A Proactive Rant About Antidepressant Medication

What Are the Effects of Antidepressant Medication? Antidepressant medication is taken every day to reduce the symptoms of depression. However, the effects differ from person to individual and may be uncomfortable at times. Certain medications, especially older-generation antidepressants like SSRIs (SSRIs) and SNRIs (TCAs), and MAOIs, can trigger withdrawal symptoms if suddenly stopped. To ensure that the medication is effective for you, it is essential to follow the directions on the label. Serotonin Serotonin, a substance that is found in the brain helps regulate mood, emotions, and bodily functions, such as appetite, energy and sleep. It also plays an important role in a variety of physiological and psychological processes, such as pain perception, blood pressure and the movement of intestinal and glandular smooth muscles. Antidepressants are medicines that are prescribed to treat depression and other mental health issues by increasing the supply of chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain and body. Certain antidepressant medications target the brain's Serotonin System including selective serotonin reuptake inhibits (SSRIs) such as SNRIs, SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants. These medications can cause negative side effects, such as headaches, fatigue, drowsiness, sexual problems, and an increase in heart rate. Many people have low levels of serotonin in the brain, which is believed to be a factor in depression. Scientists aren't certain the reason behind this, but they do believe that an imbalance in chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) can affect the way that our body copes with stress and depression. SSRIs are the most commonly used antidepressants. They boost serotonin levels in the brain by blocking a reuptake process, w here neurotransmitters are absorbed, deactivated or recycled to be utilized again. This allows more serotonin receptors to be able to reach the brain, which improves mood and reduces anxiety. SSRIs can be used to treat a range of mental disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as well as obsessional-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic disorder. Other medications, such as the triptan family of headache drugs, opioid pain relievers and dextromethorphan-containing cough suppressants, can also increase your serotonin levels. This can cause a rare, but potentially fatal drug reaction called serotonin-syndrome. It is important to inform your doctor if are taking any medications or supplements. A high level of serotonin can cause a variety of symptoms, like involuntary muscle spasms, nausea and vomiting, agitation, or confusion. Serotonin syndrome requires emergency treatment and typically involves stopping the medication you're taking and a combination of supportive care, like fluids, pain relief, and benzodiazepines for the agitation. Dopamine Dopamine is a brain chemical that plays a part in the control and regulation of movement. It's also a kind of neurotransmitter that sends messages between brain cells. Neurotransmitters, a kind of chemical used to communicate signals within your body, may affect your mood and cognition. Antidepressants relieve depression and anxiety in 70 to 70 per cent of people who take them. They help by increasing neurotransmitters, which are chemicals found in the brain. Certain neurotransmitters are connected to mood and emotion while others regulate the transmission of pain signals by nerves. Antidepressants and talk therapy are commonly used to treat anxiety and depression. While antidepressants can be extremely effective in reducing symptoms of depression, they cannot address all aspects of the disorder, and some people remain in depression after having taken them for a long period of time. Some patients may require additional treatment options, including counseling and lifestyle changes. Antidepressants can be improved through combining them with other treatments such as exercise or a healthy diet. The results of a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis show that dopamine-related medications are effective in treating depression. These include stimulants like modafinil, methylphenidate and pramipexole, dopamine agonists like pramipexole and pamelor and selective MAO-B inhibitors (selegiline), and levodopa. This suggests that a variety of dopamine-related medicines could be helpful in the treatment for depression, especially in older people. Mood stabilizers, such as lithium and valproate, are also effective in the treatment of depression. They can be prescribed as a monotherapy or an as augmentation therapy. In addition the efficacy of non-registered dopamine stimulating agents in treating depression has been demonstrated by numerous RCTs. These include aripiprazole, ropinirole and bromocriptine. In addition, electroconvulsive therapy and the selective MAO-B-inhibitor tranylcypromine are dopamine-stimulating drugs. It can take up to several weeks for antidepressants to be fully effective. During this time you may observe a improvement in your sleep, and more energy. It is not advisable to stop taking your medication unless are advised to do so by your physician. If you're experiencing a serious depressive episode, talk to your doctor as soon as you can. Norepinephrine A neurotransmitter and a hormone called norepinephrine (also called noradrenaline) is released from nerve cells in response to danger and stress. It triggers the fight-or-flight response by raising blood pressure and heart rate, thereby constricting blood vessels and releasing energy from glucose stores in muscle cells. Norepinephrine is also involved in the regulation of attention and concentration. Most psychostimulants that are used to treat the condition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the central nervous system. Norepinephrine is the most significant drug in regulating your body's reaction to stressful situations. It functions by binding the a- and B-adrenergic receptors in your body. It stimulates these receptors to perform a variety of ways, including pupil dilation, blood vessel constriction, increased heart rate and metabolism and release of glucose from the liver and pancreas, and increased blood flow to muscles in the skeletal. Experts aren't sure what causes depression but believe it is caused a imbalance in certain neurotransmitters or chemical messengers in your brain. Antidepressant medications help to restore the balance of chemicals in your brain and improve your mood. Finding the right antidepressant may be difficult due to the fact that there are so many types. Consult your physician in case you aren't feeling better after taking one type. Certain antidepressants can begin to work as quickly as several days. Some are available as pills, while others are liquids, and some can be taken by mouth or applied to the skin. Inform your doctor if are taking any other medication like alcohol, herbal supplements and over-the-counter cold or allergy drugs or herbal supplements. Antidepressants can cause nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. If you're experiencing suicidal feelings while taking an antidepressant, seek emergency assistance. Call the suicide hotline, or your doctor for assistance. GABA GABA is a neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety. It is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system (CNS) that blocks certain brain signals and decreasing the activity of the nervous system. It is involved with serotonin as well as other neurotransmitters to regulate mood and decrease stress. It is also vital to the functioning of the gastrointestinal system and the immune system. People with autoimmune conditions and diseases, like MS (MS) might have low GABA levels. This could play a role in their symptoms and be an important treatment option. Stress has a greater impact on the GABA system, compared to other neurotransmitters. The imbalance that results could lead to depression. There are several natural ways to boost your GABA levels. In addition to the normal diet you can also take oral GABA supplements. These supplements come in many forms and many users report having calming effects. Further research is needed to confirm these claims. GABA is produced by a variety of gut bacteria and is able to cross the blood-brain barrier to act as neurotransmitter. It has been demonstrated to reduce stress-related disorders in animals and humans. In one study, researchers administered 100 milligrams GABA to an audience of participants prior to when they were put through a difficult mental task. They found that the participants had a significantly faster return to baseline levels than those who did not take GABA. The heart rate variability of those who were taking GABA was also better. In clinical trials, antidepressants which target GABA receptors have been found to be effective in treating depression. Benzodiazepines are among them and so is a new class known as GABA-A positive ALLosteric Moderators (GASPAMAs) which is a new antidepressant drug. The new class comprises zuranolone which affects nasal chemosensory receptors, and PH10, which targets the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus receptors. These drugs have shown to be effective in treating MDD and PPD. It is important to know that GABA is not safe for everyone and should be taken under the supervision of a health care professional. People with a history of seizures should not use GABA and pregnant women should stay clear of it.