Medications for depression are poorly understood by most people, and people are often afraid of the medications.

Medications for Depression--They shouldn't zonk you or make you feel numb

If an antidepressant is working well, you feel the way you want to feel, but couldn't.  The goal of an antidepressant is to make your own brain chemistry work closer to normal, by using your own neurotransmitters more effectively.

Many people dislike taking medication, and especially people who are depressed think of themselves as failures if they take medication for a mood disorder. But this feeling is often part of the disease.

Two common questions most people ask, "Are anti-depressants addicting?" and "Are they dangerous?"

Anti-depressants are not addicting (and hence are not a street drug). Most are slow acting, needing to be taken every day, and become effective in about 3 weeks. Many people have heard horror stories about Prozac, most of which are more rumor than truth. There are extremely few people who get symptoms such as reported in the media with Prozac, such as increased anger and agitation.

 The medical profession is also learning better which type of anti-depressants are best suited for which type of depression. As with any medication, there can be some side-effects. Most side effects are annoying, such as stomach distress or dry mouth. A few are serious, so your physician will want to monitor you carefully. And don’t give up, since if one anti-depressant does not work, there are several others to try that work differently. The good news is that there are many more choices of medication, with fewer risks and side effects than ever before.

Anti-depressants help you by changing the way the brain chemistry works. Being depressed is somewhat like having a car battery that will not keep a charge. The body’s electrical system is not working properly, and is sluggish. Anti-depressants improve the way that neurotransmitters work in the brain. Neurotransmitters are responsible for an adequate functioning of our brain chemistry and a sense of well-being. Antidepressants help "raise the thermostat" on moods, so the point at which moods fluctuate is raised to a more comfortable level.

Some Unexpected Benefits of Antidepressants Medication. They help make new brain cells.

Some of the latest research indicates that antidepressants may do something that until recently we thought was impossible. Antidepressants appear to help brain cells regenerate. It has always been thought that brain cells do no continue to grow. But recent studies indicate that this class of medication may actually help the brain to heal. So instead of thinking that these medications cause damage, the healing nature of these medications may be very important in areas such as Post Traumatic Stress and Depression.

Link to National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Website  This government website has a brief section about research about neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells and the beneficial role of antidepressants. It also has many articles about PTSD.

What are examples of antidepressants that can help?

The most common antidepressants in use right now are the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's).  Every medication has side effects, but as far as antidepressants go, these have the fewest, and are the safest. Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa,  Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin and Lexapro are the most common.  There are older  antidepressants still in use such as imipramine, trazodone and Elavil.  And there is now a new  antidepressants, Cymbalta.  Cymbalta is the first of a new generation of dual acting reuptake inhibitors, impacting both norepinephrine and serotonin.

Where can I find detailed information about a particular medication?

www.rxlist.com  I have found this one of the best sources.   At the top of each page you can find links to side effects, interactions, and patient information for each medication. It similar to the Physician Desk Reference, which for years was the main resource about medication for doctors and nurses.

Physician Desk Reference (Usually called just PDR)  For years this has been the main resource about medication for doctors and nurses. It is now available on line with much technical information.

drugs.com  This has some of the features of rxlist, but also has some features that are nice, such as "drug interaction checker" and a  pill identifier, etc)

Antidepressant Medication Chart: This chart lists almost all antidepressants.  It gives approximate dosage ranges so you can see if you are on the low or high end of recommended treatment. It also gives some of the side effects. Unfortunately, it may be a bit too technical for some.