Depression is a common mental illness that causes great distress in life, work, and relationships. There are many ways to deal with depression, and medication is one of the main ones. But, you know what?Although antidepressants can alleviate the symptoms of depression, they can also bring some undesirable *** and even some *** may affect your health and quality of life. Today, we're going to talk about antidepressant medications, so you can be more sensible and safe when using medications.
Antidepressants are a class of drugs that regulate neurotransmitters in the brain, which are chemicals that transmit nerve signals that play an important role in regulating our mood, cognition, sleep, appetite, and more. The occurrence of depression is associated with an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE). Antidepressants work by increasing or decreasing the activity of these neurotransmitters to improve symptoms of depression.
Currently, there are many types of antidepressants on the market, which can be divided into the following categories according to their effects on neurotransmitters:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs):This is currently the most commonly used class of antidepressants, and they increase the activity of serotonin mainly by blocking the reuptake of serotonin and increasing the concentration of serotonin in the neuronal space. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, appetite, etc., and it plays an important role in the occurrence of depression. SSRIs include fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, citalopram, etc.
Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs):This is a relatively new class of antidepressants that block not only the reuptake of serotonin, but also norepinephrine, increasing the activity of both neurotransmitters. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that regulates attention, interest, energy, etc., and it also plays an important role in the development of depression. SNRIs include venlafaxine, durooxetine, mianserin, reboxetine, etc.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs):This is an older class of antidepressants that prevent the reuptake of a variety of neurotransmitters, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, so that the activity of these neurotransmitters is increased. Drugs in the TCA class include amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, and doxepin.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs):This is a class of dangerous antidepressants that increase the activity of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase, which slows down the metabolism of many neurotransmitters. Drugs in the MAOI class include phenelzine, isoniazid, trazodone, etc.
Other classes of antidepressants:In addition to the above categories, there are some other antidepressant drugs that have different mechanisms of action and affect neurotransmitters, such as bupropion, delixine, olanzapine, risperidone, etc.
Although antidepressant drugs can effectively reduce depression, they may have some adverse effects on the human body, which is what we often say about the appearance of *** and the type of drug, dosage, individual differences, medication time and other factors, different people may have different reactions.
Generally speaking, ** will be more obvious at the beginning of the medication, ** will gradually reduce or disappear with the extension of the drug time. However, some *** may persist and even cause serious consequences, so when we use antidepressants, we must pay attention to observe our physical reactions, communicate with doctors in time, adjust the medication plan, and avoid the harm of ***.
Digestive system***This is one of the most common*** and includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, etc. These *** usually appear early in the course of taking the drug and gradually lessen or disappear over time. Coping methods are: take the medicine after meals and avoid fasting;Take some drugs to protect the gastric mucosa, such as omeprazole, rabeprazole, etc.;Drink plenty of water, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and keep your stools smoothIf it is severe, you can consult your doctor to reduce the dose or change the medication.
Nervous system***These include headaches, dizziness, insomnia, drowsiness, shivering, muscle cramps, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, etc. These *** also occur at the beginning of taking the drug, and generally gradually adapt or disappear within a few weeks. Coping methods are: taking some painkillers or sedatives, such as acetaminophen, benzodiazepines, etc.;Adjust the time you take your medications, such as taking drowsy drugs in the evening or stimulant drugs in the morningMaintain a regular routine and avoid overexertion or stimulationIf it is severe, you can consult your doctor to reduce the dose or change the medication.
Cardiovascular system***
These include palpitations, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, arrhythmias, etc. These occur more often in patients taking tricyclic antidepressants or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, especially those with a history of cardiovascular disease. These can be life-threatening, so they need to be closely monitored and dealt with promptly. Coping methods include: regularly measuring blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram and other indicators, and finding abnormalities in time;Take some antihypertensive, cardiostabilizing, anti-arrhythmic drugs, such as calcium channel blockers, receptor blockers, digitalis, etc.;Avoid stopping the drug abruptly or drastically reducing the drug to avoid causing rebound;If it is severe, you can consult your doctor to reduce the dose or change the medication.
Sexual dysfunction:These *** include loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, ** disorder, orgasm disorder, etc. These occur mostly in patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, especially in men. These may affect the patient's sexual quality of life and emotional relationships, so they need to be taken seriously and handled properly. Coping methods include: good communication with your partner, increasing intimacy and trust;Taking some drugs to improve sexual function, such as sildenafil, tadalafil, etc.;If it is severe, you can consult your doctor to reduce the dose or change the medication.
Weight gain:These *** include increased appetite, edema, fat accumulation, etc. These occur more often in patients taking tricyclic antidepressants or mirtazapine, especially in women. These *** may affect the patient's body image and self-esteem, so attention and control are required. Coping methods include: control your diet and avoid high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar foodsIncrease exercise, such as walking, running, swimming, etc., to promote metabolism and burn energy;If it is severe, you can consult your doctor to reduce the dose or change the medication.