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Types of Antidepressants

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 15:27:57 GMT

Types of Antidepressants

Antidepressants are medications used to treat depression. There are several different types, so you may have to try several to find which one (or ones) work best for you. Learn about antidepressants and talk to your doctor to find the one that works for you.

Although prescription antidepressants have more evidence for their use, over-the-counter medications such as 5-HTP and SAMe are nevertheless recommended to treat the symptoms of depression. Talk to your doctor before trying any of these types of medicines or supplements.

Path to improved health

The way antidepressants affect the brain depends on the type of drug. Some work by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters available in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin. Others work by blocking the reabsorption of these neurotransmitters back into neurons.

Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant medicine to treat your depression symptoms. Below are some of the different types of prescription medicines that can reduce many or all of your depression symptoms.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are a class of antidepressants that inhibit serotonin reuptake. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, emotion, behavior, appetite, and sleep. SSRIs affect your body's levels of a chemical called serotonin, which is responsible in part for other functions in your body, like regulating your mood and getting a good night's sleep. SSSRIs are generally the first type of antidepressant that doctors prescribe to clients with depression, as they are usually considered safer and have fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants.

Types of SSRIs are:

citalopram
escitalopram
fluoxetine
fluvoxamine
paroxetine
sertraline.

Common side effects of SSRIs include:

dry mouth
nausea
headaches
nervousness
restlessness
trouble sleeping
sexual problems

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are a class of antidepressant drugs. Serotonin and norepinephrine are the main neurotransmitters of the brain. Their reuptake inhibitor function helps increase the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine available in the synapse. SNRIs help enhance the symptoms of depression like other antidepressant drugs. SNRIs affect two chemicals in your brain, serotonin and norepinephrine. Your doctor may even prescribe them because they don’t interact with your other medications and will help with your symptoms.

Types of SNRIs are:

duloxetine
venlafaxine
desvenlafaxine.

Common side effects of SNRIs include:

nausea (especially in the first 2 weeks)
loss of appetite
anxiety and nervousness
headaches
trouble sleeping
lack of energy
dry mouth
constipation
weight loss
sexual problems
increased heart rate
increased cholesterol levels

Atypical antidepressants

These medicines are called “atypical” because they don’t easily fit into their own category.

Types of atypical antidepressants are:

bupropion
trazodone
mirtazapine

There are many side effects that appear with taking antidepressants, however, they are rare. When they do occur, they can include nausea, fatigue, and nervousness. Dry mouth, diarrhea, and headaches are also commonly seen—but again, they are rare.

Trazodone may be used with an SSRI to treat insomnia caused by depression.

Tricyclic antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants influence three brain chemicals: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This is one of the oldest types of antidepressants and while effective, has increased side effects in comparison to other options. For this reason, tricyclic antidepressants are less often prescribed, particularly for older patients or those with glaucoma.

Types of tricyclic antidepressants are:

amitriptyline
clomipramine
desipramine
doxepin
imipramine
nortriptyline
protriptyline
trimipramine

Common side effects of tricyclics include:

dry mouth
blurred vision
constipation
trouble urinating
impaired thinking
tiredness
worsening of glaucoma

This type of antidepressant also can affect your blood pressure and heart rate.

Monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

MAOIs work by affecting an enzyme in the brain called monamine. These drugs are typically only used as a last resort, if other types of medications haven't been effective.

Types of MAOIs are:

isocarboxazid
phenelzine
selegiline
tranylcypromine

MAOIs can have severe side effects. These include:

weakness
dizziness
headaches
trembling

Things to consider

Speak to your physician regarding the different types of antidepressants. Ensure they are aware of any other medications, vitamins, or supplements you are taking. It is crucial to follow your doctor's orders. Once you start feeling better, you may want to discontinue the medication(s); however, this can result in a relapse of depression. Don't stop taking your antidepressants without talking to your doctor first. It's often necessary to decrease the dose gradually over time. You can't get addicted to antidepressants. You may experience worse symptoms or withdrawal if you stop taking them all at once.

Call your doctor right away or go to the emergency room if you have the following symptoms.

Attempt to commit suicide.
Have thoughts about suicide or death.
Have thoughts about hurting someone else.
Act angry, violent, or aggressive.
Have sudden onset of mania.
Have panic attacks.
Have severe or ongoing insomnia (trouble sleeping).
Have new or worsening depression.
Notice heightened symptoms.
Have unusual changes in mood or behavior.

High Blood Pressure Medications

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 15:27:10 GMT

Choosing Blood Pressure Medication

Many drugs are available to treat high blood pressure. Choosing the right one can be tricky. Learn how to find the best one for you. There are a variety of antihypertensive medications that each come with their own advantages and disadvantages. Your healthcare provider may prescribe more than one type of medication to treat your condition. If you want to maintain a healthy blood pressure, it is important to take your medications as prescribed, monitor your blood pressure regularly, and make lifestyle changes as needed.

