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Antidepressant Medicines

What is an antidepressant?

Antidepressant medicines are drugs that may provide relief from conditions such as:

depression
anxiety and panic
obsessive compulsive disorders
PMS
seasonal affective disorder.

Antidepressants are not "uppers." They help you feel the way you did before you became depressed.

Are there different kinds?

There are many different kinds of antidepressants:

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil)
tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl HCl, Pamelor), amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan), and desipramine (Norpramin)
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOs) such as tranylcypromine (Parnate), and phenelzine (Nardil)
other antidepressants such as mirtazapine (Remeron), venlafaxine (Effexor), trazodone (Desyrel), and bupropion (Wellbutrin).

How do they work?

The brain is made up of billions of neurons (cells) that communicate with each other. This affects other parts of the body. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances in the brain. The kinds and amounts of these substances control how neurons communicate. Too much or too little of these neurotransmitters may lead to depression. Using medicines to treat these imbalances may help return your life to normal.

Not all antidepressant medicines affect your brain chemistry in the same way. Different medicines affect different neurotransmitters. Your health care provider will work with you to carefully select the right medicine for you.

What are the risks and benefits?

Antidepressants may make other kinds of treatment more effective. If you are too depressed to talk, you may not seek psychotherapy or counseling. The right medicine may help you get the treatment that is most effective for you.

You may notice improvement in the first couple of weeks. However, it often takes 6 to 8 weeks before you notice real change.

Antidepressant dosages must be carefully adjusted to avoid troublesome side effects. Some side effects may be serious, such as severe nervousness, loss of appetite, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, or diarrhea. Some side effects, such as dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and bad taste are minor. They may decrease as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your provider may change your medicine to avoid some side effects. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Do not stop taking these medicines unless your health care provider tells you to do so. If you take them for a long time, you may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking them too quickly.

When should I call my health care provider?

Seek professional help if:

Symptoms of depression do not improve after a few weeks.
The symptoms get worse.
You have side effects that you think may be caused by the medicine.

If you have questions or problems related to your medicine, talk with your health care provider or pharmacist.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File MED4253F.HTM Release 9.0/2006