All antidepressants work in a similar way, though there are various types of antidepressants—often called “families”—that each work a bit differently. They all, however, increase the brain’s concentration of various neurotransmitters. Antidepressants are psychiatric medications given to patients with depressive disorders to alleviate symptoms. They correct chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain which probably cause changes in mood and behavior. Antidepressants may be used for a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including social anxiety disorder, anxiety disorders. Antidepressants were initially developed in the 1950s. Their use has become progressively more common over the last twenty years. Generally speaking, antipsychotic
Of these different options, medications and therapy are the most commonly chosen route to take by people who have the illness. For medication, certain medications will try to affect the balance of serotonin or norepinephrine. Others will try to regulate the amount of dopamine in the brain. All of these are affected by neurotransmitters, which are located in the brain, and affect a person’s moods. Those that affect the amount of serotonin in the brain are commonly called SSRIs, or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Popular brand names are Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil
There are many different types of major depression symptoms and which means there are many prescription drugs to fit each and every one of them. Prozac is used to treat severe depressive disorder, bulimia nervosa, and panic disorder (Prozac, 2014). Prozac affects the chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms (Prozac, 2014). Depressive disorders come in several different forms, it can make things you find pleasurable not as good, and this is a severe case of depression. Another type is Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a depressive sickness that occurs during the winter months due because you’re not getting as sun light so you’ll lack vitamin D.
Lastly, what effects to antidepressants have on mood, behavior, and suicidal tendencies? In her article, ‘The Hidden Harm of Antidepressants’, Diana Kwon, a science writer with a Master’s degree for McGill University in neuroscience, she reviews several studies about the use of antidepressants, and had found the safety data on some of these drugs have been withheld from the public. She mentions research done in Copenhagen by some researchers at the Nordic Cochrane Center, and how they discovered that “pharmaceutical companies were not presenting the full extent of serious harm in clinical study reports…” (Kwon para 2). These clinical study reports are then used by people at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve or deny new
Chronic intake, the delayed onset of action, drug resistance and numerous side effects force the researchers to look for the new, safe antidepressant strategies (1, 2) with rapid onset and longer time of action.
It is also used to treat normal sleeping patterns and appetite, and for reducing anxiety. It works by modifying the activity of relevant neurotransmitter pathways.Some of the categories of antidepressants, defined in (Queensland state Government, 2018) are :
The common denominator in the treatment of all of these conditions is antidepressant medications. The first classification of drugs that doctors usually use are SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The way they work is not completely known, but it is thought that they limit the reabsorption of serotonin into the presynaptic cell which increases the extracellular level of the serotonin. They are used for symptoms of moderate to severe depression, but are shown to be more effective in more severe cases. They are also known to have fewer side effects than other classifications of antidepressants. The list includes fatigue, dry mouth,
The newest medications used to suppress depression are collectively known as selective serotonin inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs work by altering the
There are many antidepressant drugs available for the treatment of depression but how can clinicians know which drugs will benefit each patient? Recent studies have shown that patients with depression show various brain wave patterns via quantitative EEG. For example, Ulrich et al (13) found that patients with increased posterior alpha waves responded better to amitriptyline than those without, showing that each patient may have “different pathophysiological and antidepressant response” (Bruder, 2007). Further findings show that alpha and theta wave measures before treating patients with antidepressants will predict whether the patient will respond to the treatment. qEEG studies also show that after receiving treatment, for example, imipramine, some patients showed increase in theta activity three hours later. These were that patients who responded to the treatment while nonresponders did not show this activity.
Some of the most common antidepressants include Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, Remeron and Effexor, these come capsules or tablets, studies show that the effects of these drugs can include: Nervousness and anxiety, Insomnia, Irritability, Violent thoughts and actions, Agitation, Hostility, Suicidal thoughts or suicide, Tremors, Irregular heartbeat, Aggression, Confusion and incoherent thoughts, Paranoia, Hallucinations, Psychosis,
When there is a choice to either take a benzodiazepine or a barbiturate for anxiety, which is the agent of choice? If properly used, both medications can relieve anxiety, however, both are also very addictive. Tolerance increases with continued, and repeated usage. (Lin, 2016).
Antipsychotics are classified as major tranquilizers that are used to treat mental health illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses. They can also treat severe depression and severe anxiety. These antipsychotics drugs reduce or increase the effect of neurotransmitters in the brain to regulate levels that help transfer information throughout the brain. The neurotransmitters that are affected are the serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline.
Anxiety affects about eighteen percent of the United States’ population ages eighteen and older (Facts). Have you ever experienced an anxiety attack? Do you even know what an anxiety attack feels like? When suffering from an anxiety attack, your heart will race, and you may experience shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, dizziness, and fear. Many people that suffer from anxiety seek treatment; of those people, many take anti-anxiety medicines. These medicines include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors, Benzodiazepines, and Tricyclic Antidepressants. These medicines can affect mood and have serious side effects . Some medicines, if taken often enough, can cause the patient to feel drunk.
Anxiety is an illness that can happen to anyone and it’s highly common. People usually have anxiety disorders when being under major stress, either work, personal issues, or school related. The most common causes for adults is when they are in a debt, process of divorce, or even when they lose a loved one. Others experience anxiety when there isn’t enough air in high elevation areas, that can happen to anyone. According to the article “Medical News Today” by The MNT Editorial Team, these cause would fall under environmental factors. Prescriptions can also cause anxiety. If someone is prescribed a medicine to treat an illness the medicine’s side effects can include anxiety, even the disease that the person’s body is fighting can result
In my research I will discuss the history, causes and treatment of Anxiety. In the Military whether it be Army, Air force, Navy, Marines, Coast guard or National guard a person can still develop Anxiety in different forms. Despite the fact that men are less likely to develop anxiety, men talking about there problems is a whole new ball game. It can be challenging to grab a hold on to than if a woman develops it. When women have anxiety they are likely to talk about it to someone rather than a man where he is less likely. There can be many different causes that can trigger anxiety. For example, Anxiety can be triggered by harsh and unpleasant memories, something you physically touch and hear. When anyone has anxiety they have rapid heart, their
Maria describes instances of panic attacks to which she is prescribed Xanax. Although she describes some anxiety is social events, more information is needed to provide an accurate diagnosis of any anxiety disorder. Also, a further exploration of the use of Xanax, Valium, Redux and alcohol is combination is necessary. Because it is unknown as to when the anxiety attacks started, an argument for Substance/Medication-induced Anxiety Disorder is unfitting. Still, it is argued that if her panic attacks started after the increase use of alcohol or Valium, a diagnosis for Substance/Medication-induced Anxiety Disorder may be