A 40-year-old woman presents with fatigue. She has felt very run down for the past 3 months and has had no interest in participating in her usual activities and sporting events. She has had sleeping problems and low appetite. She is constantly feeling low and has frequent crying spells. Her physical examination is normal and thyroid function is normal. She is diagnosed with major depression and is referred for counseling and started on fluoxetine.
• What is the mechanism of action of fluoxetine? Fluoxetine is an “antidepressant belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of drugs used mainly for the treatment of major depression, obsessive-compulsive, disorder, and panic disorder”(Nordqvist, 2014, p. 1). SSRI work by increasing the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. Serotonin is a “neurotransmitter that regulates several aspects of brain function such as mood, sleep, and emotion”(Mandal, 2014, p. 1). Fluoxetine works by blocking the absorption (reuptake) of serotonin, which helps to regulate and stabilize mood. “Since uptake is an important mechanism for removing released neurotransmitters and terminating their actions on adjacent nerves, the reduced uptake caused by fluoxetine increased the free serotonin that stimulates nerve cells in the brain”(Ogbru, 2014, p. 1).
• Why is fluoxetine the drug of choice? This medication is the drug of choice for this patient since the use in treating depression is well established.
Cymbalta (Duloxetine) is a Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) use to treat depression (Breggin, 2013). There are several therapeutic and biological alternatives being implemented to control hopelessness. Many researcher are recommending other types of treatments before psychotropic therapy is implemented (O 'Mathuna & Larimore, 2010). Some of the therapeutic alternatives are Reflexology, Craniosacral Therapy (CST), Acupuncture, Exercise, Meditation and Direct Amino Acid Therapy Maintenance (Keegan, 2001). St John’s Wort, Passionflower, Valerian and Omega 3 fatty acids are a few of the biological options available to combat depression (Keegan, 2001). The dietary supplements tryptophan and
She just feels like she is always at the same level, never feeling happy, but never feeling super sad. She has no suicidal or homicidal ideations now or in the past. She has never been previously evaluated for depression. She admits to feeling very tired, even if she gets enough sleep. She has previously been evaluated by a physician in New York, though not for depression, more for the fatigue, and reportedly the investigation including laboratory studies with thyroid, a metabolic panel everything looked normal. She says that in addition to this symptom, she has had constipation that she has been dealing with for the last couple of years, which she has not again has not discussed with the physician, but more tries to deal with on her own. No blood in her stool, no abdominal pain associated with it. She also has had a five-pound weight gain in the last year as well, despite no changes in her appetite or diet. She does have a family history of thyroid disease in her paternal grandmother and is interested in evaluating that
It is an atypical antipsychotic drug, the first medication to be approved with the system. The FDA said the drug was approved for treatment of schizophrenia, acute treatment of manic and mixed episodes linked with bipolar I disorder, and as an add-on treatment for depression in adults.
The belief is that antidepressants work by increasing levels of a group of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and noradrenaline, can improve mood and emotion, although we do not yet fully understand this process
Antidepressants Fluoxetine These types of medications chance the chemical balance in the brain, therefore changing the psychological state of the individ ual. they are often used in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Blurred vision and d rowsiness, feeling dizzy, restless nauseous and an increase in appetite are all common side effects.
