One can get headaches and dry mouth and all the usual symptoms but while I experienced some of those symptoms over the years, they eventually decreased. I take as needed, meaning Welbutrin when I'm in the worst of my "bell jar" experience and Trazadone for when I can't get my head to shut off so I can sleep.

This group has undetermined long-term effects. Effexor, which I didn't list here because it fits in the other category as well, is possibly the culprit for causing tardive diskinesia.

Welbutrin has a high rate of seizures in those with epilepsy and head injury but it causes weight loss, heightened sex drive, and it has minor side affects.

These antidepressants are used for depression and anxiety, not to treat bipolar. They can help in conjunction with a mood stabilizer but they are not equipped to deal with what goes wrong in the brain with bipolar.

For more information check out this website. I found some of this information here:
http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/treatment/antidepressants/antidepressant_list.asp