Anti-Depressants-What You Really Need To Know
Anti-Depressants
As with many major medical discoveries, anti-depressants were first discovered by accident the tuberculosis drug Iproniazid was found to ease many symptoms of depression.
What Anti-Depressants Do
Anti-depressants are mood-stabilizing drugs used to treat a variety of conditions, including moderate to severe depressive disorder, anxiety attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder.
How Do Anti-Depressants Work
Anti-depressants work by increasing the activity of neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters are needed for normal brain function and are involved in the control of mood and in other responses and functions, such as eating, sleep, pain, and thinking. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that are released by one nerve and taken up by other one. Located at the ends of the sending cells, neurotransmitters help nerve impulses cross the gap between two nerves.
Although scientists are still not sure exactly what causes depression, it is believed that some neurotransmitters greatly affect a person's mood. Anti-depressants work by increasing the activity of these neurotransmitters.
Some common side effects induced by anti-depressants include dry mouth, drowsiness, changes in appetite and increased feelings of depression and anxiety.
Side Effects
Anti depressants side effects vary greatly depending on which drug you’re taking.
Typical side effects include the following:
•Decreased libido & the possible inability to reach orgasm
•Insomnia
•Agitation
•Anxiety
•Reduced appetite
•Gastrointestinal tract disturbances (nausea, diarrhea)
•Sweating
•Headaches
•cardiovascular symptoms palpitations, tachycardia, hypotension
...and others.
Some side effects may decrease as a person adjusts to the drug, but other side effects may be persistent.
Though the above side effects seem daunting, there may be more serious side effects, particularly at high dosages, which may even cause death.
Unfortunately, the side effects present a real problem.
Despite all the potential deadly side effects in the year 2007 anti-depressants became the most prescribed drug in the United States, causing more debate over the issue.
This had led to litigation against many of the pharmaceutical manufacturers of SSRI anti-depressants in cases covering suicidality, SSRI withdrawal and birth defects in neonates from nursing mothers on SSRIs.
Please consult your doctor & possibly seek a second opinion before you begin taking anti-depressants.