Lifestyle changes

If you're beginning to develop high blood pressure (prehypertension), lifestyle changes may help you reduce or eliminate your need for medication. If you already have high blood pressure, lifestyle changes may also help you lower your blood pressure.

Try these steps to help lower and control blood pressure.

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Reduce the amount of salt (sodium) in your diet.
Don't smoke.
Manage stress.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Get regular exercise. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week. It's OK to break up your activity into three 10-minute sessions a day.
Avoid or limit alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.

Medication options

If your lifestyle changes are not enough to control your blood pressure, you will likely need to take blood pressure medication. Your doctor may prescribe one or more of these medications:

Water pills (diuretics). A diuretic is a medication that helps to remove excess water and sodium from the body. This can help to reduce the amount of fluid flowing through the veins and arteries, which can help to reduce pressure on the walls of the blood vessels.

There are three types of diuretics: thiazide, loop and potassium-sparing. If diuretics aren't enough to lower blood pressure, a health care provider might recommend adding other blood pressure medications to your treatment.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ACE inhibitors work by preventing the formation of angiotensin, a body chemical that narrows blood vessels. This helps to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow.
Angiotensin 2 receptor blockers (ARBs). These drugs block the action of angiotensin.
Calcium channel blockers. There are a number of medications that can prevent calcium from entering cells, known as calcium channel blockers. These drugs can be useful in relaxing arteries and keeping them open.
Beta blockers. Beta blockers can help to regulate the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. By blocking the effects of adrenaline, beta blockers can help to slow down the heart rate and reduce the force of heartbeats. This can be beneficial for people who suffer from conditions such as anxiety or high blood pressure.
Renin inhibitors. Renin is a substance produced by the kidneys that triggers a series of steps that increases blood pressure. Inhibitors of renin slow the production of this substance.

Other medications sometimes used to treat high blood pressure

If you are not able to reach your blood pressure goal with one or more of the above medications, other drugs that lower blood pressure include:

Alpha blockers. The use of alpha blockers can help to prevent the hormone norepinephrine from causing the muscles in the walls of smaller arteries and veins to tighten, which in turn can help to keep the vessels open and relaxed.
Alpha-beta blockers. Alpha-beta blockers work in a similar way to beta blockers. They may be prescribed if you have high blood pressure and are at risk of heart failure.
Central-acting agents. Central-acting agents work by preventing the brain from sending signals to the nervous system that would normally speed up the heart rate and narrow the blood vessels. This action allows the heart to pump more efficiently and blood to flow more easily through the veins and arteries.
Vasodilators. These medications help to prevent the muscles in the veins and arteries from tightening and narrowing. This, in turn, allows for blood to flow more easily and the heart doesn't have to work as hard.
Aldosterone antagonists. Many medications used to treat high blood pressure work by blocking the hormone aldosterone. Aldosterone antagonists are a type of medication that can be used to prevent salt and fluid retention, which can contribute to high blood pressure. These medications are usually prescribed for people whose high blood pressure is difficult to control.

The effectiveness of a drug may vary depending on the person's age, sex, race, blood pressure level, and overall health. In general, combining two drugs works better than using a single drug to get blood pressure under control. Sometimes, additional medication may be needed to achieve a blood pressure goal.

High blood pressure drugs and other health conditions

High blood pressure is often associated with other health problems. Having high blood pressure increases the risk of developing one of the following conditions:

Chronic kidney disease
Coronary artery disease
Diabetes
Heart attack or stroke
Heart failure
Swelling or thickening of the left chamber of the heart (left ventricular hypertrophy)

A targeted treatment approach may help to reduce the risk of conditions such as chest pain and coronary artery disease. For example, a beta blocker may be recommended to lower blood pressure, prevent chest pain, and reduce heart rate.

If you have diabetes and high blood pressure, adding a diuretic to your existing ACE inhibitor medication may decrease your risk of a heart attack and stroke. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease, you may need an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.

Reaching your blood pressure goal

A combination of lifestyle changes and medication is often needed to help control blood pressure. However, it may take some trial and error to find the medications or doses that work best for you. Monitoring your blood pressure at home can help you and your health care provider track your progress and see if your treatment plan is working. Home blood pressure monitors are widely available and relatively inexpensive, and you don't need a prescription to buy one.

ScriptKingRX Prescription Discount Card

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 21:37:47 GMT

scriptkingrx

Types of Antidepressants

Types of Antidepressants

Path to improved health

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Atypical antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants

Monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Things to consider

High Blood Pressure Medications

Choosing Blood Pressure Medication

Lifestyle changes

Medication options

Other medications sometimes used to treat high blood pressure

High blood pressure drugs and other health conditions

Reaching your blood pressure goal

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