Not only do Prozac and other SSRIs provide results for those suffering from depression, they manage to have other purposes. Prozac succeeds in reducing symptoms of major depressive disorder such as suicidal ideation, depressed mood, worthlessness and loss of energy. SSRI antidepressants “have better overall safety and tolerability than older antidepressants” and allowed patients to take the medication for longer (SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability). Not only could they help people experiencing the side effects of tricyclic antidepressants, but they could also be prescribed to children and the elderly (SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability). This lead to “more patients now [being] successfully treated for depression than ever before” (SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability). The new discoveries continued pouring in as researchers linked SSRI antidepressants to increased abstinence for people trying to quit smoking and effectiveness in eliminating symptoms of panic disorder (Elevated positive mood: A mixed blessing for abstinence, Panic disorder and suicidal behavior: A follow-up study of patients treated with cognitive therapy and SSRIs in Hungary). A Hungarian study using SSRIs was able to eliminate symptoms of panic disorder in 38.5% of participants and significantly reduce their suicidal ideation and behaviour (Panic disorder and suicidal behavior: A follow-up study of patients treated with cognitive therapy and SSRIs in Hungary). Furthermore, multiple studies have been conducting showing a negative relationship between smoking and the use of SSRI antidepressants, specifically for patients with generally low positive mood (Elevated positive mood: A mixed blessing for abstinence, Multicenter trial of fluoxetine as an adjunct to behavioral smoking cessation treatment.). SSRI antidepressants
It is used for the treatment of major depressive disorders, autism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder etc. The common side effects may include loss of appetite, rash, and trouble sleeping. Serious side effects include mania, seizures and increased risk of suicidal behavior in people under 25. If the intake of fluoxetine is stopped suddenly, several withdrawal symptoms may be experienced such as dizziness, anxiety, and changes in sensation. It is believed to increase the serotonin activity in the
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
The newest medications used to suppress depression are collectively known as selective serotonin inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs work by altering the
Depression is the lack of the chemical compound C10H12N2O or Serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, made in the brain to help relay messages from one area or the brain to the other. As a result of serotonin being released throughout one's entire body it is believed to influence a majority of the bodies functions. (WEBMD.) Antidepressants alter the level of serotonin in the person's body, however, if one has excessive serotonin the outcomes could result in mania, agitation, and sometimes even death. Those outcomes are the reason that many doctors suggest going to therapy before prescribing an
Depression, also known as Major Depressive Disorder, as defined by Mayo Clinic, is a mood disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. The most common symptoms include (but are not limited to): feelings of sadness, emptiness, worthlessness, or hopelessness; anxiety, agitation, or restlessness; loss of interest in pleasurable activities; disturbances in sleep or appetite; trouble thinking, concentrating, or remembering things; thoughts of death, suicide, or suicide attempts/suicide. [1] Fluoxetine, also known as Prozac, is a medication used to treat certain mental issues such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and panic attacks.
Many people with mild to moderate depression can be successfully treated with psychotherapy and other non medical interventions such as bright light; exercise; relaxation techniques; eliminating the use of substances like recreational drugs, alcohol and caffeine; getting regular sleep; eating a balanced diet; and stress reduction. But when these interventions have been tried and failed, or when a patient's depression is severe enough to interfere with their ability to function in their work, relationships, and self-care, doctors will recommend antidepressant medications as well. There are several different classes of antidepressants to choose from, including older medications called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclics; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors; and others. Despite the differences in these medications' effects on neurotransmitters, chemical properties, side effects, and pharmaceutical company advertising, they all are EQUALLY EFFECTIVE in treating depression. The choice between them, therefore, is made on the basis of other factors. When deciding which antidepressants may be best for a given patient, a doctor should take into consideration several factors. The first is the patient's history. If a patient has
This drug is used as an antidepressant. Anxiety, dizziness, blurred vision, dry mouth, diarrhea, and weight gain or loss are common effects of the medications and with aging. But serious effects such as fever; seizures, tremors, chest pain, hepatic necrosis, renal failure, abnormal bleeding, and infection should be cautioned. The dosage of this medication should not be prescribed more than 40 mg daily. Monitoring for mental changes when taking this medication is needed. It should be cautioned to watch for a change in behavior from depression into a mental illness. If this occurs medical attention is needed. Nurses should also assess elderly patients taking diuretics for signs of suggesting syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently one of the most controversial groups of medicines, with fluoxetine, more commonly known by its brand name Prozac, at the head of the controversy. Opponents of the use of SSRI medications as a successful and safe method for treating depression and related disorders assert that the actions of the drug are an unnatural and a dangerous form of tampering with our neurochemistry. Not only are these medications incredibly safe in almost all cases, they are actually an unnatural method of modifying an already disordered, natural sequence of chemicals in the brain, and therefore are not a form of tampering, but are a method for fixing
drug appears to be effective without causing serious side effects, approval for marketing may be accelerated,